Play the following chordidea:
A Asus4 A A A A9 A
E —————————————————————
H
B ——-2——-2–3—2 –2——–2—————-
G —————————– ——————–4–2—-
D —————————– ——————————-
A ——0———-0——— -0——0———————–
E —————————– ——————————–
Count: 1 and 2 and 3 4 1 and 2 and 3 4
A brief note about my tab and other indication marks: Low E is at the bottom, high E is the top one, similar as standard tab. Underneath the tab I put and indication for the counting, this to get an idea about the feel for the idea. I could have indicated a Beat Per Minute mark, but didn’t. Do not worry about speed, just try to get the feel. H= Hammer On S= Slide := Repeat
Here is the same chordidea but now played as arpeggio (= broken chord—in other words, a chord played one note at a time, instead of being strummed where all your notes sound simultenously—) over just the high E-string:
S
—5—9—5–9–10–9 —5—9–5–9–7—5 :
count: 1 and 2 and 3 4 1 and 2 and 3 4
Try the last idea over the one string by using Hammer Ons as well
Some Observations:
When Playing Chord ideas @ You are able to use More strings= Fuller Sound
@ You are able to play Several Strings Simultaneously
When Playing over One String @ Hammer-Ons and Slides are easy! In fact they feel so good being played over one string., use them at your advantage!!
@ It is easy to notice what intervals [how many frets in between your notes] you play. Keep asking yourself which notes you are playing!
Playing Tips:
Looking at the chord idea, notice that you play on almost every digit of the beat, only beat 3 and 4 do not have the –and— Clap the rhythm, tap it on your knee, this helps to get the feel in your system, knowing the feel makes it easier to play the notes. Music in not just single notes and chords, rhythm plays a huge part in music as well ~ If It Aint’t Got That Swing It Don’t Mean A Thing~ Try to get the feel from the first moment, first play slowly, then speed it up for the idea to make sense. Rhythms all have their own feel, and every song works with different rhythms. Try playing something you know a lot slower, how does it sound? Does it sound worse or just different? Listen to different coverversions of songs you like, try finding the ones which use a different tempo.
When Playing the chord idea over one string you could just play the idea using one finger, and use as many slides and hammer-ons as you like. Listen to some metal- and Hard Rock players like Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani and Igwie Malmsteen, notice that a lot of their faster solos are over one, or two strings, observe the use of hammer-on/and pull-offs in their playing. Now listen to some blues, for example BBKing, notice the solos are often played across the strings [postion playing]
Both position playing and playing over one string has its own function and sound, pay attention to the sound you are making next time when you play solos in your band. To become an all-rounded guitarplayer you need to be able to use both playing modes, try to get them in your system, but remember there is no rush, as learning to play the guitar is a lifetime achievement: Become aware of how you play, see what is possible, set yourself short-time goals and keep at it. Do not worry about competition and other players as each of us play in a different way, and each of us have their own unique gift and playing style. We all have our own story to tell when it comes to playing music!
Those letters after some of those Chords, What Do They Mean?
Don’t worry for now, I will explain all of that, but I need to put it in context and this takes time. Often I will just throw one idea at you but there is more to it than what meets the eye. I will revisit blogs and ideas and build on them, so in time you will be able to see the whole picture of what is going on playing-and theory wise.
For Next Blog Some Theory About Intervals and We Will Make a Start With the Pentatonic Scale.
Enjoy in the meantime
Eddie