Messages

16

Recording Studio / Re: Clasp ?

« on: June 28, 2011, 12:56:27 PM »

At $7495.00 I think it's a piece of gear I'll be doing without for a while. Bet it makes a great recording though.

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Recording Studio / Re: Greetings from Russia!

« on: June 20, 2011, 12:33:58 PM »

What a great sound. Loved the thing with the clothespin. I'm tempted to try it but have a hard enough time playing in the "normal" fashion. Is that in standard tuning?

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Miscellaneous Gear / Re: V Picks?

« on: June 17, 2011, 01:31:05 PM »

I've got a large rounded , which I love, and a Screamer that I use some for acoustic. They also sent a free ultra lite traditional, which I don't use at all. I'm really digging the thickness, both in my hand and ears. Never realized how much tone could live in a pick. And I haven't even lost one yet. That said, I seem to be playing more and more with my fingers these days, both acoustic and electric.

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Introduce Yerself! / Re: hello from france

« on: June 07, 2011, 12:55:05 PM »

I've heard there's a lot of good blues going on there.

20

Pub Talk / Re: something very good to read

« on: June 07, 2011, 12:51:36 PM »

Interesting, they really seem to have things together over there.

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Guitar Playing, Technique, Theory / Re: Question on those Hendrix chords

« on: June 01, 2011, 12:24:32 PM »

I can flip to a negative self, even a solorized version, with no trouble at all, and could probably mange the color thing, but I can’t afford a Univibe…

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Dolphinstreet Lessons / Re: That Hendrix Chord explained

« on: June 01, 2011, 12:02:21 PM »

Ok, now I get it: root note and triad. I called it a barre chord for lack of a better designation. I’ve been trying to get the whole chord, with the exception of the 5th on the A string. In other words, trying to make a little mini-barre on the E and B strings. Getting both the hi-E and B strings to ring out is a real bugger with my thumb over the top - makes my index finger rise up. In playing around just now though I see it’s a pretty simple matter to just roll your finger down onto the E string if you want it while you're picking out notes – it doesn’t have to be fretted all the time. And the minor triad is pretty simple as well. I guess sometimes I just over complicate things. As for the extra Hendrix points, I have an abnormally short pinky. That 9th is reeeealy stretchy. I’ll work on it though. Thanks for clearing that up.

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Guitar Playing, Technique, Theory / Re: minor pentatonic scale and major pentatonic in blues

« on: May 31, 2011, 08:38:29 PM »

An added note, like Robert said, be careful over the IV and V chords - some of those major notes can sound a little rank. The Rule, which I'm sure you know already: if it sounds good, it's "right," if it sounds like crap, don't do it again. Another cool thing to try is switching the penta scales to the same root as the chord over the IV and V. If you're smooth, it sounds pretty sweet. I'm definitely not smooth, but I've heard other people do it who are.

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Dolphinstreet Lessons / Re: That Hendrix Chord explained

« on: May 31, 2011, 08:22:01 PM »

Sorry, should have made that clear; I'm referring to the thumb-over barre chord. Other than my pinky occasionally misbahving and not following along, the 7#9 isn't much of a problem, just need some practice moving it around.

25

Guitar Playing, Technique, Theory / Re: minor pentatonic scale and major pentatonic in blues

« on: May 31, 2011, 05:59:50 PM »

All this Minor Pentatonic/Major Pentatonic stuff came together for me the day I realized that the scales shapes are exactly the same – that is, the first scale position of the major pentatonic is the same as the second scale position of the minor pentatonic just moved back one scale position. For instance, the first position of the A minor pentatonic starts on the root note A, the second position starts on the note C. If you simply take that second minor position shape and move it back so it starts on A, you’re playing the first major pentatonic position. Move the third position minor scale shape back to the second position spot and you’re playing the second position major shape. And so on. Just be aware that the beginning note of each position beyond the first changes as you move from minor to major. I’m probably explaining this badly, but if you just have a look at a fretboard diagram, then start comparing the minor and major scale shapes, you’ll see it right away. It’s very handy. If you’re running a bluesy lick in minor pentatonic, you can slip straight into the major pentatonic for a few notes, then drop straight back into minor and barely have to move your hand. I think Clapton does that sort of thing quite a bit. Like I said, very handy and you don’t have to learn gobs of theory. And, as the major shape contains the II, III, and VI, and drops the bIII, IV, and bVII of the minor scale, it fits just fine over 7 and 9 chords. And with the Root and V in common it’s pretty easy to slip seamlessly from minor to major and back again. Now that I’ve figured all this out, I just need to learn to use it effectively… As DetroitBlues pointed out though, lots of major riffs will cause you to lose that beautiful bluesy dissonance. 

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Dolphinstreet Lessons / Re: That Hendrix Chord explained

« on: May 31, 2011, 04:22:02 PM »

I think my hands are too big! at least, the first joint of my index finger. If I try to fret just the first two or three strings, when I bring my middle and ring fingers over to grab the other strings my index finger rises and just mutes the E and B. Bummer. My solution so far has been to fret the top FOUR strings with my index and then the rest normally. Seems to work - kinda - still have to watch that index finger rising though. Am I missing something or do I just have weird hands? I've  also seen somebody teach this chord using the ring finger to catch both the A and D stings. On a good day I can do it a little but it falls apart quick. Seems ridiculously hard and unnecessary. BTW Robert, the Hendrix lessons are great stuff; hope to see more.