It's not too hard. If you have a song in the key of A (first chord usually sets the key) and because of the singer's vocal range you need to play it in the key of C. You just move up to a capo on the third fret. Moving to the first fret would make it A# or Bp, the second fret makes it B, and since there are no notes between B and C, the capo on the third fret make it in the key of C. Now you can still play the chords as originally written. You will just me making the A further up...similar to the effect you get with a bar chord.
2 2006-12-31 21:32:53
Re: Practicing without a guitar (19 replies, posted in Acoustic)
While the Shreddneck looks pretty cool and may have some value...I don't think I could force myself to spend much time with it. My idea of practice involves both hands and my ears. I can make tons of chords and can change between most of them quickly enough to keep up with most music...but for me, coordination of actions from both hands is essential practice, plus hearing that I haven't muffed the chords.
3 2006-12-18 11:00:12
Re: how often do you change your guitar strings? (21 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Your Martin came with either light or medium gauge strings...certainly one of Martin's own varieties. The guitar is not designed for the amount of tension that would be required to tighten heavy strings into tune. So the choice between light and medium is up to you, and you can even get some that are "medium light". There are also choices to make about string composition...such as bronze, phosphor bronze with percentages... 80/20... just visit any web site like guitar center or musiciansfriend.com and look at the brands.
I use light gauge strings on my Martin. I have used several brands, but normally stay away from "coated" strings such as Elixir and others. For me they are not worth the extra cost...but others would argue with that.
The last couple of sets have been d'addario 80/20 and they sound great...but I got them for Christmas and that trumps everything. However, if I had to buy some tomorrow, that's what I would buy because I like the sound. <img src="index.php?t=getfile&id=58&private=0" border=0 alt="index.php?t=getfile&id=58&private=0">
Visit any of the string manufacturer's web sites for more hype...
...and there are tons more. Remember, strings are cheap and it only takes a few minutes to change them.
4 2006-12-12 19:34:46
Re: how often do you change your guitar strings? (21 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I can't imagine it hurting anything...and I would probably leave it as is .
5 2006-12-11 15:48:16
Re: how often do you change your guitar strings? (21 replies, posted in Acoustic)
The direction should be the same for all guitars...the strings come to the tuning keys from the inside or center of the headstock. <img src="index.php?t=getfile&id=57&private=0" border=0 alt="index.php?t=getfile&id=57&private=0">
6 2006-12-11 15:39:21
Re: Need advise on buying a new electric (3 replies, posted in Electric)
I too was considering a Mexi-caster as a Christmas present for myself. However, I read the reviews of the PRS-SE SG and opted for this funky blue guitar.
<a href="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/product/reviews?base_pid=511962&g=guitar&rpp=10&src=3SOSWXXA" target="_blank"> http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/pro … s?base_pid =511962&g=guitar&rpp=10&src=3SOSWXXA</a>
Good luck.
7 2006-12-09 14:14:03
Re: how often do you change your guitar strings? (21 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I have read the same thing about changing strings one at a time. The semi-scientist part of me isn't sure that he fully agrees with the argument. I guess I would have to set up and take some measurements to see how much the guitar actually flexes with all strings off versus on.
Either way, Acoustic Guitar had a nice article in the July issue about stringing your acoustic. The cool part is how you wrap the string ends around the tuning pins.
<a href="http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/163/163,6998,HERESHOW-1.asp" target="_blank"> http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/1 … ,HERESHOW- 1.asp</a>
8 2006-12-08 14:05:39
Re: Practicing without a guitar (19 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I don't travel the world...but for the past year have been traveling for work a week or two each month. Even just being away from my guitar for 5 days at a time was a pain...literally and figuratively. My fingers would hurt when I got back home from each trip...not to mention the fact that my progress was slow.
Earlier this year I bought an Escape, made by Traveler Guitar from the Guitar Center. This little guitar has a typical acoustic guitar scale and has been on every trip with me since. It's great. I can listen with headphones, although it has enough natural resonance to make playing in the morning in a hotel room satisfying to me. Plus, it's constructed pretty solidly and travels well in the overhead bin on a plane or on the floor in the backseat of my car.
Again, at $350(US), it's a bit pricey...but looking back, it was <b>WELL worth every penny.</b>
9 2006-12-08 13:57:31
Re: Strum patterns! (7 replies, posted in Acoustic)
David Hodge writes some good beginner and intermediate lessons that are available for free at guitarnoise.com He also covers a good bit of theory, but does include strum patterns for almost everything.
Some tunes just have to be played with the correct (or close) to get the right sound.
Good luck!
10 2006-12-08 02:37:02
Re: how often do you change your guitar strings? (21 replies, posted in Acoustic)
It's not rocket science...just make sure to leave enough slack to wind around the tuners a couple of wraps...a little too much is better than not enough. The temptation is to change one string at a time, but with all of them off, it makes for a good time to give the guitar a good wipe down. Once the strings are back on and reasonably tight, grab on to them and stretch them a bit...and then tune up...you'll have to tune a couple of times before the strings stretch out and the guitar stops bending and then you'll be all set.
Who knows why people leave their strings all curled out...possibly to make up for under endowment??? I cut mine flush with the top of the tuners.
Good luck and marvel at the sweet sound of new strings.
11 2006-12-06 01:00:11
Re: how often do you change your guitar strings? (21 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Strings are cheap. Change them one time and you will answer the question for yourself. The sound of a new set of strings is awesome and you will get lonesome for that awesome sound periodically. I play for fun on a regular basis...nothing like playing for a living, but I change strings every 3 or 4 months.
12 2006-10-13 14:25:11
Re: Silly question about a D/E chord (6 replies, posted in About Chordie)
Just when I thought this was getting easier.
13 2006-10-13 12:51:07
Re: Silly question about a D/E chord (6 replies, posted in About Chordie)
OK. I agree with the x's and o's. However, what is the F# doing in the D chord if it's a D/E ? Most charts seem to show the D/E as having the top three strings open. But what do I know? How do you finger that anyway?
14 2006-10-12 10:32:21
Re: Silly question about a D/E chord (6 replies, posted in About Chordie)
You are correct in your analysis of the notes in that chord. I think the chord itself is misslabeled. D/F# is much more commonly used.