i have a question. i play allot of "proper" chords, and was wondering if i should play power chords in a similar style.
for example, play the 2nd fret E string with my pointing finger, and 4th frets on A and D with my little finger, sort of creating a barre.
do you think this is okay? i want to practice a good way of playing, and wasnt sure which method was best. this way or the way most people seem to play power chords.
Good question. It depends. the fingering your using is great for changing to a 5th string root chord-this is what Billy Joe does-a great rhythm player. Using fingers 1,3and 4 is more stable for an intermediatte player.
Chords are named by the intervals-distances between the scale degrees-that they are made up of. Okay- Take the chord A5, this means it's root is A and it's other note is E, FIVE notes higher. Here's another example: If C is the root note, or name of the chord, G would be the fifth because it's FIVE letters away from C.
A 5th does not mean it is 5 "notes" higher. It means it is five degrees higher diatonicly. Because 5 notes higher would be perfect 4th not a 5th. The "stacked 5th" chords at the end are also called add9s. You should show major and minor third intervals as "power chords" and warm it into lessons on triads and then inversions. If they see it as power chords they seem to feel more comfortable with anything lol. What is Guitar Insight?
Hey musicchopper: I'm going to take the time to clear up your confusion with your theory misconceptions and not even try to charge you for it!
point 1: you made the classic mistake with intervals-you didn't include the note you are on. ie. C-G is a fifth C,D,E,F,G there are no exceptions to this rule-only added #'s or flats ie B toF# still 5 letters but the F has to be raised for the key of B.
Point 2: an add 9 chord has a 3rd present-stacked fifths are just that-only fifths.
Guitar Insight is a social network for guitar players. It is also the name of my book on theory and technique.
I agree with your stepping up into triads and inversions-everything in time. I get into very advanced theory with my pro students. ie. upper triad extensions, TTS, and quartal harmony.
That is all well and good, you are doing a good thing. I did under-name the add 9.. I just give it that name to be easier about it for the power chord kids etc. I used to get in long debates about add9 with or without the 3rd also lol.
The "5 notes higher" thing... I am saying that when teaching this try not to dummy it down too much to where it may confuse people later on when they move on to seeing it as degrees within a scale. Calling them notes without stating at least notes within the ..
scale means they might see what you are stating as chromatic half steps. and 5 half steps or "notes" above the lower note of the power chord would be a perfect 4th not a perfect 5th. I know you know the theory too, I get that, I am talking about the way you presented it.. the wording of notes vs degrees. notes within a scale or diatonic notes=degrees. but the word notes on its own may confuse some students. I have been teaching for over 15 years, had a scholarship to Berklee for guitar etc.
Hey "Robot" point taken man. some of the semantics we're talking about are just due to the soundbite like nature of presenting a You Tube vid. In my actual lessons I strive for total clarity on all things. What you and I may take for granted, a student often can't grasp-unless it is presented from many different angles. The beauty of music theory is 99.9% of it isn't debatable-it's the math and science of music (which is why most students hate it!) The art is what you do with it. Guitar Insight
nice sounding guitar
monty18chd 1 year ago
@monty18chd thanks man! Godin- Canadian made!
MusicMotivator 1 year ago
Yikes! Seriously HUGE sound on amp! Love it... What amp is that or is it direct?
steely55 2 years ago
Yeah especially through a system with a sub woofer! Thanks! You'reright of course-it's direct-a BR-1600(Soldano patch) into Edirol USB capture.
All hail Steely!
MusicMotivator 2 years ago
aha! I LOVE the Soldano patch. I used to use it a lot. It's smooth like butta yet really gnarly... Very musical sounding.
steely55 2 years ago
Are you in drop D
mrchristkngo 2 years ago
No. Standard.
MusicMotivator 2 years ago
i have a question. i play allot of "proper" chords, and was wondering if i should play power chords in a similar style.
for example, play the 2nd fret E string with my pointing finger, and 4th frets on A and D with my little finger, sort of creating a barre.
do you think this is okay? i want to practice a good way of playing, and wasnt sure which method was best. this way or the way most people seem to play power chords.
nathstanathsta 2 years ago
Good question. It depends. the fingering your using is great for changing to a 5th string root chord-this is what Billy Joe does-a great rhythm player. Using fingers 1,3and 4 is more stable for an intermediatte player.
Hey-come see Guitar Insight Social Info Network!
Steve
MusicMotivator 2 years ago
yeah. i really enjoy playing thx for telling the heavy power chord tho im not used to play bar chords yet. 5 stars!!
harkkimo 2 years ago
no prob hark!
Come have a look at Guitar Insight!
S
MusicMotivator 2 years ago
whta do u mean by fif
th
slash5155 3 years ago
Good question! Here goes:
Chords are named by the intervals-distances between the scale degrees-that they are made up of. Okay- Take the chord A5, this means it's root is A and it's other note is E, FIVE notes higher. Here's another example: If C is the root note, or name of the chord, G would be the fifth because it's FIVE letters away from C.
I explain this in more detail in my book!
Just play the crap out of this chord!!
MusicMotivator 3 years ago
oh yeah i get it
slash5155 3 years ago
A 5th does not mean it is 5 "notes" higher. It means it is five degrees higher diatonicly. Because 5 notes higher would be perfect 4th not a 5th. The "stacked 5th" chords at the end are also called add9s. You should show major and minor third intervals as "power chords" and warm it into lessons on triads and then inversions. If they see it as power chords they seem to feel more comfortable with anything lol. What is Guitar Insight?
musichopper 2 years ago
Hey musicchopper: I'm going to take the time to clear up your confusion with your theory misconceptions and not even try to charge you for it!
point 1: you made the classic mistake with intervals-you didn't include the note you are on. ie. C-G is a fifth C,D,E,F,G there are no exceptions to this rule-only added #'s or flats ie B toF# still 5 letters but the F has to be raised for the key of B.
Point 2: an add 9 chord has a 3rd present-stacked fifths are just that-only fifths.
see Pt.2
MusicMotivator 2 years ago
Guitar Insight is a social network for guitar players. It is also the name of my book on theory and technique.
I agree with your stepping up into triads and inversions-everything in time. I get into very advanced theory with my pro students. ie. upper triad extensions, TTS, and quartal harmony.
Thanks,
Steve
MusicMotivator 2 years ago
That is all well and good, you are doing a good thing. I did under-name the add 9.. I just give it that name to be easier about it for the power chord kids etc. I used to get in long debates about add9 with or without the 3rd also lol.
The "5 notes higher" thing... I am saying that when teaching this try not to dummy it down too much to where it may confuse people later on when they move on to seeing it as degrees within a scale. Calling them notes without stating at least notes within the ..
musichopper 2 years ago
scale means they might see what you are stating as chromatic half steps. and 5 half steps or "notes" above the lower note of the power chord would be a perfect 4th not a perfect 5th. I know you know the theory too, I get that, I am talking about the way you presented it.. the wording of notes vs degrees. notes within a scale or diatonic notes=degrees. but the word notes on its own may confuse some students. I have been teaching for over 15 years, had a scholarship to Berklee for guitar etc.
musichopper 2 years ago
Hey "Robot" point taken man. some of the semantics we're talking about are just due to the soundbite like nature of presenting a You Tube vid. In my actual lessons I strive for total clarity on all things. What you and I may take for granted, a student often can't grasp-unless it is presented from many different angles. The beauty of music theory is 99.9% of it isn't debatable-it's the math and science of music (which is why most students hate it!) The art is what you do with it. Guitar Insight
MusicMotivator 2 years ago
Comment removed
musichopper 2 years ago