4,801 Reply by Zurf

(133 replies, posted in Acoustic)

ozymandias wrote:

I would say B any chord, but, my teacher is pushing them and I am getting a tad better.  However, I'm with Zurf on F#m, it is hard and I can do without it.  THough one of my favorite Jim Croce songs has it.  Oy  I muddle thru.  My biggest challenge is a rapid transition from G to F and back to G on the traditional folk tune "Ground Hog."  Then my fret hand develops major spasms and it's all I can do to keep up with the rest of the String Band class.  OY

Now if there was only something I could do about the "Brain Worms" that I get whenever we play this and certain other folk tunes for long durations. 

Brain Worms......the song that gets stuck in your head and you can't get it out!!  yikes

Use the barre G.  It's the same shape as F but up two frets.  Then all you have to do is relax your hand, slide up two frets, and retension your fingers. 

G to F to G becomes much easier with the barre, even though barres aren't fun they're funner than G to F to G without them.  Is funner a word? 

Maybe there's a deworming pill like dogs get for heartworms to help with your other problem.   

- Zurf

Go to forum: Acoustic

4,802 Reply by Zurf

(12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Well, everything I play comes out like country tinged folk, so it will probably be country tinged folk.  However, if I had the skill to play any style I want to play it would be a rock song or a loud minor blues something like Buddy Guy's "**** right I've got the Blues". 

I do not like Someday and I want the song to tell it how I feel.  It will be filled with words my children are not permitted to say, defiance, and threats. Ballad isn't really where I'm coming from.  I am angry with Someday.  It is a thief and a liar and a cheat.  So, words will rhyme with glass, firetruck, slight bee and things like that.  Not really something that you'll want to play around kids and something that I won't be posting in the Songwriting forum for all to see. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,803 Reply by Zurf

(6 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

I don't know,  but we're doing the same thing.  I wish you luck.  I've finally narrowed down to an 8 channel unpowered mixer with a USB output that I'll roll between my office and the stage.  The stage (such as it is) will have two powered speakers on shelves on the wall.  I'll have wall plugs made high and low so that I'll be able to run cable from the mixer to the speakers under an area rug or some such and have them not be trip hazards.  The stage will double as a seating area when not in use as a stage - so the seating will be lightweight to move out for when buddies come by to jam or my daughter wants to put on a play with her friends.

I don't know if that's any help to you, but it's all I could come up with for my space and budget. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,804 Reply by Zurf

(77 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

I'm a policy wonk for a management consulting company. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,805 Reply by Zurf

(5 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Can you put up a family of four with a blind, geriatric dog suffering from dimensia?  If so, we'll be right there!  Oh wait.  That's girl's weekend and my wife will be out of town.  So that's a family of THREE with a blind, geriatric dog suffering from dimensia.  Don't worry about the dog, she only barks at things she can't see and many times aren't even there when the moon is either up or not up. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,806 Reply by Zurf

(11 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Never heard of it.  Why not get out your screwdrivers and invent one?

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,807 Reply by Zurf

(16 replies, posted in Acoustic)

bensonp wrote:

I want second on that, Zurf.  You'd probably send me a Silvertone or Rogue.  Yeah, nobody should own two D18's.

Sure.  You can be second in line for all the good it'll do you.  big_smile

- Zurf

Go to forum: Acoustic

4,808 Reply by Zurf

(16 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Guitarpix.  One D18 us enough for any man.  How about we start a new 'round the world' thread and send your spare D18.  I volunteer to be the first recipient...

- Zurf

Go to forum: Acoustic

4,809 Reply by Zurf

(133 replies, posted in Acoustic)

That's right GSE.  "B" isn't even WORTH playing.  Stupid chord.  Why would anyone want to play a B? 

I like where you're going with this. 

Well, since this thread started, Tin Cup Chalice has moved into one of my best songs for playing and the C,G,B7,Em in rapid succession doesn't even give me a bit of pause.  F and F#m and Bm are now pretty consistent chords, though I sometimes still muddle them when trying to stay on beat especially in a Jim Croce song where he throws them out to show off and make campfire pickers like myself jealous of his talent. 

B remains evil.  And now, as GSE has so astutely observed, isn't even worth playing because it's a stupid sounding chord in the first place. 

- Zurf






p.s.  Thank you waiter, I prefer my grapes sour.

Go to forum: Acoustic

4,810 Reply by Zurf

(16 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Play around not only with brands but materials.  If you want it to ring out like a piano, then try some bronze strings.  If you want to do some fast bluegrass picking along with banjo players and want some twang, then go to nickel.  For the deep rich bass you describe, maybe some D'Addorio silk and steel.  Warning, the silk and steel wear out in about 63 seconds.  Well, maybe a 'little' longer than that.  But they do lose their punch fast.  But while they've got their punch they sound very resonant. 

I've been enjoying the elixer nanos for a while but recently bought some D'Addorio EXP coated just to give them a whirl. 

Also, for bigger bass, try bigger strings.  Mediums if you are used to using Lights or something like that.  Any Martin ought to be able to handle the tension requirements of Mediums. 

Submitted for your consideration.  I'm no string expert, but I've played around a lot with different brands and materials and thicknesses and these are my observations with my guitar.  Your mileage may vary. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Acoustic

4,811 Topic by Zurf

(6 replies, posted in Acoustic)

It's an inexpensive guitar that I've played the snot out of for a while.  It's been banged around in my truck and tripped over at campfires and generally treated like the guitar of someone who enjoys playing outdoors with friends. 

So, I'm thinking it's possible that this is a bridge issue. 

I change strings regularly.  I know how to fret the chords.  The buzz is a recent thing. 

Thoughts?  I'm considering replacing the bridge with a bone or a Tusq bridge and having the tech set it up at the same time.  I'm guessing that will be less expensive than a new guitar, and I'm going to keep this one regardless because no matter how good of a guitar I get ever, I'm still going to need a campfire beater. 

Any idea on the right value for labor I ought to be paying? 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Acoustic

4,812 Reply by Zurf

(55 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Wonderful. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,813 Topic by Zurf

(12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

For those who remember my "someday" song concept - it's probably not possible to do any better than this even though it is in an entirely different direction I was going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba-kdpWR7Wk

(I'm still going to work on that song, especially with all the good Chordie collaboration)

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,814 Reply by Zurf

(18 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

PapaTom and GSE - I think that's what my Gram was talking about when she said, "You can't cheat an honest man."  It's not so much a matter of honesty in all cases, but at least unclear thinking in many circumstances.  Again, I'm not talking about folks who are down on their luck for reasons out of their control, because there's a lot of that going around.  I'm talking about folks who made very poor decisions.  Unfortunately, because of that lack of clear-headed thinking I referred to, many of the folks in that circumstance will never know the difference.  It's like that old saying I'm making up on the spot, "Only another can describe your appearance."

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,815 Reply by Zurf

(18 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Mekidsmom has just distilled every money management seminar worth the price of admission down into one Chordie post.  I ought to print that out, frame it, and hang it over my checkbook.

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,816 Reply by Zurf

(18 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

"Settle your debt for pennies on the dollar!"  Right, and lose any chance of ever getting another loan or job that requires discretion and fiduciary duty.

"You can halve your monthy payment!"  Sure, and double the period until it's paid.  We'll settle your debt with the other companies so what's left of your credit rating gets flushed down the commode and charge you a huge fee to do it - so we're really just transferring the debt you owe them hopefully for something that was worthwhile to us for something that is worth nothing, at the same screwing over the company that provided a valuable (or at least honest) good or service AND conning the consumer into thinking he's getting something he isn't. 

It's a tough economy and folks are in over their heads many times for no cause of their own.  And just when they need help, who do they get instead?  Flipping con men who come to rape what's left of their dignity and credibility in order to fill their own pockets.  Makes me sick. 

My grandma used to say, "You can't cheat an honest man," and normally I'd agree with that and have little sympathy.  But times are particularly tough and while I've still got a good job that I'm grateful to have, there are hundreds of thousands of folks suddenly having to do without and trying to figure out how to handle it.  It's a confusing time, and so here come the thieves.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.  They make me sick.

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,817 Topic by Zurf

(18 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

I keep hearing ads on the radio that when paraphrased come as:  "Are you a miserable money manager who will fall for anything?  Then you're our kind of customer!!!"  Credit help, avoid foreclosure, blah, blah, blah.  Free help from a fly by night cleverly named company is not what people need.  Real honest-to-goodness money management assistance is needed by lots of folks, no doubt.  I have a financial advisor myself.  But I'm talking about these companies that prey on folks who are already in deep trouble because they're presumed to be suckers (and in some cases probably are).  Disgusts me.  Worse is that I am hearing the ads most on a Christian radio station. 

Look, if you need help, get it.  But go to someone reputable or a charity organization with good ties to attorneys who do pro bono work to help.  Catholic Ministries locally helps folks locally.  There are a number of other secular charities who have volunteers who advise and assist folks who have fallen on hard times to manage their debt.  Those are great organizations who have helped many people, and not who I'm talking about.  I'm angered by the freaking jackals and wolves who find people who don't analyze deals or have good financial backgrounds and suck what little money they have away on the premise of helping.  It's just wrong.

Sorry for the rant. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,818 Reply by Zurf

(16 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

OK - so totally different this week.  I'm on a spiritual bent as I struggle through my issues of "someday" and mortality. 

1. "They're Holding Up the Ladder" - gospel bluegrass, I don't recall who wrote it.  Everyone performs it. 
2. "Passing Through" - Randy Travis
3. "This Train" - Randy Travis
4. "Momma Don't 'Low" - I don't remember who did it, it's not spiritual, but what a fun groove to play
5. "Wagon Wheel" - Old Crow Medicine Show. OK, so it's not spiritual either, but there's some things not to put off until Someday, and "Rock me momma like a wagon wheel" is among those things not to put if it can be helped. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,819 Reply by Zurf

(22 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Welcome Casey!

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,820 Reply by Zurf

(11 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Well done tooter. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,821 Reply by Zurf

(11 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Welcome to Chordie zeddicus.

BensonP - Thanks for the chuckle.  I love your dry wit. 

Thanks everyone for your encouragement. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,822 Topic by Zurf

(11 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

I've been practicing hard on my commute trying to do all the basics very intentionally - push from diaphragm, open up throat like you're trying to swallow a yawn, stay relaxed, hold the notes to the end of the phrase, etc.  Well, last night I got the chance to sit down on a bar stool instead of in my office chair and play a little.  Sitting more upright as forced by the high bar stool made a big difference, as well as the practice I'm sure. 

It was nice not to annoy myself with my own singing. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,823 Topic by Zurf

(4 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Just learned today of the near death of two more friends.  Thank God they each were able to cheat time of its reward, if only temporarily. 

I always knew this day would come when I would be hearing this news more and more frequently, but I did not expect it to be so sudden.  At least I continue on in the arrogant falsehood that it is I who will be hearing of others rather than vice versa. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

4,824 Reply by Zurf

(2 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Also check in on the music theory forum as they talk about how to build those sorts of insanely named chords there.  I have enough trouble with "G". 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Acoustic

4,825 Reply by Zurf

(412 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

At long last the "Picks Around the World" begins its next 3,000 mile leg (that's 2,000,057 km I think) off to "Z" next zuper zecret location. 

- Zurf

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner