Comment

Comment by Doug Thorsvik on December 29, 2020 at 9:02am

You are most welcome Bill and David.

As you can see from scanning the songbooks, there are hundreds of songs that you can play with just a simple 1-finger bar chord. Don’t miss the indexes in the back, there is one by chord count. There are nine 2-chord songs in the book!

My YouTube Channel, 1-finger cbgslinger, has more songs from our Zoom sessions. These are great to practice to or see what you’re missing!!!  Here is the link: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCB8Co1ISCQmRthVXRCeCTCg

Having some different strumming patterns to choose from will make a big difference in your playing experience.  The pdf worksheet Guitarslinger Workout Volume 1 with links to the 1-minute practice videos is posted on the Resources page: https://sites.google.com/site/cigarboxguitarslingersspokane/resources If you want to improve your rhythm (strumming skills), this is a great place to start. I am still completing videos to fill out the worksheet, but there is plenty to keep you busy. Both of our go to strum patterns, the Johnny Cash and Calypso, are there! You just tap (or click) on the strum title for the intro video and tap (or click) the numbers to the right for the 1-minute video at that speed.

Even though we are in a different time zone, you are always welcome to join us for the Zoom sessions. We always start with the easiest songs first. If you want to receive our weekly notification with the Zoom info, just message me your email address.

Enjoy

Comment by David Bowes on December 29, 2020 at 6:01am

 

Doug

I have been building for some time, but embarrassingly I can not play. I am just completing a three stringing guitar and my New Year resolution is to learn some basics, so I will start with this book.

Many thanks for sharing

.

 

Comment by Bill Saunders on December 29, 2020 at 4:17am

Good Morning Doug.

I just came across your post and checked out the songbooks. As a N00B these are tremendously helpful, and I for one appreciate you sharing. I started Sept 1, 2020. From the info I gather your group is in Spokane, WA. I am on the east coast, Winchester VA. I'll have to see if there's anything similar closer to home. Looks like a great way to learn.

Thanks again for sharing these.

Bill

Comment by Doug Thorsvik on December 14, 2020 at 6:13am

Thanks for the kind words Ambrose! I’m not sure people realize how many songs are readily accessible through simple 1-finger bar chords.

Comment by Bob "Ambrose" Negus on December 14, 2020 at 3:29am

Impressive. Well done.

Comment by Uncle John on December 13, 2020 at 6:25am

A mighty good goal.  Wonderful that you teach it at a community college.  I don't think I ever heard of anyone doing that before.  

Comment by Doug Thorsvik on December 13, 2020 at 5:52am

You’re welcome Uncle John. My goal is to get people who are not already proficient on guitars, ukuleles, mandolins, ... to experience the joy of making music. In the Intro to Cigar Box Guitars class I teach for Spokane Community College I can have people playing and singing “Singing in the Rain” (2 chords, one an open G) in minutes! It’s amazing. Hope to resume classes in 2021.

Comment by Uncle John on December 13, 2020 at 5:11am

That does help.  Thanks!

Comment by Doug Thorsvik on December 13, 2020 at 4:48am

Thanks for the feedback Uncle John. In answer to your questions. We are using GDG tuning and standard fretting, so we can play in any key which seems to be the most popular for three strings. We play 1-finger bar chords and I have burned the letters of the scale where the position markers normally go: A B C D E F G and leave out the sharps/flats. Instead of paint by numbers, it’s play by letters! Works surprisingly well. For all variants of a chord we just play the letter. For example: A7, Am, Am7 would all be a barred A on the 2nd fret which is technically an A5 power chord. I used to think when I started teaching others to play that they would progress to all those other fingerbusting shapes, but decided real fast they really aren’t necessary. The books are all designed with this style of playing in mind. I’m a guitar and ukulele player and can play a wide variety of chords, but I really enjoy what is possible with 1 chord shape played in, for the most part, 11 locations. Hope this helps.

Comment by Uncle John on December 13, 2020 at 4:20am

Doug, I have enjoyed your 1 finger music for quite a while.  And I just looked at the link.  A wealth of good songs.  But somehow, I have not learned what your tuning is or your fretting is to do the one finger thing.  Is there an old video teaching how to do it?