Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Glenn on May 19, 2011 at 2:41pm

Dan,

 

No, each note on each string signifies one individual note.  So if you play the 3 string at the 5th fret then that note is C.  A "C chord" is C, E, G - which you would have to play all 3 strings together to create a chord.

What was it about the chart that you didn't understand?  

 

Jef's chart is really awesome too.  Look for as much material as you can find - I believe I read in a Keni Lee post here that you have to explain stuff 5 different ways sometimes before the information clicks.  The best advice I can offer is to keep practicing what you DO know, and work at the stuff that you don't know or don't understand a little bit at a time.  That's what I did with the piano and it took a looong time for new material to sink in.  But for me, a little bit of new material here and there works a lot better than trying to figure out a hundred new things all at the same time.

 

But the most important thing is that when you do get discouraged - and you will - you keep playing.  It may take awhile, but you will get there.

 

Permalink Reply by Dirty Dan Peel on May 19, 2011 at 3:05pm

Sorry Michael, my earlier post was based on a quick assisment. I'm now getting a grasp on how simple the chart actually is. Thanks. I printed out the chart along with Jef's charts and well go over them tonight. By the way nice web site. I'm assuming its yours? I made sure to bookmark that one.

Yeah, I come from a background with no musical talent. I've been at this for several months now and all ready learned more then I thought I ever could. CBN has been a great help.

And looking over the other chord chart you had listed I noticed there are some other things I can mix up with the power chords and find some new sounds.

Permalink Reply by Michael Glenn on May 19, 2011 at 5:09pm

No problem.  I was actually concerned that the #/b notes all over the place would freak people out, but for some reason I didn't think to explain anywhere that A# = Bb, etc.  I just assumed everyone would know that.  So that's what I get for assuming.

 

Yeah I started the website maybe two weeks ago after spending days searching here and handmademusic for simple chord charts and such and not finding much.  (Not to say the information isn't here - I just couldn't find it.)  So I made my own.  I've been playing ukulele for a few years but just for fun, also piano, so the music theory stuff is second nature to me by now. I started on piano probably 4 years ago and it was sometime last year that a lot of the theory stuff really started to sink in, so just keep at it and know that it takes time.

 

Anyway I'm glad you found the site helpful.

Permalink Reply by Dirty Dan Peel on May 19, 2011 at 5:49pm

I forget where but somewhere  at the nation I had read something about A# = Bb, etc. But like you said when I first looked at the chart it was kinda scary (especially someone with little or no knowledge of music theory). Then after reading the side bars and taking another look at it I realized what you were putting across. I guess too, I'll look around else where and learn more about notes and chords in general.

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 19, 2011 at 6:07pm

i recommend you do not worry about the accidentals, flat / sharp at first.   concentrate on a scale and a couple of chords, and how the chords fit in the scale.   If you can think of them in terms of the numbers (roman numerals, 1, 4, 5 etc) you will be doing yourself a big favour in terms of playing the 3 string guitar.   I can teach you how to decode your tunes you find on the internet etc to these numbers very easily, then you neednt worry about "what key is this" etc..   those 3 shapes i gave you above and how they fit into the 2 scales is central.

 

Charts like Michael has given you are accurate, but to be honest, of limited use to a stark beginner who wants to just pick the thing up and play.  You can avoid the whole A,Bb,C, etc etc paradigm with the roman numerals..

 

 

1 print the image above..

2. get a pair of scissors and seperate the two components..

3. punch holes in the 3 black squares marked..

4. line the two pieces of paper up with the one with the holes punched in it on top, and move it so that the three letters you can see through the holes are the three letters names you see in your song on the internet or whatever, ignoring any accidentals (sharp, flat)

5. grab a pencil and alter the chord chart for your song, putting the roman numeral i, iv, or v where appropriate according to the magic slide rule.

6. play your song

7. see if you can improvise a solo from one of the 2 scales i gave you..

8. come back here and tell me how incredibly clever i am

9.beg me hard enough and i will do similar charts for minor key, then ur in business..

Permalink Reply by Dirty Dan Peel on May 19, 2011 at 7:16pm

Hey, thanks Jef. I'll give this a try and see what happens.

But let me recap what you said... If the chord in the song calls for a A7 or a E7 chord I should just read these as an A and E chord?

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 19, 2011 at 8:24pm

nope, you should use the slide rule, it'll tell you that you are in the key of E, ie E is the (i) shape and A is the (iv) shape, or you are in the key of A and A is the (i) shape and E is the (v) shape.  If there were a third chord it would be either B or D and that would allow you only one way to do it, but with only two chords like your example it'll work in two ways with those shapes and that slide rule, yep..

 

You can ignore the 7 part to get started, yes.  It is an extra note added into the chord, but you can get away with skipping it to begin with.  the very next chord shape I would teach you after those three is a v7 chord.  If you had that shape, and the slide rule was calling E the (v) and your music called for a E7 then you would use that shape, but not knowing it you will get away with the 3 i gave you there ok ?

 

so that v chord shape i gave you there is only a beginning, there is a v7 shape, a Vm (minor), a Vm7 (minor 7) etc, etc loads more in fact.   Start with 3 chords baby.  I thort u wanted to just play ? :p

Permalink Reply by Dirty Dan Peel on May 19, 2011 at 8:57pm

Jef, Yeah I just want to play, but I guess I'm trying to over think your slide rule thing.

Ok I have a song, "Thats All RIght Mama" by the Beatles. The Chords used are A, A7, D7 and E7.

So the (i) shape is A the (iv) shape is showing D and the (v) shape is showing E. Now if I'm reading this thing correctly, does that mean these are the chords I use to play this song? Keep in mind I'm tuned GDg. Would those three chords be enough to play and make people listening say, "hey I know that song"?

Or would I place the E in the (i) shape and then the (iv) shape would be A and the (v) shape would be B?

Also I'm not sure I understand what you're saying in step 5. about altering the chord chart. Unless I just answered my own question above.

And thanks for all the time and help. I guess I didn't know as much as I thought.

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 19, 2011 at 9:57pm

ok excellent..

 

step 5 means get the bit of paper with thats alright mama, and where there is an A, write a (i) next to/ above etc,  a (iv) next to the D's etc..     Well you can write  (iv7) cos the chart wants a D7 but for now you can just use the (iv) shape I gave you.  Yes ppl will know the tune.  It'll work.   Only thing is, you're in the key of G, and the Beatles (at least according to your chart) are in the key of A.   So it'll sound the same tune, but it'll be out of tune with the original record, you cant play along with the record..  

until you add a capo !! thats where Michael's chart comes in ;)

 

so by chord chart, i do not mean the diagrams i put up, i mean the chord chart for the tune, converting the notes in this case A, D & E to the numbers i, iv and v.     What you have done is transpose the tune to the key your instrument is in, so you can get by with only those 3 shapes and those 2 scales.. 

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on May 20, 2011 at 2:56am

Wow Jef, lots of great advice.  Thanks for sharing.

 

I just saw another video posted here that shows what you can do flat picking three strings to get a really, really nice melody.  This guy is great, but the song, or something similar to it could be done with some good old fashioned practice.  There aren't a lot of tricky transitions or rapid fire note changes.  Start simple and slow, then add to it.

 

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 20, 2011 at 3:35am

That is nice ED, its the aeolian mode, or natural minor mode, the 6th mode of the ionian scale I gave you guys on page one

Permalink Reply by Michael Glenn on May 20, 2011 at 7:47am

Here's a "down and dirty" guide to reading sheet music adapted from my piano teaching days.  It's 4 pages but the font size is big and there's lots of pictures.

 

If you use this with the Mapping Out the Fret Board charts you should be able to play melodies in any key.

Attachments:

• how to read sheet music.pdf, 430 KB

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