builders--not players

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Permalink Reply by MBliss on February 16, 2011 at 1:03pm

Sam, (Or Keni, or anyone.....)

Could you PLEASE consider doing a simple video of this I IV V 12 bar lesson so everyone can HEAR what you mean! I would do it, but I currently am not set up to. I plan to be soon but........

I know it. (It might be the one musical theory element I truly know by heart). It works across the spectrum of tunings and pitch and all the little distracting details........ You will instantly hear it and its variations in hundreds of songs from there out. I feel strongly it would get a bunch of people started out, playing and having some fun, thus igniting their interest in taking it to the next level and learning more.......

 

As for my playing, I played a lot years ago. (Ok decades) Practiced with a band every week. Youthful, rock and roll days. I wont claim I was real good, but I could pick my way through most anything I took a mind to.

But I havent played much in years and the physical condition has deteriorated to the point I have to accept I will likely never play overly well. I have hopes that fewer strings and wider spacing might help me have some fun again, I am working on it. But I cant decide what I want to play. See I "fiddle" with guitar, mando, banjo, dulcimer, uke, etc. etc. and do mental gymnastics trying to understand the theory and methods of all of it. I think I need to just sit down and focus.......

But I love to build and create, and I hope to offer some useful tips to those who want to learn to do that better, as well as experiment with some off the wall instrument ideas and experimental sounds. And as always, learn as much as I can consume along the way!

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on February 16, 2011 at 3:30pm

Here is a typical 12 bar blues

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGX3bWHSHt0

There are 4 beats per bar of music and 3 basic chords. 12 bars all together.

For instance in Open G tuning. Chords G,C,D

Most songs start with a 4 beat or 8 beat intro, then the pattern continueouly cycles around and around. 

GGGG CCCC  (Some songs just stay on the G, GGGG GGGG)

GGGG GGGG

CCCC  CCCC

GGGG GGGG

DDDD  CCCC

GGGG  DDDD

G is bascially played in the open position

C fret 5

D fret 7

 

In this song instead of going DDDD CCCC, it goes DDDD GGGG. Regardless it always equals 12 bars with 4 beats each.

 

I hope this helps. I fully cover this information on my instructional CDs. Enjoy. 

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Jason W. on February 16, 2011 at 10:17pm

One Django Reinhardt comes to mind. Although, his digits were technically "missing"...

Henry Dervaric said:

Don't get discouraged about playin. Lots of very good guitar players in history have been missing digits.

 

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Rose on February 17, 2011 at 7:10pm

I've built four guitars and a ukulele, and I can't do more than play a very rudimentary riff, and even then, I mess that up at least 50% of the time, if not more. But building them is so much fun, and I love showing them off to my friends. It's always a surprise. You can use identical construction methods, and get a completely different result each time. And that's just because of the boxes. When you start doing things differently, it gets wild. I don't practice as often or as long as I should, but I truly enjoy fooling around with them. And when I get that riff right, it blows my mind. "Holy crap, I just played something!" Then there's all the ideas I haven't built yet....

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Permalink Reply by Joker on February 18, 2011 at 5:44am

When I began building back in 07, I had not picked up an instrument in over 12 years, and the only thing I played on guitar back then was 3 chord punk. So after my first build I was so discouraged at how crappy my slide playing sounded.

Now I am not saying I am some cbg god now, my playing is stil a bit rough, but 4 years later I am recording music, playing a show every once and while, and having fun.

Just keep at it,it'll come to ya.  But mostly have fun

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Permalink Reply by Furry Johnson on February 18, 2011 at 7:50pm

hey i just have fun

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Permalink Reply by Jon Pruett on February 18, 2011 at 10:18pm

I started some lessons with a local guitar teacher and I completely agree - having an experienced musician provide feedback has definitely raised my building skills.

 

Which is great, cause my playing skills are still worse than my daughter's - and she is in second grade! :)

 

Keni Lee Burgess said:

Well, as player and not a builder, I would like to throw in my two cents worth. Why not consider building a CBG for a local guitar teacher? This way, you will get good constructive feedback about the function of your builds. Is the intonation correct, action too high, frets in the correct places, etc? You could also take some lessons, after the teacher had some time to experiment and explore. Seems like a win - win situation.

On my instructional video CDs, I offer ideas for students to explore the fingerboard, and also realize how music functions. Most skills are a blend of art and science. You need the mental knowledge first, and then you put it into physical practice. Even with video instruction, learning by yourself is rather challenging. Think if you had no assistence from all the fine folks here on the Nation. If you just went ahead and starting building all by yourself. You would have learned a lot mainly by making mistakes and not repeating them the next time. Unfortunately, this also wastes a lot of time and materials too.

If you want to learn to play CBG, look outside yourself, and get some instruction. I attended many seminars and private lessons before I started teaching. Although, I think you will find my lessons very helpful too consisting their reasonable price. Additionally, always feel free to write to me if you have any musical questions.

Most of all, just like building, be persistent, patient and learn to enjoy the process. The goal will be naturally appear. Enjoy, Keni Lee 

 

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Permalink Reply by Eric J Kadle/Cotton eyed Joe's on February 19, 2011 at 10:33am

I have answered the question many of times . Are they a real instrument , can you play it? and my answer is yes its real and yes they can be played but not by me. I have asked purchasers of my guitars to post videos so I could see them in action. Finally a young gentleman named Chris did and I must say I was impressed at what it sounded like. Because to be honest I always wondered because when I play it ( sound check) I don't hear that John Mc Nair or grand dad Shane Speal. I also agree with everyone that just kicking back, player or not, and plucking or strumming the strings on your newly built guitar is by far one of the most rewarding things of all. I must say to that 30 builds later I am starting to get the hang of the playing thing. I will never be a Shane Speal or Mc Nair but it sounds good to me so thats all that matters to me. I am glad there is the flip side of the coin (players not builders) otherwise I would have to build an addition just to house my instruments.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on February 19, 2011 at 7:20pm

Eric,

 

I would say that as I've improved as a player, I've gotten more discriminating as a builder.  What I used to think as good action, I would not be satisfied with today.  Maybe that's why so many non-players stick with  non-fretted, slide, high action CBGs....  Good from what they are and capable of some good music, but not what a lot of players are looking for.

 

I currently was invited to do a build for the regular band guitarist for a major country star (more on that later).  I guarrentee you that I wouldn't have gotten the invite if I wasn't able to put out a good, fast action fretted CBG with good wound pups and tone/volume controls.

 

Shane once gave me advice that "the CBG that sells the best is the one you play the best."  I'd add that you build better as you play better.

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

Eric J Kadle/Cotton eyed Joe's said:

I have answered the question many of times . Are they a real instrument , can you play it? and my answer is yes its real and yes they can be played but not by me. I have asked purchasers of my guitars to post videos so I could see them in action. Finally a young gentleman named Chris did and I must say I was impressed at what it sounded like. Because to be honest I always wondered because when I play it ( sound check) I don't hear that John Mc Nair or grand dad Shane Speal. I also agree with everyone that just kicking back, player or not, and plucking or strumming the strings on your newly built guitar is by far one of the most rewarding things of all. I must say to that 30 builds later I am starting to get the hang of the playing thing. I will never be a Shane Speal or Mc Nair but it sounds good to me so thats all that matters to me. I am glad there is the flip side of the coin (players not builders) otherwise I would have to build an addition just to house my instruments.

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Permalink Reply by Wade on February 19, 2011 at 10:14pm

I play and build- but don't get discouraged- If no one else mentioned it - I got two words of encouragement for ya ....

 Leo Fender.. He was'nt a player either and some people say he built some pretty cool stuff.

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Rose on February 19, 2011 at 11:01pm

I'd heard that about Fender, and I did find it very encouraging. It's nice to know that you don't need to know what you're doing to know what you're doing.

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Permalink Reply by Thomas Smith on February 19, 2011 at 11:25pm

I just started playing, and haven't had any lessons except those I got from Keni. And I just started building, so I'm new on both fronts! furry said it, just have fun!

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