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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Posts by ebenami
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Thanks topdown, but it's not the 12-bar I-IV-V format that's a problem. I'm having trouble integrating a bass melody / bass line (more than an alternating bass) with my strum. That's where it gets tricky. Here's a link to a recording of Woody Guthrie's "Talking Dust Bowl Blues" on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQBcM-fCZlw.
-- Etan
I'm a beginner at guitar, and I'd like to play a few of the talking blues songs that I heard as a kid/teen. There are several of them, and maybe I'll put together my own.
I know the basic chord sequence is usually G, C, D or D7. I'm having a bit of difficulty figuring out the bass note melody & strum pattern that go with a talking blues. Forgetting about the fancy stuff Phil Ochs or Dave Van Ronk used to do for intros and fills, does anyone have a basic tab of a simple talking blues?
I'd appreciate it much if you'd post it in reply or email me: etan.benami@gmail.com. Thanks much.
-- Etan Ben-Ami
Here's a neat little page on Travis picking:
http://www.guitarland.com/Travis.html
I have a couple of additional questions though:
Am I going to callus up my right hand fingertips with Travis picking?
What are the good/bad points of using fingerpicks?
Finally, what are my choices in fingerpicks?
Thanks,
-- Etan
Hello Zurf,
I'll often recommend Martin Silk an Steel strings to my beginning guitar students who are having difficulty dealing with finger pain. The strings actually sound quite nice and warm, durability is sub par though. The E,A, and D strings are metal coated nylon strings, the G,B, and high E are "regular" steel strings. I think the durability issue would be a non-factor for a finesse player but for a strong strummer they'll break a little more often than "regular" strings.
I have a set of the Martin S & S's on my guitar. I can't say much about sound, since I'm such a beginner, but they seem okay when someone else plays it. Minor point, but the E, A, D, & G are all metal wrapped. Only the B & high E are regular steel.
-- Etan
Thanks, guys. I guess the short answer is: play a lot and don't fret over the calluses -- just fret with them. I can live with that.
-- Etan
I'm a newbie with about three weeks of playing. I practice for an hour or two total daily, but usually only 10-15 minutes at a time. My fingers are starting to harden up, but I have some questions about the care & feeding of calluses.
1) I have enough thickness so that my fingers don't hurt much anymore, but at the same time, I might as well be wearing leather gloves when it comes to using my fingertips for just about anything. Will I still be able to feel the strings when these really develop?
2) Is it normal for each fingertip to have a groove cut in the callus? I don't mean a dent left over from fretting hard, but an actual groove cut into the hardened skin. It looks I've been playing the ignition file, not the guitar.
3) Should I emery down my calluses slightly to give a flat surface or anything similar? Is there any trick to it?
4) I've heard about soaking my fingers in lemon juice or vinegar before practice, but I've also heard that I'm not supposed to get my fingers wet before practice. What's this about?
5) If I should be so lucky, will my lover object to my scratchy calluses? Does anyone have any recommendations? (Not about finding a new GF -- just about the callus bit. And let's keep this one clean, folks.)
Thanks much everyone.
-- Etan
Hi, I'm three weeks into learning the guitar, so my comment's on the singing issue.
Just do it. Either you'll get better at it or people will adapt to your 'unique, quirky, song stylings'.
Leo Kotke once described his own voice as "goose farts", but I still love his 'Circle Round The Sun album which only has one instrumental on it. While Maybelle Carter is loved for her playing and her interpretation of songs, no modern label would have recorded her singing. Likewise half the old-timers in country music and delta blues. Leonard Cohen reinvented himself from poet to folk singer to cabaret singer -- and I still enjoy him -- but his voice is 'limited'.
So my advice is to stop comparing your voice to those of great singers. Sing as much as you can and do it loudly whenever possible. Maybe take a voice lesson or two, just to learn how not to hurt your voice. But don't let your teacher convince you that you have to sing any one way. Learn how to use the pipes you've been given, and make the most of them.
-- Etan
I've owned a Fender acoustic for about three weeks now. It's my first guitar, and with my bashing at the strings you can't tell much about the instrument.
I bought the Fender on advice of a flat-picker friend who tried every guitar in the store in my price range (under $200) and picked it as the most playable and best sounding. It has a solid, not composite, top and the difference is audible when he plays.
If you want to compare my $200 beginner guitar to Martins, Gibsons, and other fine guitars, you can be my guest. But what's the point? I hope to develop enough skill with this guitar to really want and appreciate a great guitar. If that never happens, I won't regret the financial investment compared to the time and energy I'm putting into practice. Wish me luck.
-- Etan
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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Posts by ebenami
