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02 Feb 05 - 07:58 PM (#1397272) Subject: Open chords and Your guitar style From: GUEST,Susan in N.J. What creative ways do you use open chords, and how would you describe your guitar style with their use? Also, when adding extra notes in certain keys, what extra chords do you sometimes add? I love open chords, and as a newer guitarist, I'm looking for ideas and your thoughts. Peace, Susie |
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02 Feb 05 - 08:15 PM (#1397283) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: Amos I assume you mean open tuning, Susan...I use a double-D tuning in which the two "E" strings are dropped down to D, D-A-D-G-Bb-D. This is line an open "E" chord but a whole note lower. Anyway it is very handy for open chords, just barring on the 3, 5, 7, 8 frets, making a bluesy sound with raga-like overtones. In addition you can always add a twang by adding the high E on the third fret, and there is an endless array of sliding pairs you can use. In addition there are a number of fingered chords in this tuning which carry well up and down the scale, and harmonics sound rich and resonant especially when you tune a 12-string this way. If you look for some of the earlier threads on DADGAD and related tunings-- by Rick Fielding especially -- you'll find a really rich trove of knowledge. Regards, Amos |
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02 Feb 05 - 08:29 PM (#1397293) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: Teresa I love to drop the lower "E" down to "D" and play variations on D-major, G-major and A; great for my vocal range, too. And 12-string is indeed great for that! I haven't tried DADGAD yet. will have to play with that one, too. Teresa |
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02 Feb 05 - 08:35 PM (#1397298) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: Bobert I play open G, open D and double dropped D. I find that with those tunings there isn't a song I can't play... My style: hard Delta blues... My old unimproved style: not so hard, more folkie... But these days it on the ragged edge... BTW, the double dropped D (also called a D modal) is one spooky tuning and once you egt a few things figured out about it you can do some haunting songs... The kind where folks hair stand up... I do Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Please Keep My Grace Kept Clean" in it when I'm done there is a long sigh preceeding the applause... That's why I like that tuning... It has a eerie sound to it... The nice thing about the open D and open G is that with a capo you can quickly get to other tunings when jaming... This can be real important. The open G capo'd to the 2nd fret now becomes an open A and the open D capo'd to the 2nd fret becomes an open E... If yer playing click songs, which are all in C (jus' funnin'...kinda...) then by capoin' to the 5th fret from an open G will get you in open C.... Good pickin'... Bobert |
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02 Feb 05 - 09:05 PM (#1397315) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: Bee-dubya-ell Well, I think I'll just wait until Susan tells us whether she means open chords as in plain old vanilla non-barre chords in standard EBGDAE tuning with open strings in 'em, or chords in actual open tunings. C'mon back, Susan! |
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03 Feb 05 - 05:51 AM (#1397638) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: fogie I heard Archie Fisher in about 1980 ? and happened to record him in a pub in Aylesbury. He played in DADGAD and open G mainly. It changed my whole way of playing for ever, and once you master a set repertoire you can hear how to set other songs and tunes ,and work out which tunings are most appropriate. You also begin to realise how musicians like Joni Mitchell can create extraordinary songs using open chords. |
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03 Feb 05 - 10:25 AM (#1397882) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: M.Ted For the benefit of Amos and Bobert, who should know better--open chords are also called open position chords, and are simply chords fingerings that have open, or unfretted notes in them(like the G, C, D, E and A that folkies seem determine to live and die with)-- closed position chords are chords which use only fretted notes(including, but not limited to, barre chords)-- First Idea--You can slide most of the chord positions up the neck and play other chords without changes your fingering position, the open strings are drones--try moving the E fingering up to the 6th and 8th frets--try moving the D to the 7th and 9th--you get the idea-- Second Idea--learn to play scales in each of the open chord positions--that way, you can play the melody, play fills, or even create solos-- Third Idea--mix major and minor open chord fingerings to play "Chord scales" --start with D fingering on the 2nd fret, Dminor fingering on the 3rd fret, Dminor on the 6th, D on th 6th, D on the 9th, Dm on the 10th, Dm on the 12th, and 14th-- If you want to make this sound real cool, drop your low E string down to D (as Bobert suggests), and play all the strings--but it sounds real good, even if you don' t do this-- |
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03 Feb 05 - 10:27 AM (#1397885) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: M.Ted That should be "D fingering on the 14th"-- |
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03 Feb 05 - 12:26 PM (#1398028) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: GUEST,Susan in N J Hi, I was asking about simple open guitar chords using standard tuning. Sorry I wasn't clear enough. I like the ideas/comments posters have been adding though. Great info.! Peace, Susie |
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03 Feb 05 - 12:37 PM (#1398041) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: Once Famous Don't get too complicated. you just don't need to. I play a lot of bluegrass with group situations and country when singing solo. Needless to say, I use a lot of first position chords utuilizing strong rhythms. Sometimes, when the stuation is right, I will sneak in a 6th chord before the fourth chord from the first chord. In other words, if playing in A, instead of just going to D, try going to a quick G chord first. A------G,D Great effect. |
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03 Feb 05 - 01:01 PM (#1398085) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: GUEST,Les B. Martin is right. For Bluegrass and Old Timey you're going to play a lot of open, first postion chords - because they "ring" through. And, if you need to go into Bill Monroe land - B or Bb - you just capo up and still play out of a G postion. I've played with some old time fiddlers who got real upset if you tried to play a barred G or A or a closed C7 form moved up the neck. One stopped in the middle of a tune and said "play the damned right chords!!" Of course if you're playing with Western Swing fiddlers they want just the opposite. |
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03 Feb 05 - 01:08 PM (#1398098) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: M.Ted I just want to underscore couple of Martin's comments-- First about avoiding the temptation to get complicated--the person who can keep it simple and and good is always more appreciated--both by listeners and by other players-- Second is the point about keeping a strong rhythm--that is the most important thing! Over the years that I taught, I worked with a lot of people who had been playing for a long time, but felt like they weren't getting anywhere--the problem usually was that they weren't keeping a solid beat--and often didn't even realize it! |
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03 Feb 05 - 01:21 PM (#1398116) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: Amos Well, I agree with both of those emphases, Ted. As for "shoulda known better", perhaps you're right, I just missed the usage, and was trying to be helpful on the question that I thought was being asked, i.e., open tuning chords. A |
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03 Feb 05 - 02:23 PM (#1398178) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: PoppaGator When reading the intial posting, I suspected that the "open chords" in question were first-position standard-tuning chords rather than open-tuning chords. As I continued to read, and saw all the contributions from open-tuning enthusiasts, I began to think I might have been mistaken, but eventually learned that we are being asked about those basic standard first-position chords. So here goes: As you continue to learn by playing and listening, you will come to recognize the different sounds of riffs characteristic of the various basic keys, as played in standard tuning with open chords. Just a few examples: In D, when playing the tonic D chord, it's hard to avoid the temptation to fiddle with that top E string ~ fretting at 2d fret as part of the standard chord, then open, then fretted at #3 with your pinky. Rinse/lather/repeat. It's a unique little sound that can't be duplicated in any other key ~ except of course with a capo. (Not easily, anyway.) In E, on the E chord, you can get a nice blues effect by hammering-on and pulling-off your index finger on the G string (technically, switching quickly back and forth between Emajor and Eminor). The keys of C and (to a slightly lesser extent) G are the best ones for easily "walking" the bass line, using your middle and ring fingers to fret the three bass strings at frets # 2 and #3 (and open). Playing the same bass lines in E, A, and D is tougher because you have to reach the 4th fret with your pinky ~ damn near impossible while keeping your other three fingers held down tight on the basic chord. C and G also offer relatively easy opportunities to pick melodies on the top two (sometimes three) strings, open and at frets 1 and 3. Incidentally, you can reach more notes more easily if you play the G major chord with middle, ring, and pinky fingers than if you use the awkward hand-turned-over G chord usually taught to beginners. Fret the bottom E string at the 3d fret (low G) with the ring finger, the next string (A) at the second fret with the middle finger, and get the high G (top E string, 3d fret) with the pinky. This makes it way easier to switch back and forth between G and C chords, to do the abovementioned "walking bass," and to play melody/treble notes on the top strings at the first and third frets (with index and pinky) and on the open strings. I feel that I became a much better guitar player instantly on the day that I learned this alternative fingering for the basic open G chord. I've never used that other fingering since, and don't think I could play a G chord that way now if my life depended on it! Another little trick I picked up at about the same time as I learned the new G-chord fingering: play the D (or D7) chord by sliding the C (or C7) chord two frets up the neck. If you're not playing the 7th, it's generally best to fret the high E string with the pinky (at 5th fret), because the note E has no business being part of a D chord. (As far as the low E string is concerned: skip it, mute it, or fret it at the 5th fret with your ring finger if you can ~ some players with big wide fingers can hold down two bass strings with that finger; I just alternate playing the two bottom strings, one at a time, fretting at #5 with my ring finger.) The open G string is not truly part of a D chord either, but it sounds OK as a "drone" open note when playing in the key of G, not unlike the fifth string on a banjo. This same chord form (slid-up "C" as D) also works as an alternate Eminor chord if both top and bottom E strings are sounded while the "D" string is muted (rather than fretted at #4). This chord occurs in lots of early Bob Dylan (e.g., "Girl From the North Country" and "Boots of Spanish Leather") and, I assume, in the traditional material that Dylan was borrowing from at the time. |
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03 Feb 05 - 07:15 PM (#1398358) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: M.Ted Forgive me for disagreeing, PG--but I think it is easier to do a walking bass line in the A open position-- all you have to do is paste your index finger across the D, G, and B strings-- then hit the open A string, then the same string with your ring finger on the fourth fret, then hit the D string(which is already fretted at the second fret), then hit it with the ring finger on the fourth fret, then hit it with your pinky popped down on the fifth fret-- |
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03 Feb 05 - 07:39 PM (#1398392) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: PoppaGator Hi Ted, old buddy. Lemme disagree back at you (not that this is terribly critical). Keeping in mind that we're talking to a novice here: I started playing 40 (!?!) years ago, and I still have trouble fretting those three strings of the A chord with a single finger without simultaneiously half-muting the top E string. I get it more effectively with middle finger on the B string and index on the other two (and partially on the B ~ not tight enough to work on its own without the help of that middle finger). I actually find it easier to play the "long A," with index across the four highest strings and pinky on the top string at the fifth fret. A beginner would probably have similar trouble making a one-fingered open A, and even more trouble reaching the fourth fret while holding tight, let alone reaching the fifth fret with the pinky. Not that walking the bass in A (or E) is impossible, or even terribly difficult after enough practice, but it sure ain't as falling-off-a-log easy as it is in C. I thought I might be more open to criticism on the subject of that variation of the up-the-neck D chord which "becomes" an E-minor-something when the strings are sounded and muted in the right combination. This is something I discovered recently, and I'm not sure I have it exactly right. Also, I'm sure that the chord, which includes at least one extra "dissonant" note in addition to the normal components of a straight Em, has its own name ~ but I don't know that name, nor do I know enough music theory to deduce the name (which I assume is possible). |
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03 Feb 05 - 08:30 PM (#1398456) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: Guy Wolff One very nice thing to do to your regular G chord in first possion is to move your pinky over to the second string third fret this gets rid of the B third in the chord.and makes a D note ( stay away from the first string though unless you want a seveth note adding idex finger at the first string first fret to be bluesy) )... . THis makes a very churchy round G chord . ADD a C chord onto this with out moving the Pinke and you get a great transitional chord . Also when doing your normal D chord add the thumb at the second fret sixth string to add a round third . All transform those chords .Together they make a very romantic sound . Also add a C note to the G chord to make a G sus 4 (use your index finger for this) . THis is the chord at the beging of A Hard Days Night but is also one of the oldest folk layerings : (to add a sub domiant note to the tonic) . Have fun , All the best , Guy |
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03 Feb 05 - 09:21 PM (#1398486) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: Once Famous What did I say about keeping it simple? |
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03 Feb 05 - 09:27 PM (#1398492) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: M.Ted PG--You can actually play the chord as a single note--just put your index finger on the D string, second fret-and do the rest as I mentioned--if you are a bit sloppy, your index finger will fall across the other strings anyway, and if you give a squeeze, you might get lucky and get a few extra notes-if not, no biggie-- I used to give this little bit (with the one finger) to my beginners--you don't even need the pinky--if you want, just play with the D string Second fret, and hammer on your middle finger to the fourth fret--mindless boogie at it's most basic!!!!! My thought is that when you move the C chord up, you create something related to a D and Bminor-- If I wanted to really pick on you, I would tell you how to play that D chord with the F# on the low E string as a closed position chord that you can take all the way up the neck--(it'll only hurt for the first few times you do it!) |
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03 Feb 05 - 10:25 PM (#1398533) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: van lingle You can take that great Gsus4 chord that Guy mentioned above and while leaving your pinky and ring finger in the same place just move your middle finger up to C (5th string 3rd fret) and your index up to E (4th string 2nd fret) and you have a nice I-IV-V when you throw in that D chord reminicent of Wasn't Born to Follow by the Byrds. Have fun,vl |
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03 Feb 05 - 11:17 PM (#1398577) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: PoppaGator Oh yeah, I didn't go into the thumb at all ~ and now two people have mentioned it. I habitually fret the bottom E with the thumb for open D chord (at 2d fret) and for F (at first fret, instead of making a barre chord). Also in regard to the dreaded F, I generally hold down the top three strings (not just two) with the index so I can hammer that minor-third to major-third riff on the G string, just as for the E chord as I mentioned earlier. Guy: you're right about that G with the extra D note (B string/3d fret). When I switched my fingering on the basic G chord, I pretty much gave up access to the formation of G that includes both that D note AND the high G (which does give a nice sound). I figured it was a worthwhile tradeoff for the increased flexibility. Of course, there's no reason why a person couldn't use both methods for fingering G (except for habit and sloth, I suppose). M Ted: In that last post, I assume "the chord" ["You can actually play the chord as a single note--just put your index finger on the D string, second fret-and do the rest as I mentioned"] is A. I've never been able to play that chord that way while keeping my finger completely clear of the open top E string, and nowadays, thanks to my nemesis Arthur Itis, I have less flexibility in my knuckle joints than when younger, not more. Ooops; I just looked back and now realize that your explanation covered played the "walking" bass without necessarily sounding the higher notes of the chord, and that is relatively easy. Perhaps I was overly concerned about controlling the full width of the fingerboard, either securely fretting or selectively muting every string. The more familiar I am with a gievn situation (with a song, and even with an entire key,) the more comfortable I eventually become with partial chords, leaving non-sounded strings open. I'm most comfortable and most experinced picking in C (e.g., Fishin' / Cocaine / Freight Train / Creole Belle / Aint No Tellin / Aint Nobody's Business / Richland Woman / Pallet on Your Floor / Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me / etc.), and don't mind going for a beat or two with a single finger on the neck. In less familar territory, I'm much more worried about keeping every string under control at every moment And also: closed-position D chord, with thumb on the low E string, that you can move up and down the neck ~ are you talking about fretting the A and D strings both with one pinky? No freaking way, not with my skinny-ass aging fingers! And I'm sure that Martin, strong proponent that he is of the K.I.S.S. principle, would disapprove... And yet another question, Ted: That C slid up two frets to D bears some relationship to B minor? Wow! I was amazed recently to learn how it could become a close approximation of E minor, which is not something I understood intuitively (despite the fact that I'd been hearing it for many years, wondering just what was being played). The thought that it could also serve as something akin to yet another seemingly-unrelated chord is a mindblower. But I have no doubt that you, as usual, know what you're talking about. Have we drifted far enough away from Susan's original question? |
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03 Feb 05 - 11:47 PM (#1398606) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: DonMeixner Hi Susan, The chords I am able to play are limited bevause of a hand injury to the open chords most all beginners learn. I also play parts of these chords up the neck where ever they are possible to play. C7 slide up for D7 and E7 for example. D chords moved up and down and played as partial chords. The only Barre chprds I can play at all are Barred A chords and usually only as C and D chords. And you may forget a Bm chord completely for me. But I manage t get around the neck and I play OK for a person who is primarily a singer. Nothing wrong with those basics at all. Don |
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04 Feb 05 - 02:15 PM (#1399176) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: PoppaGator Here's a nice up-the-neck-but-"open" variation of the A major chord that I learned years ago: make a standard D major, shift it over one string towards the bass side of the fingerboard and up three frets ~ like this: E-A-D-G-B-E 0-0-5-6-5-0 Thanks to Don for pointing our that the C7 can not only move up two frets to become a less-then-perfect D7, but can also move another two frets further up to become a nice full 6-string E7. I think that's just the kind of thing Susan was looking for in her initial post. PS to my fellow HTML novices/learners: The code for shifting to that monospaced "typewriter" font is "tt." [bracket]tt[bracket] to start, [bracket]/tt[bracket] to end and go back to the default font (Times). The brackets, as always (on this site, anyway) are the "less than" sign (<) to open and "greater than" (>) to close. Invaluable for making tablature and for ensuring that chord symbols appear above the correct syllables when providing lyrics-with-chords. |
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04 Feb 05 - 02:46 PM (#1399209) Subject: RE: Open chords and Your guitar style From: GUEST,DHL For songs in A minor- drop the B string to A. Some folks also will drop the bass E to D but this is not necessary. Also EADGAD works as an open tuning. You can play the bottom E and A in a standard fashion up and down the neck. In this tuning you can play out of A minor (with a little more work on the 1st E) or play out of D.This all works with a pick for me as I do not use finger style. |