Shona Style Guitar Lesson

In this lesson, I look at a basic "chord" progression that is common with Nhemamusasa, and many other mbira style songs.

If you are in the key of C, the "chords" (actually diads of the root and fifth) would be:

C-E-A
C-F-A
D-F-A
C-E-G

By doing these two different examples, you can start to feel different starting points for the different chords within the cycle and moving away from a singular starting point, and even moving away from "phrase" relationships of 4 phrases to a song.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shona
• Zimbabwean music
• guitar lesson
• afro-beat
• mbira

[tvcmoney]

hie can u plz tell me what tuning you used for this type of song.I tried playing mine in standad EADGBE westen tuning but doesnt sound anything like wot u playin.

[rattletree]

@tvcmoney Hey, man. Sorry you're having trouble with the tuning. It is standard tuning (EADGBE). On this video I'm only playing on the top two strings, and that first chord is on the 8th fret...I hope this helps!

[izzielovely]

Thank you so much . I would like to have more of your shona guitar lessons, especially chimurenga rhythim or pick.....

Looking forward to more of your lessons

Jonah Dzimwasha

[shingimusic]

thank you!!!!!

[tvcmoney]

@rattletree that helped me a lot thanks.

[Driedroz]

Thanks rattletree, you do good man (!!!) just started learning both mbira and shona guitar. fascinating!!!

[Zvabaz]

Nice! Check out something I came up with based on the same chord progression, which works for Karigamombe too.

[wombbaba]

Joel You Rock! I've been trying to explain this to so many guitar players here in Asheville, without knowing how to play it myself. This is truly awesome and will be enjoyed by many people!

Thanks. Christy

[edwinkendall]

nice Joel, thanks! new holiday project :)

[chazzwood60]

Very nice....

for those of us who play or attempt to play

mbira guitar, every little bit

put out there is very much appreciated.

Thank you

Charlie