Combining Chord Shapes

Almost-Seasons Greetings to you! It’s been a busy month in the Holy City and the holidays are just getting started. This past Saturday I had the privilege to play at the Annual Cold Heart Revival, a festival concert at the Pour House featuring several regional and local bands that fall somewhere in the alt-country vein. In addition to local favorites Lindsay Holler's Western Polaroids, there were great sets from Joel Hamilton & Owen Beverly (The In-laws), Sadler Vaden, and Bill Carson. This concert also always seems to fall on the weekend of the USC-Florida game, which usually ends up more lopsided than it did this year…



Our latest video lesson should start to tie together some of the ideas we’ve previously been working on. By applying the chord fragments we learned in the first lessons, we can start to get a feel for rhythmic comping. We will later learn the major scale in each chord position, and that will open up our lead playing tremendously.

The first real song part in this lesson is from Betty Wright’s “Clean Up Woman.” This a quintessential R & B number when it comes to layered rhythmic guitar parts. In the video we learn the basic rhythm part in the key of G (for continuity from the previous lessons) even though the original song was in the key of F. This is okay because you should learn how to use these chords in all keys anyway! An easy was to start navigating the chord shapes to is remember the “D shape” is always 4 frets (a major 3rd) higher up the neck than the “F shape.” In our example the “F shape” G major chord is on the 3rd fret and the “D shape” G major chord is on the 7th fret.

I hope you enjoy the lesson, next time I will teach you all the parts to ‘Clean Up Woman.” There is another great video lesson on this topic in Jeff “Skunk” Baxter’s (of Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers fame) video series called “American Guitar.” This is a great, yet humorously dated ("We are in the 90's Ladies and Gentleman!") video series in which Baxter teaches whatever the “American guitar style” encompasses to an apparent Japanese audience. Be sure to check it out, and that’s all until next time. Peace!



Download the Guitar Pro .gp5 or the tab of this lesson here.

Music Ed. on a Budget

Let's face it, most working musicians don't have much much extra cash to burn. We all want to improve our skills, broaden our horizons, and buy the occasional steak (or veggie burger) dinner.
Even if we're fortunate enough to have some regular gigs paying for day-to-day bills with our music revenue can be hard enough; let alone financing further music education and the upkeep of our gear. While you guys are soaking in my last few lessons I will take this time to share a few ideas I had about maximizing some inexpensive resources so you can save your cheddar for your...well, your veggie burger.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS YOUR FRIEND!!
I have recently been expanding my library of jazz recordings. Instead of forking out lots of money for new cds (The Definitive Vince Guaraldi and the new Julian Lage album not withstanding) I have been using the wealth of cds at the Charleston County Library as a FREE way to hear and learn many new things. I did the same thing at the Richland County Library when I lived in Columbia. From Skip James to Joni Mitchell, Drive-By Truckers to Herbie Hancock, there are so many quality albums available it's not even funny. The Charleston Library even has a Lindsay Holler and the Dirty Kids album which is awesome. Except for the occasional late fee you have almost-free access to so much music it would be wrong to not take advantage of this opportunity.

BECOME A REGULAR AT YOUR PUBLIC LIBRARY

RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BUY!!
If you read my post about Gear Acquisition Syndrome you might have been led to believe that I'm a Harmony Central hater. My point was that you shouldn't obsess about your gear, but if you are ready to buy something for your rig then you should most definitely research before you buy. There is so much information out there about virtually any guitar, amp, or pedal (including product demos on Youtube) that there is no reason these days to buy gear on a whim without learning about it or trying it out before hand. Ebay and Craigslist can also be your friend for value-priced gear as long as you take the right precautions.

DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS IN YOUR COMMUNITY!!

Just last week the recto-tube in my VOX AC30 blew out again. I have relied on local amp guru Bill Nance for a few years now for all my amp questions and repairs. Instead of being left amp-less for a weekend gig and a week's worth of rehearsals Bill was generous enough to lend me one of his class-A hand built tube amps while mine was being fixed. My point is being loyal to those in your local music shops can pay dividends when it comes time for repairs and purchases. Mad props to Bill and BILCO AMPS!!ONE OF BILL'S GNARLY COMBO AMPS

These days your dollars have to stretch pretty far. If you've heard the old joke:
Q: How does a guitarist make a million dollars?
A: He starts with two million!

then you know it can be true too often. Try to save your money for when it counts. Hold out on pedals unless that new one is absolutely necessary because they can be a money-pit. Meet people in your music community and develop relationships, and don't forget your library card!

Harmonized Major Scale

Welcome back, hope you guys had a fun and safe Halloween! Today's lesson will pick up where we left off last time with chord fragments. This time we will use familiar chord shapes to harmonize the major scale. This example is also in the key of G but can be easily transposed for use in any key.

Click to download the guitar pro file or the standard tab. If you don't have Guitar Pro yet, be sure to download a demo because this program is a great practice tool! Please leave comments so I can give better lessons and email me any questions. Thanks!

Harmonized Major Scale

Welcome back, hope you guys had a fun and safe Halloween! Today's lesson will pick up where we left off last time with chord fragments. This time we will use familiar chord shapes to harmonize the major scale. This example is also in the key of G but can be easily transposed for use in any key.

Click to download the guitar pro file or the standard tab. If you don't have Guitar Pro yet, be sure to download a demo because this program is a great practice tool! Please leave comments so I can give better lessons and email me any questions. Thanks!