guitar harmonies

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wireneck
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Wireneck

Wireneck

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Ive been trying to harmonize this guitar riff ive got but haven't had much luck. I can usually hear where the harmony is but ive been having trouble with these notes. I also know that there also different types of harmonies but the one i think i want is a 5th (i believe). If anyone could help me out, i would appreciate it. Here is the tab to the notes

e-
b-
g-
d-
a- 10-13 8-12 4-7
d-


Note- the (-) in between the notes are hammer ons.

While im at it, i dont have a clue about theory. Is there some sort of formula where i could figure out the harmonies other than by ear.
 
i play by ear alot, but try to recognize the sound of the chords to try to harminize with them.

Like your 10-13 hammors onto a C... so you can harmonize against a bunch of c scales or chords or modes.
That would be your root note so you can come back to that note to find resolution.

C D E F G A B C

C=root
B= leading tone ... finds resolution when used before root
F= IV
G=V ... good tone of the scale to break away from root

This is a quick poor example but,
Its the choosing of the different chords that builds a tension/happiness/sadness

that 4-7 hammer-on sounds like you can use some cool mode against it.


Its not really important to know about the theory.... just know how all the notes sound and what sounds good together
 
The Digitech Whammy pedal has a dial on the top which will generate harmonies at specific intervals relative to the pitch you play. This is good for several reasons. First it ascribes a sounds to specific harmonic intervals which then allows you to communicate with other musicians i.e. you can say "give me a perfect 4th harmony on this note and a 3rd on this one".

It is also great because it can give you a feel for sounds that you might not normally think would go together. Also it is very red and comes with a built in pitch shifter which is great for blowing out the top ends of people you don’t like's PA systems !

(Evil Laugh) !!!!!
 
Dr_simon said:
Also it is very red and comes with a built in pitch shifter which is great for blowing out the top ends of people you don’t like's PA systems !

(Evil Laugh) !!!!!
Click to expand...


LMFAO!!
 
If you want the 5th, that's easy. Just play your D string two frets higher than the note you're fretting on the A string.

e-
b-
g-
d- 12-15 10-14 6-9
a- 10-13 8-12 4-7
d-
 
thanks guys

i forgot all about the whammy pedal. I actually own the red one that has the harmony presets. I hardly ever use it, but it looks like im going to have to break it out.
Thanks firebird for figuring it out for me.
 
Here's a tip for all you guys that don't want to learn "theory". Record a note, say a C, then play intervals against it. (Have an extended note just playing and playing...)
Get to know those intervals at least by sound. That's how you really start to hear things in your head. Imagine if you didn't know a language, say English, but you had thoughts. How would you formulate those thoughts and ideas? YOu could but it would be difficult.

Here's a list of intervals, by "frets above".

0: Root/Tonic
1: Minor 2nd - 1/2 step
2: Major 2nd - Whole Step
3: Minor 3rd - 1 and a half steps
4: Major 3rd
5: Perfect 5th
6: Augmented 4th/Diminished 5th
7: Perfect 5th
8: Minor 6th
9: Major 6th
10: Minor 7th
11: Major 7th
12: Octave/root/tonic
 
What key(s) are you playing in?

What are the chords behind the notes you list?

foo
 
foo-

ill see if i can record a clip of the riff. Ive been playing close to 7 years and im a little ashamed to say that i can barely name anything i play lol. I think its in the key of D lol? but im not really sure
Thanks for the list Darkside.
 
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