Showing posts with label of. Show all posts
Showing posts with label of. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Emajor9 The first chord of Angel
Chords of Jimi Hendrix
Continuing our Hendrix
mini-series here at http://blogspot.com/ todays chord is a nice sounding E major9 chord. This chord is the very first guitar chord played at the start of Angel
from The Cry of Love
album released after his death.
Weve featured an alternative E major9 inversion before. Remember that Hendrix tuned his guitar down a half step, so youll sound a semitone higher unless you detune too. Theres more info on Jimis tuning in our first Hendrix chord post.
Heres the fingering for this guitar chord:
If you miss out the open E strings in this chord, youre playing a G#m7 chord.
Major 9 chords can be replace major 7th chords, and can often be played in place of major chords. It can replace I and IV chords.
Major 9 chords use these degrees of the major scale: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
E Major 9 uses the notes: E, D#, G#, B, F#, E
Our inversion uses the notes in this order: E, F#, G#, D#, B, E.
Tune in tomorrow for more of our Jimi Hendrix mini series and another Hendrix guitar chord of the day.
mini-series here at http://blogspot.com/ todays chord is a nice sounding E major9 chord. This chord is the very first guitar chord played at the start of Angel from The Cry of Love album released after his death.Weve featured an alternative E major9 inversion before. Remember that Hendrix tuned his guitar down a half step, so youll sound a semitone higher unless you detune too. Theres more info on Jimis tuning in our first Hendrix chord post.
If you miss out the open E strings in this chord, youre playing a G#m7 chord.
Major 9 chords can be replace major 7th chords, and can often be played in place of major chords. It can replace I and IV chords.
Major 9 chords use these degrees of the major scale: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
E Major 9 uses the notes: E, D#, G#, B, F#, E
Our inversion uses the notes in this order: E, F#, G#, D#, B, E.
Tune in tomorrow for more of our Jimi Hendrix mini series and another Hendrix guitar chord of the day.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Taking Care of Your Guitar or Other Wooden Instrument
What should I do to take care of my guitar?
The first and most important thing to be aware of is subjecting it to severe weather. If its at all avoidable, DO NOT LEAVE IT IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR! Extremely hot weather can cause stress on the glue joints, and cracks in the body while cold can cause finish cracking and both can cause severe structural damage. Should it be necessary to leave the guitar in the trunk, leave it in the case when you get inside until the temperature is stable. Heat, cold and humidity are the worst enemies of your guitar.
What do I clean my guitar with?
Most guitar manufacturers as well as other companies make guitar polish. The main thing here is to not use regular furniture polish that will eventually build up on the finish. Interestingly, even though the Martin Guitar Company, in business since 1833, makes a guitar polish, they also say in their owners manual that you can clean the guitar with a very slightly damp cloth.
Should I do anything to the fingerboard?
I usually use Gibson fingerboard conditioner about twice year on my guitars and banjos. It lubricates and cleans the fingerboard. In the winter this helps to prevent cracking from very low humidity levels.
Do I need to wipe off the strings?
Wiping off the strings after you play helps to resist corrosion and makes the strings last longer. This is a good idea if you play outside or if your hands tend to sweat.
How often should I change strings?
As mentioned in a previous post, if the strings sound dead, look nasty or wont stay in tune, its time to change them. If you play a lot, it will be something youll want to do more often. Some professional players change them at least once a week, some before every performance.
Beware of the guitar strap with a vinyl backing.
When you buy a strap for your guitar, check to see whether it has a vinyl backing. If it does, be sure that the backing doesnt come into contact with the finish on your guitar. Vinyl is a petroleum based product and it can eat through the finish. The same is true if you put your guitar on a stand. The parts that support the neck and the body can also damage the finish.
The first and most important thing to be aware of is subjecting it to severe weather. If its at all avoidable, DO NOT LEAVE IT IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR! Extremely hot weather can cause stress on the glue joints, and cracks in the body while cold can cause finish cracking and both can cause severe structural damage. Should it be necessary to leave the guitar in the trunk, leave it in the case when you get inside until the temperature is stable. Heat, cold and humidity are the worst enemies of your guitar.
What do I clean my guitar with?
Most guitar manufacturers as well as other companies make guitar polish. The main thing here is to not use regular furniture polish that will eventually build up on the finish. Interestingly, even though the Martin Guitar Company, in business since 1833, makes a guitar polish, they also say in their owners manual that you can clean the guitar with a very slightly damp cloth.
Should I do anything to the fingerboard?
I usually use Gibson fingerboard conditioner about twice year on my guitars and banjos. It lubricates and cleans the fingerboard. In the winter this helps to prevent cracking from very low humidity levels.
Do I need to wipe off the strings?
Wiping off the strings after you play helps to resist corrosion and makes the strings last longer. This is a good idea if you play outside or if your hands tend to sweat.
How often should I change strings?
As mentioned in a previous post, if the strings sound dead, look nasty or wont stay in tune, its time to change them. If you play a lot, it will be something youll want to do more often. Some professional players change them at least once a week, some before every performance.
Beware of the guitar strap with a vinyl backing.
When you buy a strap for your guitar, check to see whether it has a vinyl backing. If it does, be sure that the backing doesnt come into contact with the finish on your guitar. Vinyl is a petroleum based product and it can eat through the finish. The same is true if you put your guitar on a stand. The parts that support the neck and the body can also damage the finish.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Get Rid of Distractions
Whats keeping you from focusing on your practice?
Ive had students tell me they have the radio on in the background, they practice sitting on the bed with the music opened on the floor, on the couch with the music on the coffee table, geez Louise, how do you expect to get anywhere like that? Lets look at some ways to improve your environment which in turn will improve your ability to focus.
The room itself.
For playing guitar you need: a quiet space, one free of tempting objects that will steal your attention. The practice room should have door you can close, a way to record yourself, a computer or mp3 player so you can listen to recordings of what youre learning, and most importantly a music stand.
Essential learning tools.
Ive said it many times, but it still falls on deaf ears......practice with a metronome or drum machine. Music is made up of 3 elements, melody, harmony and RHYTHM. I know its hard, I know the metronome can be more annoying than fun, but its going to take your playing to the next level. There isnt much worse than playing music with someone who cant count.
An electronic tuner is the second tool. You can buy a good, chromatic tuner for under $30, and its money well spent. The last thing you want to do is get used to your guitar being out of tune. Thats probably the second worse thing if youre playing with others.
Something to write with. Write down your goals, write down what you need to work on, write down how and what youve practiced. Mark places that need work, circle notes you keep playing wrong.
Picks, replacement strings, and a capo. Do you have pick handy? I have guitar students that are proud of themselves for having one pick. Go crazy, buy yourself a dozen the next time youre at a music store, theyre cheap! Try different sizes, shapes and thicknesses. You just might be surprised at how different they can be. Do you have an extra set of strings? Guitar strings are also cheap. You can buy a set for $10-20, and its a good idea to have some handy. Strings can break for any number of reasons including operator error, being too old, playing too hard, or sometimes just because they have a weak spot. A capo, the little device that goes across the strings and replaces the nut, is used by lots of guitarists in lots of different kinds of music. Listen to Hotel California or Here Comes the Sun to hear a couple of examples of guitars with capos on them.
Other handy items.
A computer can be used to find songs, record and play back your practice sessions, and to do research. You can find lessons, videos, and much more, just be sure to use the computer for its intended purpose, not just to play games! One of the most valuable items we use in the Studio is software that can slow songs down. I use Riffmaster Pro, (affiliate link), which is easy to use and understand. The best feature is that you can create, slow down and save a loop. This enables you to go back and practice or try to figure out a section of a song.
Ive had students tell me they have the radio on in the background, they practice sitting on the bed with the music opened on the floor, on the couch with the music on the coffee table, geez Louise, how do you expect to get anywhere like that? Lets look at some ways to improve your environment which in turn will improve your ability to focus.
The room itself.
For playing guitar you need: a quiet space, one free of tempting objects that will steal your attention. The practice room should have door you can close, a way to record yourself, a computer or mp3 player so you can listen to recordings of what youre learning, and most importantly a music stand.
Essential learning tools.
Ive said it many times, but it still falls on deaf ears......practice with a metronome or drum machine. Music is made up of 3 elements, melody, harmony and RHYTHM. I know its hard, I know the metronome can be more annoying than fun, but its going to take your playing to the next level. There isnt much worse than playing music with someone who cant count.
An electronic tuner is the second tool. You can buy a good, chromatic tuner for under $30, and its money well spent. The last thing you want to do is get used to your guitar being out of tune. Thats probably the second worse thing if youre playing with others.
Something to write with. Write down your goals, write down what you need to work on, write down how and what youve practiced. Mark places that need work, circle notes you keep playing wrong.
Picks, replacement strings, and a capo. Do you have pick handy? I have guitar students that are proud of themselves for having one pick. Go crazy, buy yourself a dozen the next time youre at a music store, theyre cheap! Try different sizes, shapes and thicknesses. You just might be surprised at how different they can be. Do you have an extra set of strings? Guitar strings are also cheap. You can buy a set for $10-20, and its a good idea to have some handy. Strings can break for any number of reasons including operator error, being too old, playing too hard, or sometimes just because they have a weak spot. A capo, the little device that goes across the strings and replaces the nut, is used by lots of guitarists in lots of different kinds of music. Listen to Hotel California or Here Comes the Sun to hear a couple of examples of guitars with capos on them.
Other handy items.
A computer can be used to find songs, record and play back your practice sessions, and to do research. You can find lessons, videos, and much more, just be sure to use the computer for its intended purpose, not just to play games! One of the most valuable items we use in the Studio is software that can slow songs down. I use Riffmaster Pro, (affiliate link), which is easy to use and understand. The best feature is that you can create, slow down and save a loop. This enables you to go back and practice or try to figure out a section of a song.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Start of The Blog Welcome!
Hi,
This is my first post on this blog. I hope, it will be useful for you. I will try to put some new post systematically.
You will be able to find here some electric guitar wiring schematics, tips about changing the tone of a guitar and some other knowledge about these beautiful instruments.
PS
I know, my English is not brilliant :), but I hope, its good enough to give you some useful tips.
Greetings,
Jazzonman
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Take care of your AXE and FX
Hello guys....
Gosh!!! I didnt go for jamming for almost 2 month already, that because of the fasting month and the month of Eid. I have to respect it and also busy visiting friends and relative or they visiting me.
So, yesterday I spent the whole morning by playing my guitar in my room. I have 3 electric guitar now in my room... When i took one of it, the fender stratocaster-mexican 1996. i found that the strings are rusty. hmmm..... Well. Thats because i forget one thing! I didnt take care of it since my friend used it in a function last september.
May be on that moment his hands was sweating or wet when played my strat. A bit frustated coz i dint take care of it. So, I believe thats the lesson I learn and want to share with you guys. Take a good care of your AXE and FX. coz that the thing that u will be frustated enuff when they are not in good condition.
Not just for the string, but may be on the paint, the fret wires, the bridge, the pickups, the humidity, maybe the temperature.
Most guitarists agree that we need to wipe the strings and body with clean and dry towel. Then put it in the case. And the best case that protect your AXE is the hard case, or some people use the term Coffin case. It is quite expensive compare to the gigbag or soft case. But to tell u, it really protect your guitar.
But if u can only afford the softcase or gigbag, its okay. it protect ur axe anyway, from scratch and direct heat. But remember dont lean your guitar neck to the wall... it may make ur neck bowing.
And for your FX, try not to let it just like down after playing, its good to cover it. If it has some case put it in the case. Take off the battery if not being used or else the battery will be running out. some FX just need to plug off the cable to safe the battery. Put the FX away from possibility of something fall on it or people walk on it. Dont ever spill water on it or put it on the wet floor.
There are some other ways to take care of your axe. I will tell about it some other times later...
See you!!!!
Gosh!!! I didnt go for jamming for almost 2 month already, that because of the fasting month and the month of Eid. I have to respect it and also busy visiting friends and relative or they visiting me.
So, yesterday I spent the whole morning by playing my guitar in my room. I have 3 electric guitar now in my room... When i took one of it, the fender stratocaster-mexican 1996. i found that the strings are rusty. hmmm..... Well. Thats because i forget one thing! I didnt take care of it since my friend used it in a function last september.
May be on that moment his hands was sweating or wet when played my strat. A bit frustated coz i dint take care of it. So, I believe thats the lesson I learn and want to share with you guys. Take a good care of your AXE and FX. coz that the thing that u will be frustated enuff when they are not in good condition.
Not just for the string, but may be on the paint, the fret wires, the bridge, the pickups, the humidity, maybe the temperature.
Most guitarists agree that we need to wipe the strings and body with clean and dry towel. Then put it in the case. And the best case that protect your AXE is the hard case, or some people use the term Coffin case. It is quite expensive compare to the gigbag or soft case. But to tell u, it really protect your guitar.
But if u can only afford the softcase or gigbag, its okay. it protect ur axe anyway, from scratch and direct heat. But remember dont lean your guitar neck to the wall... it may make ur neck bowing.
And for your FX, try not to let it just like down after playing, its good to cover it. If it has some case put it in the case. Take off the battery if not being used or else the battery will be running out. some FX just need to plug off the cable to safe the battery. Put the FX away from possibility of something fall on it or people walk on it. Dont ever spill water on it or put it on the wet floor.
There are some other ways to take care of your axe. I will tell about it some other times later...
See you!!!!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Take care of your AXE and FX
Hello guys....
Gosh!!! I didnt go for jamming for almost 2 month already, that because of the fasting month and the month of Eid. I have to respect it and also busy visiting friends and relative or they visiting me.
So, yesterday I spent the whole morning by playing my guitar in my room. I have 3 electric guitar now in my room... When i took one of it, the fender stratocaster-mexican 1996. i found that the strings are rusty. hmmm..... Well. Thats because i forget one thing! I didnt take care of it since my friend used it in a function last september.
May be on that moment his hands was sweating or wet when played my strat. A bit frustated coz i dint take care of it. So, I believe thats the lesson I learn and want to share with you guys. Take a good care of your AXE and FX. coz that the thing that u will be frustated enuff when they are not in good condition.
Not just for the string, but may be on the paint, the fret wires, the bridge, the pickups, the humidity, maybe the temperature.
Most guitarists agree that we need to wipe the strings and body with clean and dry towel. Then put it in the case. And the best case that protect your AXE is the hard case, or some people use the term Coffin case. It is quite expensive compare to the gigbag or soft case. But to tell u, it really protect your guitar.
But if u can only afford the softcase or gigbag, its okay. it protect ur axe anyway, from scratch and direct heat. But remember dont lean your guitar neck to the wall... it may make ur neck bowing.
And for your FX, try not to let it just like down after playing, its good to cover it. If it has some case put it in the case. Take off the battery if not being used or else the battery will be running out. some FX just need to plug off the cable to safe the battery. Put the FX away from possibility of something fall on it or people walk on it. Dont ever spill water on it or put it on the wet floor.
There are some other ways to take care of your axe. I will tell about it some other times later...
See you!!!!
Gosh!!! I didnt go for jamming for almost 2 month already, that because of the fasting month and the month of Eid. I have to respect it and also busy visiting friends and relative or they visiting me.
So, yesterday I spent the whole morning by playing my guitar in my room. I have 3 electric guitar now in my room... When i took one of it, the fender stratocaster-mexican 1996. i found that the strings are rusty. hmmm..... Well. Thats because i forget one thing! I didnt take care of it since my friend used it in a function last september.
May be on that moment his hands was sweating or wet when played my strat. A bit frustated coz i dint take care of it. So, I believe thats the lesson I learn and want to share with you guys. Take a good care of your AXE and FX. coz that the thing that u will be frustated enuff when they are not in good condition.
Not just for the string, but may be on the paint, the fret wires, the bridge, the pickups, the humidity, maybe the temperature.
Most guitarists agree that we need to wipe the strings and body with clean and dry towel. Then put it in the case. And the best case that protect your AXE is the hard case, or some people use the term Coffin case. It is quite expensive compare to the gigbag or soft case. But to tell u, it really protect your guitar.
But if u can only afford the softcase or gigbag, its okay. it protect ur axe anyway, from scratch and direct heat. But remember dont lean your guitar neck to the wall... it may make ur neck bowing.
And for your FX, try not to let it just like down after playing, its good to cover it. If it has some case put it in the case. Take off the battery if not being used or else the battery will be running out. some FX just need to plug off the cable to safe the battery. Put the FX away from possibility of something fall on it or people walk on it. Dont ever spill water on it or put it on the wet floor.
There are some other ways to take care of your axe. I will tell about it some other times later...
See you!!!!
Friday, May 31, 2013
What Kind of Guitar Pick Should I Use
Whats the difference in picks?
There are tons of choices when it comes to guitar picks. Different thicknesses, shapes, materials, themes, and who knows what else. Ive seen picks made of metal, plastic, tortoise shell, wood, rock, and even had students use a piece of a milk carton or a coin! Well cover the important differences, then its up to you to decide. Since picks are extremely cheap, the best advice is to buy an assortment and see what you like.
Shapes and sizes. Triangles, teardrops and ovals. Those are the basic shapes and there are variations. A lot of people use a triangle shaped pick with rounded corners except for the point. The main thing is to not get one thats real big or real small. After youve experimented with different picks youll probably find one that you like more than the others.
Thicknesses.
There are almost as many thicknesses as there are shapes and sizes! They vary from simply light, medium and heavy, to thousandths of an inch. My personal favorites are Jim Dunlop nylon picks with a .073 or .088 thickness. They have little bumps on them to help you grip them which is great if you play outside when its hot and humid. Plastic picks tend to slip and become more pliable in the hot weather. Again, try various picks to see which ones you like best. My advice to my students is to not get one thats real thin or real thick to start with. The thin ones tend to make a slapping sound when you play and the real thick ones can cause your wrist to hurt.
Pictures, cartoon characters, famous people. There are lots of people who collect picks since theyre inexpensive and its fun to find something different. Weve had Star Wars, The Simpsons, South Park, Elvis and many other souvenir type picks. A personal favorite that I own is from Chuck Berry. It has a picture of Chuck on one side and "Roll Over", in honor of his song Roll Over Beethoven on the other side. Finger picks and thumb picks. If you play banjo or use your fingers to play, youll also need a couple or 3 finger picks and a thumb pick. Like their flat pick counterparts they also come in gauges and different materials. Again, theyre relatively cheap so see what you like best. Most people use a plastic pick on the thumb since metal on the thicker, wound strings tends to sound raspy. So take a trip to your local music store and let the experiment begin. If youre in doubt ask your guitar teacher or a guitar playing friend for advice, but be warned that youll get lots of different opinions.
There are tons of choices when it comes to guitar picks. Different thicknesses, shapes, materials, themes, and who knows what else. Ive seen picks made of metal, plastic, tortoise shell, wood, rock, and even had students use a piece of a milk carton or a coin! Well cover the important differences, then its up to you to decide. Since picks are extremely cheap, the best advice is to buy an assortment and see what you like.
Shapes and sizes. Triangles, teardrops and ovals. Those are the basic shapes and there are variations. A lot of people use a triangle shaped pick with rounded corners except for the point. The main thing is to not get one thats real big or real small. After youve experimented with different picks youll probably find one that you like more than the others.
Thicknesses.
There are almost as many thicknesses as there are shapes and sizes! They vary from simply light, medium and heavy, to thousandths of an inch. My personal favorites are Jim Dunlop nylon picks with a .073 or .088 thickness. They have little bumps on them to help you grip them which is great if you play outside when its hot and humid. Plastic picks tend to slip and become more pliable in the hot weather. Again, try various picks to see which ones you like best. My advice to my students is to not get one thats real thin or real thick to start with. The thin ones tend to make a slapping sound when you play and the real thick ones can cause your wrist to hurt.
Pictures, cartoon characters, famous people. There are lots of people who collect picks since theyre inexpensive and its fun to find something different. Weve had Star Wars, The Simpsons, South Park, Elvis and many other souvenir type picks. A personal favorite that I own is from Chuck Berry. It has a picture of Chuck on one side and "Roll Over", in honor of his song Roll Over Beethoven on the other side. Finger picks and thumb picks. If you play banjo or use your fingers to play, youll also need a couple or 3 finger picks and a thumb pick. Like their flat pick counterparts they also come in gauges and different materials. Again, theyre relatively cheap so see what you like best. Most people use a plastic pick on the thumb since metal on the thicker, wound strings tends to sound raspy. So take a trip to your local music store and let the experiment begin. If youre in doubt ask your guitar teacher or a guitar playing friend for advice, but be warned that youll get lots of different opinions.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Music Theory Part 2 The Circle of Fifths and Scales
The circle of fifths. What is it, why would I use it.
As you travel on your musical journey youll certainly read or hear about the circle of fifths. Its a learning tool that helps you remember several important concepts. There are many examples on the internet, just Google circle of fifths. The circle teaches you key signatures, how many sharps or flats are in each key, which chords go together, and the relative minor chords. Going clockwise around the circle you learn the sharp # keys, going counterclockwise you learn the flat b keys. This helps you learn how to play in different scales. The letters around the top can also help you remember what the 3 main chords are in each scale. Pick a letter, then go clockwise 1 and counterclockwise 1 to get the 3 chords that are most common.
Relative Minors.
No, theyre not your young children. Every scale has 2 letters that use the name number of sharps or flats. So C Major and A Minor have the same number, in this case zero, of sharps or flats. To play either one you just start on the first letter and then go through the 7 letters we use in music until it comes back around. For example: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C is the C Major Scale while A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A is the relative minor.
How is this useful?
By knowing which chords go with which scales you can learn songs more quickly. The other advantage is that it will help you follow along when practicing or jamming with other musicians. This is just a brief explanation, so if youd like to explore the circle further, do some research or have your guitar teacher go over it with you. It can definitely make figuring songs out a lot easier.
As you travel on your musical journey youll certainly read or hear about the circle of fifths. Its a learning tool that helps you remember several important concepts. There are many examples on the internet, just Google circle of fifths. The circle teaches you key signatures, how many sharps or flats are in each key, which chords go together, and the relative minor chords. Going clockwise around the circle you learn the sharp # keys, going counterclockwise you learn the flat b keys. This helps you learn how to play in different scales. The letters around the top can also help you remember what the 3 main chords are in each scale. Pick a letter, then go clockwise 1 and counterclockwise 1 to get the 3 chords that are most common.
Relative Minors.
No, theyre not your young children. Every scale has 2 letters that use the name number of sharps or flats. So C Major and A Minor have the same number, in this case zero, of sharps or flats. To play either one you just start on the first letter and then go through the 7 letters we use in music until it comes back around. For example: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C is the C Major Scale while A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A is the relative minor.
How is this useful?
By knowing which chords go with which scales you can learn songs more quickly. The other advantage is that it will help you follow along when practicing or jamming with other musicians. This is just a brief explanation, so if youd like to explore the circle further, do some research or have your guitar teacher go over it with you. It can definitely make figuring songs out a lot easier.
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