A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?

Subject: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: j0_77
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 02:09 AM

After reading Rick Fielding's excellent tips I made these pages for your browsing pleasure. It took 9 hours of hard frustrating work.

Rick says and I agree, the G chord illustrated is a not suitable for beginners - :) But it may be handy to a progressed player. The rest are similar.

Chord Pics Here Comments?

Expect these Chords G-C-G-D then G-C-GD-G Below. Enjoy.

A simple pick and strum system. Pick the bass/G (wait a mo)- then strum (wait a mo) let her ring. Then pick G/bass again(wait a mo) and strum (wait a....)
Make the C chord.
Now in C do 2 rounds. Use the A string (now stopped at the 3rd fret)for a bass note.
Repeat the G round.
Make the D Chord
In D use the open D string and the open A string as bass notes and again do 2 rounds.
Repeat the G round, next repeat the C round. Last and here it gets tricky :)

Do half a round of G = Pick Bass G,next strum the rest of the chord (please go slowly) NOW change the D chord and do half around of that = Pick the D string, next strum the rest of the strings.

To finish do a complete round in G.

Words by the Folks.(Tune of 'Boil em Possums Down' but a happier version)
G/ Feed um possums
C/ good boys
G/ Spoil em every
D/ Day
G/ Feed um possums
C/ plenty boys
G/ or they
D/ will run
G/ away..........

Subject: RE: BS: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: j0_77
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 02:24 AM

Sorry bout the errors - 'around' s/be 'a round'

'...(please go slowly) NOW change the D.....' s/be '...(please go slowly) NOW change TO the D.....' :(

Subject: RE: BS: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: Margo
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 12:36 PM

Dear dear Jo, I wonder why you labled this thread BS when it certainly is not! I am following these picking advice threads and learning. I'm grateful, thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 01:02 PM

Modal chords can change the feel of a song to an amazing degree, as can suspendeds and a number of other slightly altered forms. Ninths as well. A lot of the punk (and metal)bands use chords with no 3rd and it give a stark, hard feel to them. Hard to explain it with words, but they seem "dangerous" to me, which can add tension to a song when you want it. One of my favourites is an "E" modal chord up at the 7th and 9th frets.

Play E note on 5th string 7th fret. "B" on 4th at 9th fret. "E" on 3rd at 9th fret. Now strum all six strings hard. It's a very resonant "E modal". Gordon Lightfoot used it on his song "Sundown" I think.

Great job Jo. Hope you can get your process down from 9 hours!

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: j0_77
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 02:20 PM

Thanks Rick :) and Margarita. Yup Rick using Modal Chords is hard from the get go, but as a person uses them more they get skilled with them. Remember Bob Dylan.

The Modal chords are similar to Bluegrass Mando cheats - you dont pulay the 'modal' string unless ther is a need for it.

Sore fingers and pulaying G Modal. New tread huh.

Subject: RE: BS: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: Frank Hamilton
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 05:49 PM

Hi jO.

I liked your explanation of the G modal chords. Very useful for singers who don't want to confine themselves to a pure major or minor tonality. Like you, I enjoy the open sounds of those chords. Thanks for your explanation and your sharing. Very useful!

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: BS: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: j0_77
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 06:50 PM

Thanx Frank - the chords are very handy for backing songs - in G or with a capo - A Bb B C and D after that it's a new set of chords. Gettin into C, that's a new ball game.

Subject: RE: BS: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: Lucius
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 10:31 PM

Ok-- I can see how these chords are useful for Boil 'em Possums Down. I can even imagine using them for Donovan's Catch the Wind or the intro to the Eagle's Take it Easy. But I'm seeing major thirds in every chord. I guess that I'm not getting it??? Were Rick Fielding's excellent tips in another thread?? Would it help if I read them??

Lucius

Subject: RE: BS: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: j0_77
Date: 23 Aug 99 - 12:03 AM

Sure Lucius, the tread is recent /today/ 'rick's tips' - you'll have to poke around to find it.

Major thirds - hmmm don't figure that hmmm - If you are talking bout songs that you cannot accompany with these I could name 100s but these are for that time when a student is just getting to know the true meaning of a 'humming' guitar.

There are a load of songs which will work with these. Sunny side of Life
Bury me Beneath the Willow
...heck I ain't bothered takes all night to list em. Generaly give a song a whirl with these - sometimes it may not work.

Subject: RE: BS: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: Legal Eagle
Date: 23 Aug 99 - 03:14 AM

If that's a hard "G", what's an easy one? That's the one I use all the time 'cos I like the sound better than letting the open B ring.

I am not comfy with the "C" - with the 9th ("D") in all the time, and I have never liked the bottom E in C. I much prefer the bottom G. This could be done if you have fat fingers by using the ring finger at a slight angle to fret both the G and the C at the same time.

I also am unhapy with the D withthe G in. The one I do like (up from the bottom string in order) is AADDFsharpA (sort of about half of an A at the 5th fret) - it makes a nice shift with the G you use, and the E described in the thread used as if it were an E minor.

Subject: RE: BS: A GMaj Modal System for Strummers, Hard?
From: Frank Hamilton
Date: 23 Aug 99 - 12:14 PM

Hi Legal Eagle,

Trying to sort out what you said. The D with a G in is an acquired taste. The musical name for it is D major suspended fourth. It's sometimes written as D (Add G). The name "suspended" is descriptive. It kinda' hangs there unresolved.

The next chord you describe is a straight-ahead D major chord with doubled strings. I assume you mean 6th string fifth fret for the A, 5th string open for the next A, 4th string open for the D, 3rd string 7th fret for D an octave higher, 2nd string 7th fret for the F# and 5th string 5th fret for the higher A. Lotta' ringin' goin' on. It'd be nice to lower the 6th string to D and play it open with the rest of the chord.

Frank