it depends how sensitive the finish is
mines a pretty tough polyurethane finish so i just use window cleaner but it is not recommended for more sensitive finishes
252 2007-09-11 19:57:43
Re: wah pedal - Any users out there - what do you think? (7 replies, posted in Electric)
I occasionally play with a wah pedal but i find it difficult to get the timing of the foot right - unlike distortion it is quite a subtle effect
I am beginning to get the hanhg of it by listening to tracjs which use Wah
my favorite tracks are "tales of brave ulysesses" by cream
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rHMCfEhdX … mp;search=
I also like the theme from shaft by Issac Hayes which has a very different effect.
253 2007-09-10 22:07:08
Re: Martin Backpacker Guitar - Reviews? Opinions? (15 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I have an Ozark travel guitar which serves the same purpose as a backpacker
Its a nice guitar - and I like taking it on walks - however it does lacks bass and volume so I wouldn't want to play it in an ensemble.
try the guitar in the shop is my advice
255 2007-09-04 22:29:00
Re: REGGAE (3 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Guitardocphil
I posted some advice on Reggae and Ska
http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3102
http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3583
incidentally -
I think that when playing reggae you are better counting 1.2.3.4. The point in the Video is I think that the strum can be emphasised on the third beat.
However my preference is to put the accent on the second and fourth beat
256 2007-09-03 23:57:00
Re: GOOD ELECTRIC GUITARS? $$$$$ or $ (17 replies, posted in Electric)
thanks
some really good ideas here.
when I started playing I bought a fender squier and twenty year later still play it
some people knock them and I don't know whether the quality of the newest models is quite what it is was - but with a entry level guitar by a respected manufacturer you will always get an instrument that beginners can learn with - although the tonal quality may not be all that great
257 2007-09-03 23:37:00
Re: STRUMMIMG (11 replies, posted in Acoustic)
abishop wrote:
Hey guys, I am just beginning with guitar and have a novice question. How do you know the strum pattern for a song? I mean the "up-down-up" part?" Is there anywhere that gives this or should you just know it?
try this thread
258 2007-09-03 22:58:26
Re: Why Minor pentatonic? (8 replies, posted in Electric)
at the risk of confusing everyone including myself some thoughts
when you play a minor pentatonic lick over the "relative" major chord progression it will sound fine but it have a bluesy sound. it will sound odd if you use it to accompany upbeat pop songs
you can use the same shapes you learn for the minor pentatonic to play the major pentatonic scale its just the same shapes three frets lower.
in general if you want a bluesy sound use the minor pentatonic and resolve to the A. if you want a major sound use the major pentatonic and resolve to the C.
the blue note for the Am blues scale is the bV which is Eb
There are other blue notes. I never use them but my lead guitar book suggests the II, III and VI of the A major scale which are B C# and F#. Don't ask me why.
259 2007-09-03 22:11:01
Re: THE GERM SONG inspired by JAMES (8 replies, posted in Songwriting)
I don't know too many songs about germs but there was a little number called "Germ Free Adolescents" by X ray specs which I loved when I was a lad
great lyrics
260 2007-08-17 01:11:54
Topic: Reggae Strum (2 replies, posted in Electric)
I have posted a number of strumming patterns here and hopefully have covered a range of styles.
I have one left in my bag of tricks.
I post a ska strum a while ago. This time I will try reggae.
The key features of playing reggae are playing on the backbeat and staccato strumming
Playing on the backbeat means that you play the chord on the second beat of the bar and the fourth beat rather than the first and third beats as in Rock.
and in some reggae songs the kick and snare drums are played on the third beat of the bar (this is called a one drop groove). it also produces a slightly laid back feel.
You will see in the example below that the guitar is played on the 2nd and 4th beat
Staccato strums is where you use barre chords and lots of left hand damping. Chords which are damped are indicated with a @. This effect is achieved by releasing the pressure on the frets of the guitar with the left hand (so you mute the chord immediately after playing it)
Heres an example of a pattern
1..&..2..&..3..&...4...&
...........@..........@...
........V..n...........V......
Have a look at Junior Murvin and his band playing police and theives
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=19dP84Q4Qus
Another example
1..&..2..&..3..&...4...&
...........@..............@...
........V..n...........V..n.....
make sure you watch Bob Marley and Peter Tosh in action with a great groove and video - playing stir it up
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=r0RcXRmqT_k
You will notice that theres a lot of damping (that chicka chicka sound). It gives a very percussive sound
When I play reggae I can't resist adding a bit of extra percussion. Once every bar I slap the strings with the right hand instead of strumming the chord.
Tell us what you favorite reggae songs are and how you play them.
261 2007-08-16 22:25:46
Re: Buying effect-pedals is tricky, your views would come in handy (8 replies, posted in Electric)
cickan
tell us how you get on
John
262 2007-08-15 00:26:20
Topic: Trees (3 replies, posted in Songwriting)
I thought that I would post an upbeat song to cheer you all up. and what could do that more than a song about trees and stuff.
however if you are going to give it a shot - make sure you play it using barre chords at 5th and 7th or you might just upset yourselves again 
deep down we all love trees. look after them and enjoy, lol
Trees by John Cross
[A] Willow [D] Oak [E] and Beech [D]
[A] everything [D] in the [E] gardens [D]green
[A]Willow[D] Oak [E] and [D] Elder
[A] piles of [D] old [E] and shredded [D] paper
[A]Willow[D] Oak [E] and [D] Papayas
[A] planted [D] by [E] frequent [D] flyers
[A]Willow[D] Oak [E] and [D] Hazel
[A] clearing [D] in the [E] Amazon [D] Jungle
[A] deep [Bm] deep and [D] deeper
[A] green [Bm] and the [D] gray
[A] love the [D] trees like [E] family [E]
[A]chains of [D] love [E] around us both [E]
[A] grow[D] ourselves a [E] forest home [E]
[A] Holly [D] Cherry and [E] Yew [D]
[A] Oxy [D] gen and [E] Co2 [D]
[A] Holly [D] Cherryand [E] Willow [D]
[A] Maple [D] necks and [E] Rosewood [D] inlay
[A] Holly [D] Cherryand [E] Bananas [D]
[A] plant one [D] for my [E] darling [D] daughters
[A] Holly [D] Cherry and [E] Rowan [D]
[A] apple [D] dropped on [E] Issac [D] Newton
[A] deep [Bm] deep and [D] deeper
[A] green [Bm] and the [D] gray
[A] love[D] trees like [E] family [E]
[A] chains of [D] love [E] around us both [E]
[A] have[D] ourselves [E] a tree top jam [E]
263 2007-08-15 00:05:50
Re: "Infrastructure Blues" (7 replies, posted in Songwriting)
James
Everything is crumbling, rusting, rotting away
Pipes and roads and bridges steadily decay
That why your taxes are so high (......probably)
I like it - I have soft spot for your blues numbers
John
264 2007-08-15 00:00:14
Re: "t"title:my little tractor (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
do you have a tractor daddycool or are you just teasing us ?
great song
265 2007-08-14 18:07:29
Re: TOP 5 - TOP 10 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC (6 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
how could you miss Classical Gas by Mason Williams
266 2007-08-14 00:11:55
Re: Buying effect-pedals is tricky, your views would come in handy (8 replies, posted in Electric)
my preference would be for
-distortion or overdrive - you need some sort of distortion for most rock tracks - however many modern amps come with a separate overdrive channel and then -
phasers are cool for funky stuff or slightly psychedelic effects
one option is to get a multieffects pedal - Zoom do different priced pedals - one for about £50
267 2007-08-13 23:54:04
Re: CONCERNING RECORDING MUSIC (5 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I have a zoom multitracker
if I want to transfer the recored data to a Computer I also use cubase which is a sequencer which does displays the audio files with sine waves
normally i prefer to use the multitracker (the equivalent of Boss) as its good enough to get a decent sounding track and rather easier to use.
zoom has a "punch in and out" function which allows you to correct small errors in the singing or guitar track by recording over them.
its often easier to record the track from scratch. If you alter the vocals it does not mean you have to record the other tracks. You get used to recording them seperately.
You can also keep different versions of the tracks in the memory (they are called virtual tracks)
268 2007-08-13 07:51:32
Re: JOKES ABOUT MUSIC/MUSICIANS (41 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
a banjo player buys a new and very expensive banjo and is driving home with it on the back seat of his car. He has to stop for two minutes at another shop but worries that someone will steal his new pride and joy. Thinking that he'll be very quick he decides to take a chance, locks the banjo inside the car and disappears.
Two minutes later he reappears and, you've guessed it, the window is broken and...
There are two banjos on the back seat!
269 2007-08-11 17:47:12
Re: how to play this?? (10 replies, posted in Electric)
270 2007-08-11 10:13:56
Re: how to teach (3 replies, posted in Acoustic)
I teach my eight year old daughter
What works for me
* finding a book with some songs and which shows the chords
1st lessons
* explain how to hold the guitar
* explain the names for parts of the guitar
then
* learn some simple melodies/licks and after a while when they feel comfortable with that
* show a simple chord (key of A is a good starting place)
trick is to provide ideas, suggestions and encourgement but if some one wants to learns to play most of the activity has to be self motivated practice. in the end guitar can't be taught it has to be learnt - and pratice is everything
271 2007-08-10 17:32:25
Re: Strumming Patterns (13 replies, posted in Acoustic)
lexibabe wrote:
i am also begining to learn but i only know the up and down strum...
i wanted to learn how to play the bass with the alternating treble strings. how to do it?
Do you mean alternating bass. If so, I just posted some examples on the electric forum
For those who never visit I've posted patterns for ska, punk, blues, funk and fingerpicking in the past few months . Have a look and add your tips/suggestions/songs
272 2007-08-10 17:28:54
Topic: Strumming Patterns - bass strum (1 replies, posted in Electric)
Sometime ago I noticed that there were regular requests for strum patterns on this forum
Here is a "bass" strum pattern. It is often used in country music but can be applied to ballads in any style.
Try it with this chord progression, A D E
.......1.... 2....3....1...2...3....1...2...3.......
E............0.....0........2...2.........0...0.......
B............2.....2........3...3.........0...0.....
G............2.....2........2...2.........1...1....
D.....0..................................................
A.........................0..............................
E.......................................0................
The key to this pattern is to play the "root" note of the chord followed by the top three notes of the chord. The chords in these examples are all open chords
In the example, above, the pattern is in waltz time which means that there are 3 beats in every bar. This is quite common with bass strum. Think of Amazing Grace or Tennessee Waltz
To get the hang of those root notes try this chord progression E C G. You will notice that the root note of the C chord is on the 3rd fret. That should be easy to do if you are holding the open C chord
.1.... 2....3....4...1...2...3....4...1...2...3...4...
------0----0---0------0---0---0------3---3---3
------0----0---0------1---1---1------0---0---0
------1----1---1------0---0---0------0---0---0
----------------------------------------------------
------ -------------3------------------------------
-0---------------------------------3----------------
Its also common to vary the bass notes which are played with each chord. Try playing the root note and the next time play the 5th string
This is a two bar progression of E and D
.1.... &....2....&....3...&...4...&...1....&...2...&...3...&...4...&...
-----------2----2-----------2---2----------0---0----------0---0
-----------3----3-----------3---3----------0---0----------0---0
-----------2----2-----------2---2----------1---1----------1---1
-0------------------------------------------------------------------
-------- ------------0--------------------------------0----------------
-------------------------------------0-----------------------------------
Popular songs which use bass strum patterns include
"Me and Booby Mcgee". Janis Joplin or Kris Kristopherson did this - but see waylon jennings on an electric guitar
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wE8JKMjpuAw
"I walk the line" - John Cash at San Quentin - great video
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bCftkirSpHE
get strumming - and post your tips and song suggestions here.
273 2007-08-10 08:17:08
Re: Beginner to acoustic guitar (13 replies, posted in Acoustic)
lexibabe
don't worry about callouses they are not very visible - they are just a bit tougher
get yourself a good book to practice from - something with chords - if you want to be a singer songwriter
if there is a class nearby consider joining it - its a good way to meet people with a shared interest
it takes time to learn so don't be in a rush and enjoy it
274 2007-08-09 21:29:36
Re: Wastin' away again (5 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
i do take my guitar to the beach
could get stolen - by those guitar thief/pirate people. if possible take nubile young lady (or hunky chap) to look after it while you are in the sea.
sand other problem - it will scratch the varnish
neck unlikely to warp due to humidity
275 2007-08-07 20:56:22
Re: Bands That Stuck It Out (10 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
More difficult than I thought it would be but heres my contribution
Green day started 1987. Produced indie records from 1989 until 1994 Dookie was a mainstream success. Three core members in place in 1990
Radiohead formed 1986 - all original members working on new album.