176

(29 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Z -
I have to agree with Zurf and Guitarpix. 

I think you're going about it exactly like the rest of us.  I think we stumble with the exact same problem.  To take it even further sometimes we find a good song and a good lesson only to learn it's not going to be within reach in a reasonable time.  So you just come back over time. 

What kind of stuff that you've found DOES meet your criteria?

Steve

177

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

Good work Wayne.  You'll have to not hold back.  You're all over your game there.

Steve

178

(29 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Z you brought up some good points.  I've been learning about 10 yrs and I find it's often a stretch when I read some comment about a song being "easy".  I'll say this in case you get something out of it.  Keep a couple harder songs on your longterm goal list and chip away at them.  One day you'll think those are easy.  In the meantime pick a couple you might like and if they don't click, move on.  You can always come back to them.  What will happen is you'll discover some songs can be learned really quickly...call those a "gimme".  Keep adding those even if they aren't overly complex.  You'll find you can dress them up later with intros/outros/etc.  Knockin on Heaven's Door is a "gimme" that you can sing to even if just a beginner.   G, D, Am, G, D, C...no B's or F's.  And when you're around other guitarists you can play that together.

Good luck and tell us some you find really are "easy"!
Steve

179

(28 replies, posted in Song requests)

Yep your gonna have to post your version.  That's a nice one.

180

(3 replies, posted in Acoustic)

For nothing more than inspiring you on stuff that you might not be trying a looper is very helpful.  I've found several songs came to me faster than would otherwise.  Plus it's good for solo practice.  Here's what got me interested.  Howie Day became a college music scene sensation showing these skills similar to KT Tunstall:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmlr0Jc9hPQ

Steve

181

(4 replies, posted in Electric)

tandm3 wrote:

Crevs,

Being able to improvise is very important. It allows you to play confidently even if you don't know the song.  Learning the "note for note" gives you a look into the artists playing style, which will definitely influence your improvisation style.  I try to learn a song close to it original intentions.  Once I know it,  I never listen to the original version again.  From there it grows into something that is distinctly me.  I don't want to be labeled as a "Clapton Clone" or an "SRV Clone" etc.  These guys have a huge influence on my playing style but I'm not them.  It's nice when someone comes up to you and says, "I like the way you played that, its different".
To me that means I'm doing OK.

So, keep playing those scales.  Learn their variations. Learn the solos and then make them your own.

A good piece of advice above here Crevs....  improv will set you free.  Just be careful to honor the structure that make the original song special.   That may be just a certain characterisic riff or strum/beat, but certainly not the whole song.  Easier said than done.
Steve

182

(5 replies, posted in Acoustic)

mikeshead wrote:

Many thanks for you suggestions guys.
Im gorna try the u tube free stuff first and see how that goes.
Like a lot of people Iv learned to play chords without instruction quite well but I dont understand the first thing about lead playing. From what I can gather I need to start with the scales first, hopefully once Iv mastered that I can move on to more formal tuition.

how did u guys pick up lead playing ?

Mike
Didn't quite pick it up just yet, but getting much better.  A friend showed me major and minor pentatonic scales...a good thing to learn.  But how to use them?  You take some song in any key and if its a sad song, likely will be in a minor key and a minor pentatonic scale (in the same key) will accompany nicely.  Rather than duplicate a lead on a complicated song like Freebird, just pick some blues song.  When the song is playing you can just noodle along in the same key.  Occasionally your wanting to hit a note that is the same note you are accompanying.   See if that helps.  And let us know how its going.  We're all learning here.
Steve

183

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

Mickey
Use a capo for any song you want to try.   I was advised by my brother that when I sing along I tend to sing a step below the note.  Apparently this was because (to me) it was "easy" on the voice.  Now that I see that I can avoid it.  Capo changes key but doesn't mean your vocal part goes up.  But overall a capo is the most effective tool to bring more songs into your comfort.
Steve

184

(28 replies, posted in Song requests)

SongsforSarah sorry about that.  Thanks for serving!

It's Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, and gave me some difficulty just for a couple days and then I found it quite simple.  Admitting I don't replicate it well, but when I played it for some folks they really liked it.  Here's a link on CHordie.

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.g … 71025.html

No capo for me.  And if you know the song, there's a two note arpeggio for each of the following chords as well that goes on the intro and then on the outro.   Am (1st & 3rd string), Em (same two strings), F#m (1st & 4th string), and Em (1st & 4th string).  For me I then just strum the A, E, Dsus, A. 

Hope I got that right and it helps.  It's really got nice lyrics and a good message.

Steve

185

(10 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Stephen this is a very good arrangement.  Couldn't decide if it reminds me of Eric Johnson or the CSNY song "Find the Cost of Freedom".  The latter moreso because it is short and complex.  I recommend you find a way to layer some lyrics after listening to the CSNY one to see what I mean.  That one in just about 2 minutes is so powerful.  I hope you'll take that as a big compliment as intended.

Steve

The two sisters and whomever they play with are just awesome.  I've seen them several times.  Last time in Portsmouth (VA) they were kind enough to autograph my guitar.  Took the care to sign it where it won't rub off. 

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w140/AccoustikNoyz/P1080281.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w140/AccoustikNoyz/P1080283-1.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w140/AccoustikNoyz/P1080285.jpg

Steve

187

(5 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Mike
I bought a Boss RC-2 loop pedal and have found it has helped my lead playing immensely.  I can record a 12 bar blues basic pattern and then play on top of that.  When I get bored I can put down a 3 or 4 chord pattern and then play on top of that.  It was $155 on ebay but you can do even better these days.
Good luck
Steve

188

(28 replies, posted in Song requests)

Welcome to Chordie SongsforSarah.  Agree with Tesla suggestion, it's a good one.  Here's one you might consider based on ease of learning:

This guy plays it like he wants your girlfriend..better watch out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzc82YMWl-E

and this guy's got a pretty nice instructional video of the same song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdiXANnp77M

Either way, I'm working on it and it's a sweet song.

I know you've prob heard it, but here's the original guys' version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb27VZ5kJa0

Steve

189

(13 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Yep the Killers would be good. 

I think Pink Floyd in the Division Bell Tour was so way above all the others including Eagles, Van Halen, Stones, Aerosmith, and so many good ones.  But again, Floyd is the benchmark.

Dick Dale played up close in a tiny club and that was awesome.

Oh yeah, Eric Johnson at the Birchmere in Arlington was way near the top.

190

(28 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Crevs got the right idea with cue cards.   

Yeah, a lot goin on in this thread and a lot of truth.   Funny, if you know 10 songs, people will still expect you to be a "jukebox" and play any song on demand.  So it's good to have the notes.  But I was coached by a good friend to learn the song with the sheet but then DITCH the music stand.  You'll lose your place anyway and the audience is not very appreciative if you're not making eye contact.  You get so much more out of playing that way.  At least that's been my experience.

I tend to associate a word in the lyrics with the chord...like "Peaceful" in Peaceful Easy Feeling (Eagles) equals the "A" chord every time in that particular song.  Buys some time to think of the next lyric/chord.

191

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

Welcome Holder23 and Kap54 advice is right on.  I use a "brain" pick...their color coded for thickness.  I use a red one about 0.63"  thick I think.  Their just flexible enough and this brand has a course Cat Tongue feel to it so no slippage.  If you're just trying to improve, work on the angle of the pick attacking the string.  It needs to go across in both directions with a bit of an angle..not just flat on, sort of a wiping action if that makes sense.  Anyway check and see in 4 months about Christmas time you're gonna be making some nice music.  Good luck and tell us how it's going.

192

(7 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Welcome to Chordie Elliotg.  You didn't give us a hint on your one song or tastes, but if you can play a F or perhaps a Bm a lot of songs become available.  Here's several I like for their simplicity and also popularity.  Though in some places nobody will know one of them.  If so, maybe even better! ha

Steve

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.l … _train.crd

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url= … ranspose=0

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url= … ranspose=0

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url= … ranspose=0

193

(179 replies, posted in Recording)

Ok, I'll give it a try.....

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w140/AccoustikNoyz/CancunVaTechandSageGreyMay27th32-3.jpg?t=1250820676

If that worked, thanks Jeff!

194

(18 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Cool vibe there Russell.  Nice.

Steve

195

(17 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Man don't ya just love that day when you get a new guitar.   I remember each one like it was yesterday.  Not that I have a lot, but each of them was really exciting.  Seems it's like that for everyone.

badeye wrote:

Be open minded...   Well Said.





Badeye   cool

Yeah that's true too.  Many songs that become favorites came from other people suggesting ones I sure never came up with.

Steve

197

(8 replies, posted in My local band and me)

Way to roll out the %^& welcome mat to someone who posted 4 times ever.

Hey 24salts, welcome to CHORDIE.  If I was in Gainesville I'd be glad to join ya.  There's a lot of help here, but sometimes folks want you to be vigilant on where you post and sometimes they mean to share that with you in a way that comes out not very welcoming.  Don't worry, it's all just to point you in the right direction.

Welcome to CHORDIE by the way.

198

(11 replies, posted in Songwriting)

G D Em C also familiar... I like that one too>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2vJUadjdmo

keep 'em coming!

199

(3 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

It can be a note with vibrato or can also be a chord which is technically several notes.  Not talking about a midi version, I mean when the original song comes on you know it in the first note/chord.

To start off, how about:
Drops of Jupiter- Train
Magic Man- Heart
This Love-  Maroon 5
Enter Sandman- Metallica

And here's one that only takes one tink on the cowbell..
Honkey Tonk Woman- Rolling Stones.
Ok maybe two tinks on the cowbell..

Steve

200

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

Ok, so I've got a RC-2 and it's become a great practice tool.  I'll play 3 chords in a blues pattern or arpeggio and come back and make up some lead lines.  Am, G, F, E (all in bar chord fashion) for example sort of like part of the song Pipeline is one example.  Not playing a song per se, but more like a variable backing track.

I found you can use connect a Boss FS-5U ($18) in the Boss RC-2 Stop/Tempo input to be able to instant stop. Rather useful compared to the way the pedal alone is stopped (two stomps within 1 sec of each other).   

Would be glad to hear of other tricks you are finding on this or other loopers.

Steve