51

(133 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Major 7ths, using the Emaj 7th shape. 021100,  G maj  7th would be 354433.  A good alternative is 3x443x.

52

(5 replies, posted in Electric)

How can the death of Jim Marshall, not be one of the biggest news stories of the last week? Without Jim Marshall, the likes of Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend and Jimi hendrix would all have sounded a bit tame. They would never have made the impact on the English and American music scenes that they did. Rock and Blues wouldn't have made the impact that they did.

Without Jim Marshal, the whole of the current music scene would have been completly different, yet the news of his death was so low key, it took a few days before i got to hear about it. The news should be as big as Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley or John Lennon dying. He was as important as any one of them to the world of Music as we know it.

Thank you Jim Marshall for all the music you have given us!

53

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

She dosen' mind me owning 5 guitars. But when she asks "and what have you been doing all day?" She knows full well that "guitar" should form at least part of the honest answer. I think she enjoys watching me, trying not to give the answer she is after.

54

(12 replies, posted in Music theory)

http://www.jamplay.com/guitar-lessons/g … onic-minor

I've just been on this site and found a lot of pennys just dropped for me. The lesson itself seems a bit slow, but stick with it and read the text that comes with it.

55

(12 replies, posted in Music theory)

The whole point of using a capo is that, if the song is not in your key. Use a capo and it's in your key.

the chord sequence is  1, 4(7th) 5, 2, 6(7th)  The key you are playing in will change, but the patterns will stay the same.

56

(33 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Personally, I'd avoid cheap Fender acoustics. Cheap and nasty. I tried a Breadlove in one of our local guitar shops. I plugged it into a Marshal accoustic amp. It sounded lovely. I'm not too keen on the look of it but it's a great guitar to play.

Steve Fairclough works with Breedlove guitars. He does exhibitions and guitar fairs etc, for them. He has his own brand of guitars, "Fairclough" priced between about £200 to £400 depending on model. They are a ery nice range of guitars for their price.

57

(12 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Look for some songs with similar chord progressions, so you aren't too bogged down with what chord comes next. don't try to learn too many songs at once. Start with one or two, and get to the point where you enjoy playing them.

58

(23 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Bands and guitarists who mmake the best music, really know their stuff. they learn to play other people's songs first to learn how a song or piece or music comes together. Bands who start off writing their own songs without having leared to play first, don't usualy have good rythms and melodies or interesting chord progressions. If you learn to play at a steady beat right from the start, it will save you a lot of re-learning later on.

A friend of mine who plays drums, says his drumming improved a lot just by practicing with a metronome. If your beat is steady it will look after itself allowing you to concentrate on playing the song. This will only come with practie. As for Mississippi John Hurt, that will be much easier if you can play at a steady rythme.

59

(12 replies, posted in Acoustic)

When you go for a lighter string, there is always going to be a trade off in the ound and volume department. Lighter strings are easier to play, but don't have the same volume. Personally I'd practice with the heavier strings until they feel more natural to you. Maybe try 11s for a while and go back to the 12s later on. That said, I have friends who wouldn't dream of putting 12s on an acoustic.

60

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

You could do worse than work your way through the Oasis song book. Good songs and not that difficult to play.

61

(25 replies, posted in Electric)

Give me a hard tail any day!

62

(11 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Try lighter strings.

63

(14 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I'm right handed. When I tried playing chords with the left hand, they were not easy.  I'm not sure what the difference would be, if I'd picked up a left handed guitar and learnt it the other way instead. Isn't it just what you get used to?

64

(6 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I would play G 320003,  G/F# 220003, G/E 020003

                   A 002220,  A/G  302220 A/F# 202220 A/E 002220 I'd play the F# with my thumb.

These are known as slash chords. The G(before the slash) is the chord. The note after the slash is an extra note played below the chord.

65

(10 replies, posted in Acoustic)

If it's got new strings on it, they will loose some of their bightness after a while.

66

(24 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Crafter are quite popular in the UK. reasonably priced too.
The dangers of wandering around a guitar shop heh?

67

(22 replies, posted in Music theory)

I just think of the difference between a Major and minor scales is this.
If you play a major scale, then drop the 3rd and 5th by one fret or semitone. It cives you the minor.

68

(22 replies, posted in Music theory)

But a minor scale has a sharpened 7th without it being in the key signature. A minor has a G# which C major doesn't have. It is the relative minor but the 7th note still needs to be a semitone below the root note. As it is in the major scale.

69

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

zguitar wrote:

Welcome to the journey Katie!!!!

Don't be afraid to ask any questions when you have trouble with something. Everyone here went thru the same thing you have/will.

Good luck!!!

If new members and novice guitarists didn't ask "obvious or daft" questions. The rest of us would have nothng to answer.

One man's daft question can have the answer that everyone has been looking for. They just hadn't thought of the question.

70

(15 replies, posted in Acoustic)

It also comes down to quality and craftsmanship of the guitar maker. You can pick up a guitar which has the right action, looks good but feels like a plank of wood. If you pick it up and it feels right. It probably is.

71

(11 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fairclough-Starli … 5ade1a4765

This looks like a nice guitar. I've owned a Fairclough River for the last 3 years. I love it

Fairclough Songbird Series - Starling Dreadnought sized Acoustic guitar with onboard digital tuner.

72

(16 replies, posted in Music theory)

If you strum a chord and sing aswell. You are singing notes from a scale over the chord you are playing. You may not know the key or scale but it is still a scale.

73

(11 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Buying a 6 string is deffinatley a good idea.  I had an EKO Ranger 12, when I was learning. It was hard going though it sounded great when it was in tune.

You will learn a lot quicker on a 6 string.  £150 isn't a bad price for your first 6 string.  An entry level Takermine will be in your price range. I'd stay well clear of cheap Fenders. Where are you doing your shopping? 

Go for the guitar which is just out of your price range. Then haggle untill they sell it for the price you can afford.

Buy it in a guitar shop, not in Argos or a supermarket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE5ZhBHy … re=related
Have a look at this link. He calls it chomping. It's basicaly playing a note just below or above the root note of the chord you are about to play.

75

(21 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I used to use the pad of my ring finger to bat an A chord because it used to bend to just the right shape to stop the 3 strings. My finger got broken a couple of years ago, It doesn't work quite as well as it ues to.