151 Reply by M.B.

(6 replies, posted in Music theory)

Thanks Arkady, I think I got it now.

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152 Reply by M.B.

(6 replies, posted in Music theory)

So, BGD, I've been picking this song, and from the C chord, I've just removed my fourth finger from the fifth fret, and then moved my third finger from the second fret of the D string to the second fret of the A string to sound B, and from there, going up to the Am. Is that what the notation is saying I should do?

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153 Reply by M.B.

(24 replies, posted in Electric)

arkady wrote:

Hi M.B.
With todays musical technology it possible get mostly any modern guitar with the appropriate  FX to sound like anything you want sound wise.
Purist would disagree but in general this true of all electronic generated music.
Un-FX guitars are all total different in sound and looks and all guitarist have there favorites so I guess it will always matter whether Gretsch White Falcon or a Fender Stratocaster is being played.
ark

So the kind of sound you want is definitely influenced by the guitar and amps you use, and if a musician chooses he or she can either let the inherent sound of the instrument and equipment come out, or alter it through FX.

Go to forum: Electric

154 Topic by M.B.

(6 replies, posted in Music theory)

Is there a difference between a slash chord that's notated C/B and one that's notated C/b?

For example, from a version of "Simple Twist of Fate" by Bob Dylan,

G
They sat together in the park
Bm
As the evening sky grew dark,
G7
She looked at him and he felt a spark
C      /b     Am
tingle to his bones.


What's going on in the last line?

Thanks!

Go to forum: Music theory

155 Topic by M.B.

(30 replies, posted in Music theory)

This is my first posting in the Music Theory thread.  I've been scared to come here, cuz I get all anxious and my heart pounds and I feel like a frightened puppy when I hear the words, "Music Theory."  But I'm going to have to deal with this dreaded topic eventually, and you guys have been real nice in other threads, so here goes.

Gosh, I don't even know if this is a music theory question, but I read a comment at the bottom of a song that said, "if you add a turn around ( D7 ) after each verse it sounds better!" The song is in G. Could someone explain what I'm supposed to do? Thanks!

Mary Beth

Go to forum: Music theory

156 Reply by M.B.

(7 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Thanks Jerome . . . I'm still puzzling a bit though, cuz I thought a flat fret board would make it harder to barre, and of the videos I've seen of say, Spanish classical guitar, they're doing a lot of barring. Also, electic guitar (I don't know nothing 'bout electric guitar) . . . seems to me I see experienced electric guitar players doing all kinds of fast and furious fretting, and don't electric guitars have narrow and more rounded necks than classical?

Go to forum: Guitars and accessories

157 Reply by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I'm in awe of the expetise here . . . I'm working on the simpliest finger-style book I could find, Progressive Guitar Method: Finger Picking.

Go to forum: Acoustic

158 Topic by M.B.

(7 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Why do classical guitars have wider, flatter necks than a typical folk/acoustic guitar? And second, why did acoustic guitar makers move away from the classical design towards a skinner, lightly rounded neck?

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159 Reply by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

dguyton wrote:

Also, if your hands are big enough, you can hook your thumb "over the top" to get the low E string if you happen to need it for the alternating bass.  That's also a common fingerstyle technique when you get to the 6th shape:
    X
----------------
:  :  :  :  :  :
T  :  :  :  :  1
----------------
  :  :  :  :  :  :
  :  :  :  2  :  :
----------------
  :  :  :  :  :  :
  :  :  3  : 4  :

Thanks for another great approach! My thumb is not yet cooperating on this approach, but maybe in time . . .

Go to forum: Acoustic

160 Reply by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Zurf wrote:

There's another weird one you can use for fingerpicking, but it's as much or worse of a bear as the barre version.  I like bass enough that the barre was worth the effort for me.  It's not as clean sounding as an open chord, but it's good enough if you pick quick enough that you don't have time to hear the blung instead of plunk.

Yeah, I like that idea of picking your way quickly so you don't really have time to hear the plunk!

Go to forum: Acoustic

161 Reply by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

jerome.oneil wrote:

That's not "cheating."  It's a perfectly valid Bm shape.  It's also a Cm, C#m, Dm, D#m, Em, Fm, F#m, Gm, Am, and A#m, depending on where on the neck you fret it.  smile

Thank you, Jerome!  It's good to know that. My knowledge of how chord shapes work up the neck is limited, but I'll remember your advice as I slowly get more familiar.

Go to forum: Acoustic

162 Reply by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

zguitar wrote:

You can try to roll your finger over to the side a little so your finger nail is closer to the nut. Hope that makes sense. That way your finger is more rigid and the strings don't fit into your knuckle creases.


Check it out:
http://justinguitar.com/en/IM-111-EShap … Chords.php

Right about 4:00 mins. is where he gets to it. But the vid is good.

Thanks, z!   I had heard about rolling your finger like you describe, but I'd plumb forgotten it. It really helps! Also thanks so much for the link to Justin video. One of his videos gave me a lot of insight in the past, and this one did too. I like his teaching style, very encouraging and down to earth, and he takes it nice and slow and with a gentle sense of humor.

Go to forum: Acoustic

163 Reply by M.B.

(8 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Excellent job, Bass (although you're really more of a tenor, I think). I wish you had tilted the camera down so I could watch what you were doing with your right hand. If you have time could you describe it? If you do, remember I'm not very advanced and so you'll have to be specific. (Cuz sometimes people say, "Oh, you know, I just flick this, and pluck here, and strum a little--it's easy.")

Go to forum: Songwriting

164 Reply by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

auxi wrote:

Just read this post. So funny!!! I Have noticed muted strings when I fingerpick my B, I'll try the capo. Thanx

Hi Auxi,

On the topic of Bm--today it wasn't as good as yesterday. Blerg. Oh well, maybe it'll sound a little better tomorrow. I find that if I want a good solid sound, I need to slow down and make the barre with careful attention to pushing my wrist up  perpendicular to the neck. If anyone has good advice about this, I'm all ears. Or hands.

Now, the book that I'm using to learn basic fingerstyle provides a "Cheater Bm" where instead of using a barre you make the Am shape with fingers 2, 3, and 4, and then use finger 1 to fret the high E string at the second fret.

X    X
----------------------   Nut
:    :    :    :    :    :   
:    :    :    :    :    :     
----------------------
:    :    :    :    :    :
:    :    :    :    :    1     
----------------------
:    :    :    :    :    :
:    :    :    :    2   :       
----------------------
:    :    :    :    :    :
:    :    3   4    :    :     

When the Gods of Barre are not smiling on me, I use that method.

Go to forum: Acoustic

165 Reply by M.B.

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

jgreen wrote:

Hey M.B.  I can't totally make it out either but I think Guthrie's says "This music kills facists" and Dylan's "This music kills facists too"  -- great sketch.

Jim

Thanks, Jim!

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166 Reply by M.B.

(4 replies, posted in Poems)

Great job! I think that poem could be turned into good song.

Go to forum: Poems

167 Reply by M.B.

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

That one guy did a good impersonation of Bob Dylan, but what signs did they have on their guitars?

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

168 Reply by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

bensonp wrote:

If you try to always see it as half full, regardless of the reason, you feel positive thoughts instead of negative.  Positive thoughts get you further down the road, negative thoughts bum you out.  It's all perspective, as I'm sure you are already aware.

I agree, Pete. It's hard to stay positive, but it's a lot better. And it's good to be reminded of that fact, cuz even when you're aware of it, you don't always remember it.

Go to forum: Acoustic

169 Reply by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

bensonp wrote:

They probably both go hand in hand.  Either way, you get better. I would like to think I am getting better rather than less sucky.  Is the glass half empty or half full for you?

Depends.

On what?

On whether I'm thirsty.

Ok. Can you--?

If I'm thirsty, then it's half empty, but if I'm not thirsty then it's half full.

I see.

Yup.

So what are you now?

I'm hungry. When's lunch?

Teenagers!


Annnnnnnd scene!

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170 Reply by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

bensonp wrote:

And it all happened because of practice  and desire.  Good for you.

But was it practice motivated by a desire to be better, or practice motivated by a desire not be be sucky? Is there a difference? I'm serious!!!

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171 Reply by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

topdown wrote:

Congrats MB! At my age, a good solid Bm is often the highlight of my day!

FUNNY! Made my dad laugh a lot, too. My mom said, "Oh, please." Mothers have no sense of humor.

Go to forum: Acoustic

172 Topic by M.B.

(37 replies, posted in Acoustic)

. . . there would be no miracles at all. I've been working on Bm a long time. I thought I had it pretty good when I strummed, but then I started to finger pick and what to my wondering ears did I hear? Muted strings!!!! Seems my barre wasn't as good as I thought it was. Oh, despair. For weeks, I heard no progress at all; when I picked the B string it went "thunk" and my heart went "plunk" and my playing stunk.

This morning, I was practicing and thought I heard improvement. Put on the capo to listen to what it would sound like with a really good barre and  practiced a picking pattern. Then I took off the capo, barred and started picking and . . . it sounded good! That B rang out clear and true. O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! She chortled in her joy.

My mom says, "Stop shouting and get ready for church!" Today I'll have a new thing to be thankful for.

Mary Beth

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173 Reply by M.B.

(5 replies, posted in Songwriting)

hi daddycool,

I've been playing your song a lot and really like it! It's funky! I would love to hear how you play it--but the link to your website doesn't work. Please repair it and upload your song.

Go to forum: Songwriting

174 Reply by M.B.

(24 replies, posted in Electric)

joeyjoeyjoey wrote:

Like I always say.Try them out and decide for yourself. Now I will start some trouble with everyone.Once you distort it through an amp,They pretty much sound the same.

That's one of my questions--since modern amps and effects can create a wide variety of sounds, do you really need a particular guitar to generate a specific sound for an audience?

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175 Reply by M.B.

(5 replies, posted in Songwriting)

I really like that F, Bb, C chord progression! It's a sweet sound that compliments your lyrics.

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