2,951

(275 replies, posted in Electric)

Well I am 51 years young and started with music when I was 17 years. Have a lot of guitars, but never got the time to play. Since I had to stop working after a horrible car crash, I am so happy to have all those guitars, I just like to play in a group, because you need at least a good rythmsection, for me the most important thing.

2,952

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

This is again a very tricky one, but I love to hear the opinion of a lot of people. I could add classical singers, like Pavarotti. But this one is for all non classical singers. I would be pleased if one does count the "voice capacity", meaning voice range, intonation, variation, like from low to high, harmony is also included. MY LIST, maybe strange, but that's why I ask this and why I talked about POWER voices.

1/ Axl Rose: tremendous voice, can do a lot with his voice

2/ David Lee Roth (ex VAN HALEN).

3/ Paul Mc Cartney: just listen to yesterday and compare it with his harder songs, what a voice!!!

4/ (don't laugh) THE GIBB brothers, barry, robin, if you see how beautiful they could sing, more explicit, the brothers voices together, it still gives me goosebumps.

5/ Ian Gillan, Deep Purple: challenge: try to sing child in time.

6/ The righteous brothers, especially unchained melody, and if you don't agree, wikipedia does.

7/ Robert Plant (good ol' led zeppelin)

8/ Crosby, Stills, Nash: again that fenomenal harmony.

9/ Wilsons, beach boys of course

10/ Joe Cocker.

And I can still go on, but as I wrote, I tried to analyse there "vocal powers" and in my eyes very important, harmony, that's why the bee gees are on 4, they could sing from low to normal up to the falsetto voices, like staying alive. But this is only me speaking,so what do YOU think. I think it is worth to make your list, we've got guitarplayers and now vocalists.

Thanks for participating, if you have the opportunity, tell me your reasons why. There are a lot of great singers. Zucchero: his voice is a little bit like Joe Cocker's voice, AND WHO DOES NOT REMEMBER HIS SCREAM GOING TO THE BONES in Woodstock 69??

2,953

(13 replies, posted in Electric)

Thanks, I was thinking exactly the same thing, that it should be an endless list if you approach this in a logical way. That's why I didn't ask, who is the best guitarplayer. Is there already a topic about this object, I can create one, but in a topic like that, it would be more logic to make subcategories. People like Steve Vai, Satriani, Malmsteen (he is playing since the age of 5 and classical formed), on the other hand guys like John Fogerty, Neil Young, absolutely not the the best players, technical speaking, but they play with passion and not sterile. A very good example of a sterile song and a song straight from the heart is a song we all know: "without you", original written by the very underestimated popgroup BADFINGER, but very famous thanks to Harry Nilsson, so much emotion in his voice, and even better known in the "STERILE" version of I think Mariah Carey.

2,954

(26 replies, posted in Electric)

<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_redface.gif" border=0 alt="Embarassed">  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_sad.gif" border=0 alt="Sad">  to tell the truth, I don't know. It all started in 73-74 and in 1973 I went to university for 7 years, the time needed here to become a medical doctor. The band my brother (2 years younger) and I did start up, has got a lot of succes in our country (BELGIUM). To be honest I played on a cheap acoustic guitar, BUT with an electric pick-up, and my younger brother (tried at least) played more lead and even more solo(for what it's worth). I had to give up playing because of the university, but I did money aside to purchase in 1978 my first more decent guitar, an acoustic yamaha, cost: 300$. I am convinced that I was influenced, certainly by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, together with Creedence Clearwater Revival, Deep Purple too, because at that time they were, still are, my heroes. So I just can't put them in a ranking system: CCR CSN&Y Deep Purple. It was also the beginning of glamrock, hardrock (t-rex, bowie, led zeppelin)

The acoustic guitar is the best way to learn how to play guitar, just "natural", you play with an instrument that is difficult. You can hear every wrong note. BUT playing electric, you can camouflage mistakes, using huge distortion. DON'T FORGET THE MOST IMPORTANT THING PLAYING IN A BAND: " THE RYTHM SECTION: BASS DRUM" they are the most important members of the band, but also the most UNDERESTIMATED <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">

2,956

(38 replies, posted in Electric)

My humble opinion, concerning the 27 club is that, when you start playing in a band, you start let us say at 20, slowly turning into professionals, and if you have the luck to write some "super songs", becoming "super hits", it is over with your privacy. They can tell whatever they want, dreaming the whole time to reach that point, that they don't have a private life and blablabla, and this, on one hand simple average, but talented people, are just to young to realise the impact. I think they should stay themselves, and that's the tricky part. At that age, early 20-ties, they should be followed by shrinks to show them what NOT to do. Once between 30-40 years of age and with a sudden superhit(s), I believe those people stay more stable in life, I also say, be yourself whatever happens and how difficult it can be, it is useful to try living normal. I always remember the "big fat" Elvis, calling in the middle of the night his private pilot to go to Vegas to buy a sandwich with peanutbutter and bananas, such a behaviour is it NORMAL. I had also an occupation where you needed to be loved (not a hooker) and you have tendencies to escape all the stress by taking pills and/or alcohol

2,957

(13 replies, posted in Electric)

I think this item will be very different from the top 10 acoustic songs. But even there you have to decide between a lot of factors. I don't want a list of songs like "bohemian rhapsody", but songs who are living their own life, by the importance of the electric guitar.

What's important: melody-playing style-speed.Most imortant for me is the combination melody-playstyle. Less important are the 30 minutes guitarsolos.

My top 10:

1/ crossroads - Clapton.

2/ hey joe - jimi hendrix

3/ honky tonk woman - rolling stones

4/ I will return - Springwater

5/ eruption - Van Halen

6/ Stairway to heaven - Led Zeppelin

7/ Hotel California - Eagles (see acoustic too)

8/ Keep on chooglin' - Creedence Clearwater Revival

9/ Nothing Else Matters - Metallica

10/ Child in Time - Deep Purple

I think it's even better to start even if you want to go professiona, to start between 30-40 years old.

I think the only problem that can occur is the fact that you heard and know MORE songs than an 19 year old, and this can affect your songs. Remember there are only 7 major chords, and 7 minor, and seven 7th= 21 frequently used chords. And "dream, dream, dream" if you have the luck to become very popular, it will be easier to act normal. I played when I was about 19 years, neglected playing, and started again at 38years. Got a very bad traffic accident, and now, I must admit, that because I can't work anymore, and I receive a lot of money, that I COLLECT and Play, and to be honest, every day, everytime when I play, it's going better. Practise a lot, know the most important chords, and if you write your own songs, it is always as they say: 10% inspiration, 90% transpiration

2,959

(0 replies, posted in About Chordie)

I told already a few times that I am a guitar freak. I have mostly top brands. What is your favourite guitar?

My list is

1. Paul Reed Smith, the best sound and the best "gibsonstyle" and "fenderstyle" still keeping his own sound.

2. Gibson Les Paul. I have also a quetion about this guitar, I own a Gibson SG Menace, a faded flying V, and they speak of smokey coils in the SG menace.

The standard SG has often alnico's like for the neck 490R and bridge 498T, and the menace have the same kind of pick-ups, but Smoky Coils w/brass stud, is there anybody out there to talk about the difference, same thing with the flying V. I know there is no satin finish, I saw how they produced f-hole gibson's in Memphis, the paint job is like hell, I think that this special paintings, black, sunburst, vieuwing the time they take, is the only responsible for the high cost.

3. Fender Stratocaster and telecaster. I admire the simplicity of a telecaster. The one I have was ment for the european market ONLY, and the tele is a 52 reissue in a surf green color, matching the color's of the cars. My stratocaster is an all original sunburst strat from 1964, pricelist in 2005: 10.000$ in 2006: 15000$ and for 2007: 20.000$!!! Is this still realistic? Even worse are the Gibson Les Pauls from 1958 till 1960. If have such a guitar you need to place boobytraps everywhere. I know that people like GRUHN and Ed Roman, are at least for 50% responsable for those prices.

And yet, I have the 3 different PRS EG brands US made, I assure you that every person who enters here and listen to "the triplets"2 produced for 2 years and 1 for 4 years, sound much better. He should make them again, not in SE form, however I prefer my PRS SE Tremonti in stead of my menace. Gretsch Pinguin: I HOPE SOMEONE CAN TELL ME WHY THIS MODEL IS WORTH A FORTUNE???

2,960

(1 replies, posted in About Chordie)

I don't really know what you mean, because the song on it self is very easy, you can find the song on chordieA]Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's busy, too busy to come to the p[E]hone

Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's trying, to start a new life of her [A]own.

[D]Sylvia's mother says S[A]ylvia's happy...

So w[E]hy don't you leave her a[A]lone?

And the [E]operator says :" Fourty cents more, for the next three minutes."

Ple[D]ase Mrs. Adria, I've j[A]ust got to talk to her

        [E]I'll only keep her a wh[A]ile

        [D]Please Mrs. Adria, just w[A]ant to tell her

        Goodb[E]ye...

So this is easy, I added song and lyrics. The only way, MY OPINION!!! is once you have a certain level, playing guitar, the best way to continue learning is play along with a song that you know, on a music CD. It is also a very good test for checking your "music feeling". I think I understand you, because of the song "sweet home alabama"the intro is easy and difficult at the same time. Even the guys from lynard skynard play it on stage, live, without the little "things", but just straight D----C----G

2,961

(1 replies, posted in Electric)

<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_razz.gif" border=0 alt="Razz">  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">  I play "honky tonk woman" in maybe 5 keys, but mostly using G. If you play it acoustic, than you have countryhonk, a wellknown song as well. I must admit, I never played in in open tuning, it is a shame for me, having 30 guitars, electric and acoustic, that none of them are in open tune. If I play the song electric, I start with G than C, followed again by G C and D, refrein: G D G... I have to tell that I am playing for years, but just to relax. I practised medecins, but due to a car crash, hit the tree jack and don't you come back.., I have to submit everything, I can still walk, but real stupid things: pain is on my side an,d it is due to the pain I decided to go again to the hospital, where they confirmed my thoughts: stop working. I understand all this, I was a walking pill-cocktial at the end. I can NOT remain seated for 10 minutes, and have luck to be insured so well. Even giving me a topjob, I still get more by doing nothing. So I really have all the time, and 3 years ago, just before stopping, there was a Canadian pro, owner of a big studio, in Missisauga and he told me that I could play without problems in de most US groups. But that is my problem, starting a group.

2,962

(1 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I really like to buy a small device to record what I play.I know there is that BOSS BR MR, fitting in your pocket with 4 tracks and I think 16 virtual tracks.

I want to know, not only what a virtual track is, but especially, a device with 8 tracks, without the virtual tracks, but with a bassloop and drum included. Also I should like to know if one , when singing, and the singing is bad, if you can correct things you do wrong. Probably, this can be fixed with a USB connection, analysing the stuff you recorded, taking time to correct it, by making even a mickey mouse voice, and burn your music. WHO CAN HELP ME, I think that I am not the only one who likes to put a song together.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaase

2,963

(39 replies, posted in Electric)

I think you want too much, there are more bad players than good players. In a lot of countries, learning how to read notes, and learning to play an instrument exists. There is even a departement at the university of Oxford, for pop music. I can only tell you that the best way to learn is to persist in practising, even on your "bad guitar". I started acoustic, later electric and now I am a plaer-collector. No money? you can always put some money aside to purchase guitars. For electrics you can look on eBay.com, or, and they sound great, buy a PRS SE, very good, very affordable and you have a guitar from the luthier who makes probably the best guitars in the world

2,964

(19 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

This is a hard one, you can save a lot of money, by buying a decent amp, and create effects, distortion you can go up to a lot of "legendary amps" just by using a product like line6 pod xt live. I have 3 amps, a so called acoustic marshall 100 watt, but in fact I use him more to listen to the spectacular real, no distortion, just clean, guitar sound. The best I have is a fender cybertwin, quit expensive but worth every $ and a valvestate marshall, also 100 watt, and here I can use my line 6 floor pod live.

Guitar: if it is the first, I want to tell that gibson has some great guitars low in price, like SG, faded and flying V. You can also buy epiphone or a mexican strat. Problem, once you play and compare other guitars, you want to upgrade. It is a more expensive hobby, but if you smoke and or drink, bring that to 50% and you have something good. Collecting stamps is also expensive. Good Luck

2,965

(8 replies, posted in Electric)

Yes, I was really at the time I asked this questions, because you're 100% right. Family members, certainly in a musical family, can be responsable too.

Thanks, I really forgot to mention this fact.

But it is amazing how other musical groups are influenced, take PROCOL HARUM, I have a recording where, they thank BACH, for "co-writing" and "inspiring" them for the PROCOL music.

2,966

(3 replies, posted in Acoustic)

What do you exactly mean with chcken picking.I can play at least 40-50 chords, knowing that there are about 100x more chords.

I just can say that I learned a lot trying to follow CD songs, and I have now the little Korg Pandora, wich allows you if you play alone, to try guitar loops, so my play is really improving, because you have (limited) drum- and bassloops. Tried fingerpicking, but I think I am to lazy to learn picking, especially because, if you play for 25 years, it is very hard to change habits. I pick my strings with a plectrum, and very slowly, I even try to play without. That is why that technique is fascinating.

2,967

(8 replies, posted in Electric)

I think this is a hard one to answer. We pick up with our ears, so many sounds.

I AM NOT ASKING THE WHO IS THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER, but I am so curious to find out if a guitarplayer, young, old I don't care.

BUT I do care for answers like why not playing drums or bassguitar, because I am a guitarman myself, I just know that the rythmsection is definatly underestimated. To play alone: you must be a damn good fingerpicker.

In my case, acoustic (I am NO FINGERPICKER AT ALL), I do remember leo "machinegun" Kottke, who amazed me how beautiful his play sounds. Same category: Neil Young & Bawb Dylan, they both play electric as well, but look it up, Dylan makes a fenomenal song using just 3 accords, also 4 and very rare 5 accords. It is unbelievable what this man does with 3 accords. Everyone knows the song KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR, you should go 1 step further and listen to the rest of the songs, in wich he plays almost every song with 3 accords, BILLY THE KID, album. Every song exists almost by the grace of 3 basic chords, also they look alike (FILM MUSIC) it is in my eyes the best stuff he made, in a technical way+melody.

Electric: JOHN FOGERTY, simple, but straight from the heart, with CCR. That is the reason why I started to play guitar: FOGERTY  YOUNG  DYLAN <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">

2,968

(36 replies, posted in Electric)

<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing"> I gave already an answer, but I think it will be better, a quetion: who is or are the main reason to start playing guitar.

My case CCR Neil Young, I am not saying you that they are really great players, BUT they putted a soul in their work

<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool"> it is cool to play guitar, I told already that I am not a bad player, but certainly not a super player.

For me the best way is to learn your chords, there are too many books, so keep it simple. Start, with or without dvd, to learn:

- tuning a guitar, wait for open tunings

- know that there are only 7 major chords: A  B  C  D  E  F G

- once you know these, start with the minord: Am, Bm, Cm, Dm, Em, Fm , Gm it sounds more melancholic and last, I mean the basics of playing guitar, are the same chords in 7 like A7  B7 ... more used in blues, the other chords? if you know these, it will allow you already to play quit good, BUT lot of practising, chords  are easy to find on the web, the most difficult thing is changing position of your fingers <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">

2,970

(38 replies, posted in Electric)

I think that if we organise a BBQ for the family of the "27 club", beautiful idea from you, that we should have at least a lot of people. I am looking for Robert Johnon, probably on amazon

2,971

(10 replies, posted in Electric)

I can ONLY agree. I am absolutely, no CLAPTON, PETER GREEN, and MANY others. I am 50% an unlucky man, because my job was medical doctor, whiped out in 1" by hitting" a tree frontal and the other 50%, I got a lot of guitars, maybe too much. Yesterday evening I had my best friend, he played on the gibson montana gold, normally he takes a martin: hd-28 or d-45, but the sound if this "gigantic" guitar was amazing, and I have it since 5 years. It is difficult to explain, but the logic is that you can only appreciate a guitar with the soundhole pointed at you.

Like I told I am a blessed man with the collection, all famous brands and an unbelievable sound, I had the opportunity,to buy 6 kinds of guitar I was given by a music store, in which I had invested about 7000$, and, like always, needing my money, I asked that guy to pay me with guitars and -25%, with that money you can buy nice stuff, the story continues when a drugaddict needed money, he sold his '76 hd-28 martin to get money (700$), also a fender us strat original '64 together with a black 'beauty" gibson custom. I know a lot of guitars, when possible, I would like to go back to Memphis, where the production is specialised in "lucille's)

2,972

(1 replies, posted in Electric)

<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_mad.gif" border=0 alt="Mad">  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy"> It will be always a mystery, how a group can be famous. I think they all start with that idea, some have luck, others, with maybe better musicians don't. In stead of protecting themselves, they should, without being stalked by people, try to live a normal (??!!!) live.

On one hand they all want to be recognized, on the other hand, once they are there, rush, rush.. to disappear

2,973

(38 replies, posted in Electric)

Well, if you offer me this, I would be very grateful (dead?) no, kidding. It is in fact fascinating, and I don't mean about planecrashes.
I am a MD and thanks to that fact I was backstage Doc for more than 15 years. The festival is considered as the biggest in Europe and I've seen it all, in the beginning you could realy speak about, it is a cliché, sex, drugs and rock & roll, but the more years passed, the accent is or was, because I stopped doing this job, since they spread the festival in 4 stages, main-, side- ...
I talked with a lot of artists, because they are just like us, asking if their performance was good. I even became very close with Dave Grohl, ex-nirwana, now Foo Fighters.
This the only thing I regret, he invited me to come to Seattle, gave me his address, phone, he was free in August and I did not go, I phoned him, but "my job" was more important then. Still it's painful, he is a hell of a person, and about Kurt... and MSS LOVE, he suggested very weird stuff, but acceptable

2,974

(2 replies, posted in Electric)

I think that there is a sonex on eBay at this time

2,975

(38 replies, posted in Electric)

<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool"> I do agree with you, BUT what I find so strange is especially the age, when they died.

My opinion is that especially at this age, 27 years old, is linked to the fact that they were suddenly very famous and it was really hard to become suddenly, so famous. I remeber me Keith RIFF Richards, told that they are very easy targets, knowing that they are like you said, always on the road, restless, thinking of the fact "do we have a good performance" + the easy access to those substances, like heroin, to be back to keith, he told that he is still alive, because he could afford it pure, not with other substances, to cut the heroin. But on the moment, I think when the album "goat's head soup" he was the numero uno on the deathlist, also Lou Reed was, and a few others. It is always easy to get that stuff, but more difficult to stop.