Blues, jazz, and everything in between....

[64Firebird]

Sometimes I like to play in the key of A or G when using E or D tunings so I can slide up to the tonic. Plus it gives the alternate bass note.

You still have the alternate bass note in open G (D on the 6th string) it's just lower. You also have the low D for a bass note on your 5 chord, I use that a lot. Open G is a different kind of mood than open D or E. Open G sounds a little brighter and has a little more bite to it. I also like having the 3rd of my chord on the second string, I find that to be much more convenient.

Open D is great for that Elmore James kind of stuff though, it has a bigger, fuller sound.

 

[stonepiano]

Cheating!?! The only slide players I can think of that use standard tuning are Mick Tyler and Warren Haynes. But, if that's to your taste, they both have videos from Hotlicks.

yeah. from what I've read and people I've studied with, playing slide in standard tuning is considered cheap. As in, you dont have the discipline to basically relearn fret positions in a new tuning. BUT, that is how slide is traditionally played.

with that said, I believe I read that Duane Allman didn't know any better and played slide in standard tuning. food for thought..

 

[stonepiano]

These are also the same people that say the only place a hollow slide should be placed is on your pinkie. personally, I cheat here and play it on my ring finger. tone is just waay better for me.

 

[64Firebird]

If you're just starting on your little finger is the best place to put it. However, I put it on my middle finger and I don't have any problems fingering chords. It's about what works for you.

BTW... Duane Allman played in open D mostly. However, Muddy Waters did a lot of slide stuff in standered tuning and standered tuning does have some advantages when playing slide.

 

[64Firebird]

And if any of you guys are feeling adventurious, you could try out Robert Johnson's "Mystery Tuning." It goes like this, Low to high E-B-E-A-C#-E. The chord is Aadd 9 and Johnson used it on the song "I Belive I'll Dust My Broom." Have fun!

 

[Forte]

I've been looking around....
Can anybody recommend some albums that are vocal free? I find the vocals to be distracting....
So, if anybody can name some albums or songs that are purely instrumental (with emphasis on guitar) I would appreciate it.

 

[JR#97]

yeah. from what I've read and people I've studied with, playing slide in standard tuning is considered cheap. As in, you dont have the discipline to basically relearn fret positions in a new tuning. BUT, that is how slide is traditionally played.

with that said, I believe I read that Duane Allman didn't know any better and played slide in standard tuning. food for thought..

duane allman used open E extensively. check out Statsoboro Blues for a beautiful example.

 

[JR#97]

I've been looking around....
Can anybody recommend some albums that are vocal free? I find the vocals to be distracting....
So, if anybody can name some albums or songs that are purely instrumental (with emphasis on guitar) I would appreciate it.

what style/genre? electric? acoustic? solo?

For electric, I'm partial to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Johnson. They do sing a little, but don't let that distract from their kick ass guitar playing.

Pat Metheny for modern jazz.
Jeff Golub for modern contemporary jazz
Tuck Andress for kick ass fingerstyle jazz
Leo Kotke for acoustic fingerstyle
Ed Gerhard for acoustic fingerstyle - contemporary as well as some traditional feeling tunes.
Bill Mize for acoustic fingerstyle
Danny Gatton for kick ass chicken pickin blues
Brent Mason for kick ass chicken pickin country
Albert Lee for kick ass chicken pickin
John Mcglaughlin for jazz/fusion
John Scofield
Al di Meola for latin jazz/fusion
Sonny Landreth kick ass slide player

I'm getting tired of typing..the list could go on forever....
Right now I'm on a huge nylon string kick....

Steve Stevens Flamenco A Go Go
Buster Douglas
Jesse Cook
Riverdance Soundtrack
Peter White

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

60 chords anyone?

Hi, first time here, this isn't so important for blues or slide, but jazz, I'd start with the 60 chord system. Get a handle on that first. harmonically speaking. That will keep you busy for a while. Plus, it gives you something to learn your fretboard inside out. If you apply yourself. Once you get that under your belt, your ready for the next platau. Its from the "you gotta learn what to play before you learn how to play it" school of thought. Just a suggestion.
fitz

 

[guhlenn]

60 chords? Huh?

Guhlenn

 

[64Firebird]

60 chords? Huh?

Guhlenn

Ditto.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hi, I want you to know that this was just a suggestion, and I am not about to get into a theory war. This was turned on to me along time ago, and I still work on it. It changed my view of the fretboard. And it is something that you may or may not know by another name. And it is much deeper than my SIMPLE direct definition here.
Definition of 60 chord system:
There are ONLY 5 qualities of chords. The sixty chord system requires extending all triads to a seventh. Hence:

(1)MAJ7 (2)MIN7 (3)DOM7 (4)Half DIMINISHED(MIN7b5) (5)DIMINISHED(MINbb7b5)

5 qualitys x 12 keys= 60 chords. Everything else is either an extention or alteration of these qualitys. IF you learn every quality, in every key, with all 4 inversions, at
every location on the neck, you will have explored the 60 chord system. As you will learn, one inversion can be another quality with extentions or alterations in another key. This should keep your mind occupied for long enough to start seeing the relationships. If you just want to learn blues licks, and copy solos, ignore this.
If you want to be a better musician, this is a good place to start. And actually, if you will learn the scale tone 7th chords in every key, that is 4/5ths of the system.
Hope this leads you to the next plateau. If you want a complete explaination, look for
Bill Evans Jazz Improvisation book(actually more than 1 book.) It is VERY comprehensive. To hear the use of this system in guitar solos, in contemporary fusion jazz, look for an album by Chick Corea, called Return to Forever. The guitarists name is Bill Conners. He is the one that led me to it, by another route.
Thank god. Or I would still be in a rut. This is a road map out of the rut.
And BTW, I don't pretend to be an expert on this subject, just a student myself.
To each his own. All I know is it has helped me become a better musician. Every
time I have tried to turn people on to this, I get the same response. ? Ditto.
Then the flames begin. I will not do it here. Either you want to learn, or don't,
simple as that, I don't care. Many of you may be BEYOND this. Then ignore it.
The rock and roll world is full of "musicians" who have. Please do not take offence
at that. I am only trying to help. You asked. I answered. But remember this, if you want to play your whole life, and don't want to be playing rock and roll blues licks
when your 50 or 60, I suggest you start now. My 2 cents.
fitz

 

[CDT-sHaG]

i am interested.


thanks.

where's a good place to find these books by bill evans?

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hello CDT-sHaG, your wise. Tell you the truth, I don't know, as I haven't looked for any books after discovering it. There is enough in the concepts contained in them, to keep you occupied for a lifetime. And thats the point. Its not a destination. Its a journey. All I try and do is open the first door for you. Take it or leave it.
First, I have a question for you. Do you know who Bill Evan is? If you do, enough said. If you do not, look in any record store under Jazz. That will show you his credentials. Listen to it and that is the introduction. Ask at any music store that is worth anything, or Amazon and I am sure you will find it. It is a four book set. Any questions? I am all ears. I am not an expert. Good luck on your journey.
fitz

 

[Forte]

Sorry man, it sounds interesting, but I'm a bit confused as to what that is. You mentioned that there only five quality of chords... is this the CAGED system? I already learned that - if that's what it is. If not, maybe some further explanation. You'll have to excuse me if I'm a bit slow....
If it is the CAGED system, it really didn't help me play jazz. To be honest, jazz is the only thing I haven't been able to grasp. The scales seem too weird. From what I learned though, from the chords, you can figure scales (or vice versa) and I haven't been able to figure out more than two chord progressions.

I was able to pick up the blues scale right away though. It's slide guitar that really got me - I guess that's because I never used different tunings though.

 

[JR#97]

Sorry man, it sounds interesting, but I'm a bit confused as to what that is. You mentioned that there only five quality of chords... is this the CAGED system? I already learned that - if that's what it is. If not, maybe some further explanation. You'll have to excuse me if I'm a bit slow....
If it is the CAGED system, it really didn't help me play jazz. To be honest, jazz is the only thing I haven't been able to grasp. The scales seem too weird. From what I learned though, from the chords, you can figure scales (or vice versa) and I haven't been able to figure out more than two chord progressions.

I was able to pick up the blues scale right away though. It's slide guitar that really got me - I guess that's because I never used different tunings though.

the CAGED system provides a frame work. Do you have the fretboard logic series of books? I think vol II goes into more detail about adding more tones to chords for creating those jazz type chords. I'm going to have to look up this 60 chord system. Sounds very interesting.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

is this the caged system

I don't know. I've never heard of that. IF anything, it is the door to open the cage.

The scales seem too weird.

Wierd? There are only 12 tones. Why is one set of these tones wierd? In relationship to what? The diatonic scale? A pentatonic? Or whole tone?

I haven't been able to figure out more than two chord progressions.

Like I said, learn the scale tone 7th chords in all 12 keys. Each key has (7) seventh chords. That is enough alone to write every popular song chord progression that has been writen in the last 50 years. Apply it to all 12 keys, and you have the ingredients for more chord progressions than you thought humanly possible.
Here is an example
I II
I, II, V
I, II III II V VII I
I IV V I
I VI II V
IX IVX V(the basis of every blues tune ever written)
I bIIDIM II V V+5-9 I
Learn those in the key of Ab. Now learn them in the Key of C. That should illustrate enough. Then learn them in all keys. In all positions. Then learn the inversions. These shown do not even begin to use available extentions and alterations. Hence the 60 chord system.
fitz

 

[CDT-sHaG]

Do you know who Bill Evan is?

I do now..........I'm into john scofield, i realize he is a bit different but i like a little funk in my jazz...

can't study too much..have to play from the heart some as well..

study

forget

study again

relearn

forget

get pissed and play some AC/DC...

study

forget

etc.....

then i'm 75 years old...

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hello CDT-sHaG, thats why I said, its a journey. I'm still on it. The sights are magnificent.
fitz