176 Topic by crevs.1972

(3 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I’m basically after some tips to spice up songs with basic down strum patterns. 

I’m developing various strumming patterns nicely and I’m really pleased with my progress but there are a few songs in my songbook which basically sound better with just down strums.  Additionally my chord changes are not yet quick enough to add strum patterns to a song in 4/4 time which has chord changes in one bar and there a loads of these?

I know you can “accent† – (is that the term?) certain strums but are there any “tricks of the trade† to make boring old down strums jump out at you?

Cheers

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177 Reply by crevs.1972

(34 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I find it easier to play barre chords further up the neck with a capo, the capo brings the strings nearer to the frets making it easier to barre and the space between frets is closer so you don't have to stretch your fingers so much.  Practice like this and over time move the capo back out gradually, it's what I'm doing at the moment.

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178 Topic by crevs.1972

(4 replies, posted in Acoustic)

After a long walk and a few beers in a country pub with family and friends on Sunday, we returned to friends house for a BBQ and a few beers.  My mate has been learning the same time as me (it was a joint venture) and only once have we tried to play together, that was after a month or 6 weeks and to be honest neither of us were at a good enough standard to play together.

On Sunday evening we were joined by the brother-in-law of my mate who is an accomplished player having played in bands.  He brought his guitar and the three of us retreated to the kitchen for a few more beers.  I was pretty nervous playing in front of company for the first time but after a while it was fine.  Despite having had a few beers and my fingers not working as they should we blasted away for ages, it was absolutely fantastic (not the music but the feeling), every hair on my body stood on end as we played Zombie by the Cranberries.  Everyone in the other room seemed impressed!

I was totally hooked before Sunday but after the jam I am absolutely resolute that I will get to a standard where I can play confidently in comapny! 

What a feeling!

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179 Reply by crevs.1972

(35 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

I just got a set of light nano webs for the first time and although I love the sound I find them greasy.  It's not really a problem but when I'm praticing scales my fingers slide all over the place.  I'll probably try something else next?

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180 Reply by crevs.1972

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

I agree this is a great thread, DM and Zurf, you'll have to keep us posted on the progress!

Going back to the initial post regarding work colleagues reluctance to jam, I suspect the problem could be confidence??  I know people who have played for years and are pretty good but the thought of playing with/for other people terrifies them, especialy people who also know how to play.

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181 Reply by crevs.1972

(16 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Zurf wrote:

Sixth, Six?  I surely can't that many things to say.  Let me think.  Oh yes!  Christmas was just a few months ago.  You shouldn't be good yet.  If you were, you'd make us all jealous and angry and stuff.  Instead, we're all sympathetic and want to be helpful.  A friend of mine who teaches guitar said this about progression of most students.  After a year, you'll be getting the hang of it.  People might not run when you pull out your guitar.  After two years, you'll feel pretty good and you'll sound pretty good.  By the time you're solidly into your third year, folks will ask if you brought your guitar with you.  Four months?  Piffel.  You're doing great.  Keep up the good work. 
- Zurf

Interesting post, 1 year to acceptable standard, 2 to pretty good and 3 years to in demand! I don't know if 'Er In Doors will wait that long, no problem, at least I'll have my guitar for company if she leaves ;?)

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182 Reply by crevs.1972

(9 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Cheers guys for the advice,

I had a good chat with the guy in the shop and went for the light, coated, Elixirs.  I only got one set so I'll try something else next time and compare.

I found the video for changing strings brilliant, especially the tip of cutting the strings first, I managed it perfectly.

The guitar now sounds rich and full of sound rather than tinny, I'm chuffed.

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183 Reply by crevs.1972

(21 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I've been learning for a few months aswell and I'm lucky enough to have pretty good hand/eye coordination.  I had a similar problem but I found I was concentrating too much on getting the fingers planted where they needed to be! 

Now I know the general opinion here is slow down and get the sweet sound before speeding up, but at the time I just had these  urges to play fast, I don't know why but I did, so for a few minutes after each practice session I played fast and I found that my fingers were much quicker and pretty accurate when I wasn't thinking about where they should go!?  Sorry if it doesn't make sense and I expect every teacher here is cursing me!?

I guess in my experience it was a case of me trying too hard rather than relax and just letting it happen, still need to practice, practice, practice tho, just do it more relaxed?

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184 Topic by crevs.1972

(9 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Hiya all,

I've just busted my first string and I had a wide smile for some reason?  I'd noticed the guitar had been sounding "tinny" for a few weeks and I've found myself constantly tuning it recently as it sounded a funny tone. I've been playing 4 months on average 1 to 1:30 hours a day so I guess they need changing!

I'm off to Cardiff tomorrow to pick a set or two up but searching on the threads here it's a minefield and totally I'm confused, coated/not coated, light/medium light/ medium etc..

I strum with a pick, I'm pretty light/quiet and rarely play heavy, I basically drop the pick over the strings.  My fingers are pretty hard after 4 months as I suppose this would have a bearing on the gauge?  I'm also now starting to play barre chords.

What should I go for and how much am I looking to pay, I now its a personal choice but it would be great if you recommend a few options.

Cheers
Crevs.

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185 Reply by crevs.1972

(23 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I love the way G, A7 and C play together, Old Red Eyes is Back being a good example but probably G and Em are my favourites.

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186 Reply by crevs.1972

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

alvee33 wrote:

Jings! I hope things improve for July, when I head down Welsh Wales way on holiday lol

I'm sure it will, where you heading, North, South or mid?

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187 Reply by crevs.1972

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

I had a go on my grandfathers uke a few days ago for the first time, I just could not stop smiling!! He's played a £25 for years and for his birthday he was given an expensive one but he says it's rubbish compared to the old one?

I'm considering getting one just for the smile factor.

Here he is in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6sfiNgCF6c

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188 Reply by crevs.1972

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

The winter broke here in Wales last week, we had about 10 days of very mild weather with crystal clear blue skies, I even had shorts and a t-shirt in the garden a few days.  Back to normal this week tho ;?(

We had snow back in January which cost me 4 days off work and the kids out of school for the whole week.  I live at about 1000 feet, deep in a steep valley so we only need a little snow and the roads are un drivable due to the steepness of them.

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189 Reply by crevs.1972

(18 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Your right Bensonp, it makes a massive difference!  The thing is, the fact the there was no tension on the rod means it hadn't even been touched, literaly stringed, tuned and ready to ship out! I'd have thought an initial tighten to bring the action down a little would be an idea.  I'd expect that sort of service from an internet shop but not from a reputable dealer.

Never mind, sorted now!

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190 Topic by crevs.1972

(18 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I purchased an accoustic guitar 3 months ago, it cost £120 so pretty much a budget model.  I got it from a pretty reputable, well known music store, I spoke to the salesman and explained I was a total novice having only played for a few weeks on a borrowed classical.  He pulled a few different models out and played them all and advised the best one, I then played a few chords and that was it.

I am really happy with it and my progression has been pretty good, I've gone through the blistered fingers and I really feel everything is comng together, all I need now is a half decent voice and I'd even consider playing for family and friends.

Anyhow, I was scanning the forum here and came along a thread on adjusting the action but was certain that my "budget" model would not be adjustable, however when I looked onto the soundhole, sure enough there was the truss rod! 

I measured the action on the 12rd frett and it was 3.5mm so I decided to lower it a little.  I'm a bench joiner by trade so I felt confident in doing this but when I tightened the rod it was totally loose!  It finally started to "bite" after half a turn and eventually I got the action to 2.75mm.  I re-tuned and the guitar now sounds awsome, much crisper, clearer and my fingers are totally pain free, even the F and Bm are clear (It still takes me 10 secs to arrange my fingers tho!).

Anyway, my question is, should I have been advised of this when I purchased the guitar and should the shop have offered to have lowered it, it took me 5 mins taking extra care so I guess the shop could have done it in half that time?  I went to a shop rather than purchase online because I'd have thought I'd have been advised on the set up?

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191 Topic by crevs.1972

(7 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Everything is progressing nicely, I'm learning new chords and my songs are getting better/faster!  However I seem to hold the pick too lightly and I'm always dropping the thing, usually in my guitar!!  If I grip it tighter I get vibration from the strings, plus I'd rather the sound when it's played lightly.

The answer:  I'm a competitive cyclist and use skateboard decking to cut and stick to my carbon fibre handlebars to help my hands grip with hardly any weight increase, it's basically very durable sandpaper with a strong adhesive on the reverse. 

I simply cut 2 tiny slivers about 2mm by 15mm and stuck them to the pick. 

No kidding, it's transformed my playing, seriously!

I picked up a skateboard size piece off ebay for a few quid.

If your having the same problem, try it.

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192 Reply by crevs.1972

(173 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I haven't been learning long so it's not difficult to remember.  Knocking on Heavens Door - Bob Dylan was the first one I learned to strum to but the first song I played and thought "yeh man, I suppose I can play!" was Latest Flame - Elvis.

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193 Reply by crevs.1972

(10 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I would say pick a song or songs that you really know well.  I'm an absolute beginner and I've already made the mistake picking easy songs I like rather than easy songs I know really well.  I reckon it'll save weeks of hardship when you already know the song intimately.

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194 Reply by crevs.1972

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

Ice cold Becks!

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195 Reply by crevs.1972

(7 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Looks like you all agree there is no "formal" route to progress but you all say the same thing? smile

Great stuff, just what I was looking for!

cheers

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196 Topic by crevs.1972

(7 replies, posted in Acoustic)

As a self learner, I'm finding it difficult to assess when to move on to the next stage.

Its only been 6 weeks and I practice at least 1 hour per day and since I started there hasn't been a day I haven't done at least an hour, I guess I average about 2 hours a day and I think I've progreesed well in that time.

I am at the point where I can play about 6 basic songs pretty good and about another 10 ok.  I just DDDD strum with open chords, I do practice a few barr chords and there are a few parts in certain songs I can strum a few basic paterns.  The speed is getting quicker, I usually miss a few chords in every song but all in all I'm well satisified. I think I still need a few more weeks to perfect things and put all the songs together (intro's and bridges etc).

Whats the next step though?

- Do I continue with the DDDD until I can play the 6 songs absolutely perfectly
- Do I add a few more songs to the 6
- Do I start to develop Barr Chords
- Do I start to develop strumming paterns
- Do I do all the above?

It's difficult to assess, whatever I do next will take me a few steps backwards so I'm keen to get it right. Is there a progression route that absolute beginers like me should adhere to?

Cheers
Crevs

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197 Reply by crevs.1972

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

Nothing else Matters - Metallica

Heart of Gold - Neil Young

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198 Reply by crevs.1972

(15 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Cheers Roger wink

I think I sussed my problem and you were correct.  I don't think I've been rotating my wrist enough on the upstroke, the result being the pick was hitting the strings at almost 90 degrees resulting in a "harsh" sounding up strum!

Anyway, it's back to the drawing board for me!  I started learing online with Justin Sandicoe and after a few weeks, thinking I could play chords better than I actually could, I jumped feet first into trying to play every song I knew without knowing the basics.  Result, me learing to play guitar badley, out of time, strumming probems and more buzzing than a swarm of African bees on E!

I've now taken a few steps back, regrouped and be I'll be a little more patient in future.

Cheers

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199 Reply by crevs.1972

(24 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Even the very, very best get the wrong key harmonica..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh44QPT1mPE

Quite amusing to start and then he performs one of the purest and best live performances I have aver seen!

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200 Reply by crevs.1972

(15 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Sorry to dredge up an old thread but I have a related question and rather than post a new topic..

On the down stroke the base note should be the first string strummed and it sounds ok but on the upstroke it becomes the last note played and when I do it it sounds awful, to compensate I try to only hit the first 3 or 4 strings on the upstroke, perhaps only the 3 strings on a D?  This is the only way I can get an upstroke to sound "normal" and not deep and dead?

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