complete novice here just starting out, ive a question for all of ye!
ive read that people convert alot of regular guitar tabs to a 3 string cbg by dropping and substituting some chords! i know where to get chords for songs online for a regular 6 string guitar but how do i convert tabs to suit my 3 stringer?
ive zero music theory so can you explain as best you can, like explaining to a 2year old!lol
appreciate any feedback thanks!
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Thanks for this explanation, it has helped me a bunch.
Dan
Thanks the more I read that the more sense its making! Thanks will defo give a go! Is that the same in tab sheets, im more familier with that then chords sheet music!
Hi Scruggy. If you have a look a my vids you'll see some classic rock arranged for 3/4 strings. I also have a lesson on moveable chord shapes for 3 string. Here's how I do it:
1. Find a tab/chords for the song I want to learn. I generally use http://www.ultimate-guitar.com as you can transpose the chords if you wish. It makes no sense to play a song in F# when your guitar is tuned open G :). Tabs are a little more tricky to transpose as the website won't do it for you. The only way to figure these out is to be familiar with your fretboard layout; there are plenty of free fretboard diagrams out there, or why not make your own on Excel or something?
2. Obviously power chords are simple to work out, but if there are any I can't get, I use a free mobile phone app called 'Smartchord' (for Android, although I'm sure there's an Apple/Windows or even a free web alternative). With this program you can set it up to your instruments, so I have profiles for a 6 string in standard tuning, a 3 string tuned GDG, and a 4 string tuned GDGB. I just select the one I want and choose the chord I need, and it will give you every way of playing that chord on your instrument.
3. Learn the song by playing along (obviously this will only work if you are in the original key), then work on the arrangements, any little flourishes etc. which I want to add.
4. Sometimes I use backing tracks so I can play/sing along, like CBG karaoke :) http://www.guitarbackingtrack.com/
Enjoy!
thanks guys for all the tips, some great advice!
hey guys i came accross this vid i want your feedback on, it really simplifys the process!
my question is can it really be as simple as the video suggest?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVWhSbt8uBM&list=FLxnAnszC8CzOQ...
The theory is solid, try it and see what it sounds like.
I'd guess that it may be OK for simple folk songs, especially if you can sing well. Generally though classic rock songs rely on a strong beat and a big bottom end. You may find that your missing some of that, worth a shot though, no-one's going to die.
Ha ha no I don't think anyone will die. I will throw a spanner in the works and say that an open tuning like GDG works very well for rock music, which is generally power chord heavy...
Hello, Scruggy,
If your 3-string or 4-string has (chromatic) frets, then Ben's Youtube explanation is dead on. Believe and enjoy. It's that simple!
Some folks on CBNation are building 3 strings with only the "diatonic" frets like on an Appalachian dulcimer. They will end up referencing the dulcimer books to get chord fingerings that are somewhat different from guitar chords. However, it's still that simple once they learn the dulcimer chords.
The real issues don't show up until you start to use a slide--particularly if you have no frets or usable fretboard and have to rely on your slide to stop each string at the correct place to produce your pitches. Typically, slide players--even on 6-string guitars--want to alter standard guitar tuning so all of the strings will sound together as a single chord. This way you can strum the open strings and get a chord; lay your slide across at any fret position and get a different chord.
Retuning the strings is a centuries-old practice, but it still makes guitar players a little nutty because it means that some of the notes are not where they were using standard tuning. Strumming the chords may be easier than on a "standard" guitar, because you just stretch your slide across the strings and strum, but playing lead or advanced accompanying licks is tricky because all your knowledge of the note names on the fretboard gets messed up depending on which string(s) you retuned.
Add to this the problem that you only have 3 or 4 of the usual 6 strings, and you see why controversies arise. Everybody has a favorite tuning. It's really not hard if you'll just pick one tuning and learn to live with it.
Common 3-string SLIDE tunings include the following (from low string to high):
I've found that with practice I can use all 3 of these and not get too confused. Biggest problem is keeping enough CBG's on hand to keep 'em tuned all the different ways.
Sorry it got so long-winded, but there you are!
TN
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