The Land Of A7 (or D7 for Ukuleles)

The Land Of A7 (or D7 for Ukuleles)

Thursday February 8th  2024

I love it when I discover a chord trick that you can use on both the guitar and ukulele, it means I can share it with you, and no matter which you play, you can use it. I probably overuse it..... but still…..

If you’ve spent anytime on Youtube for guitar lessons, chances are you’ll have seen Marty Schwartz. I found a lesson of his, many years ago, called “The Land Of A7” and it’s basically a whole set of chords you can substitute for, or mix with, the A7 chord. If you read my blog on the ukulele / guitar relationship, (link at the very bottom), you’ll perhaps twig that the A7 shape we’re discussing is the D7 shape on the ukulele - hence this trick or pattern can be used as a substitute for D7 on the ukulele in exactly the same way.

I can tell you’re not convinced. Watch Marty’s video whilst I draw up some diagrams for you, and I’ll catch you on the flipside for how you ukulele players can use it too, ok?

At about 6 minutes in, he plays some E7 variations too, don’t get distracted……

Ok. So here we’ve got a diagram showing the original chord position (A7 for guitars on the top, D7 for ukuleles below) and the first three positions up the neck after that, which are totally interchangeable with the original chord. Just to repeat what Marty said, play the original chord using your middle and ring finger, so that when you slide into the second position your index finger can pick up the note on the second string. I’ve made a little video here, just backing that up, and demonstrating the technique on the ukulele. For those up to speed on such things, in both instances I’m using the trick as the IV chord. If you only want to see the ukulele bit of the demo, skip to about 2:48....

Full disclosure it was pretty early in the day, yes, I do refer to the ukulele as a mandolin at least twice, I know you know what I meant ;-)

FAQ: Why would I even want to do this?

One of the main blocks to getting more out of your playing is that people only play one voicing (one finger pattern) for virtually all their chords. It’s especially true on the ukulele. Ever had the feeling that whatever you play, every song sounds the same? Tricks like this make your playing more interesting, for you and your adoring audience. Give it a go, but like Marty says, to get the most out of it, you really need to get it “under your fingers”, so that it's almost automatic. Let me know how you get on!

Missed that earlier blog I mentioned? - here it is...

https://bloggerrhythm5.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-guitar-ukulele-relationship.html

What's That? The Fender Jaguar

What’s That? The Fender Jaguar

Thursday January 25th 2024

Most families have a difficult child, or an Uncle Fester who doesn’t quite fit it, the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company of Fullerton, California was no exception. Buoyed by the instant success of the Telecaster and Stratocaster, Leo Fender set about expanding his range with what he thought the public wanted. He was wrong.

Released in 1962, the Jaguar was $379.50, which equates to about $4,500 in today’s money or £3,500 sterling, making it quite the investment. At about $100 more than an equivalent Stratocaster, it represented over three quarters of an average American’s monthly wage. Based on the advertising of the time, the guitar was aimed at the surf rock community and was styled on the popular automobiles of the era, all sweeping space age lines and chrome. Leo was an engineer, not a guitar player though, and the technical upgrades, scale changes and innovations the Jaguar offered were not appreciated by the wider guitar playing public. By 1975, production had stopped.

The thing about being rejected by the mainstream though, is that it makes it appealing to the underground. By the 1990’s, the enduring popularity of the Telecaster and Stratocaster had driven vintage prices through the roof, making guitars like the Jaguar virtual style statements, and affordable options of comparable quality. So began the Jaguar’s resurgence, as a popular choice for punk, new wave, indie rock and grunge. Production restarted.

So, if you check out the roster of notable Jaguar players, it’s a pretty weird and wonderful mix. Yes, there’s evidence of their use across the entire musical spectrum from Hendrix to Roy Clarke, but it’s the model most synonymous with Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, and Johnny Marr from The Smiths, both of whom have signature models.

Any gear that I talk about in these blogs has a personal edge for me, so yes, I’m a proud owner of a 1996 Candy Apple Red, Japanese built Jaguar, (pictured top, and btw, nowhere near the price of the U.S. built equivalent). Am I a member of an underground musical movement shunning the mainstream? Hardly…..(well maybe slightly….) I did however commit one of the biggest no-nos of guitar purchase, I bought it simply because it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. It was 1996, internet research wasn’t really a thing, I was about to buy a flat and I thought, “it’s now or never”...... 

And I don’t like Strats - there, I’ve said it, and I’m not sorry.

Catch you next time!

Yes....but what do all the switches do?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c90Htzq7E5k

Guitar Playing 102 (Don’t fret, you can do this….)

Guitar Playing 102 (Don’t fret, you can do this….)

Monday January 22nd 2024

Okay back in November I tried to lay out the first few considerations about getting realistic about starting the guitar, if you missed that, might I humbly suggest you check it out first?

https://bloggerrhythm5.blogspot.com/2023/11/guitar-playing-101.html

And….we’re back. I’m going to assume you’ve got your guitar (or ukulele maybe) now, you've tuned it, and you’ve learnt a few chord shapes, waved your hands at it a bit, but it’s all coming out a bit buzzy or random. The phrase I hear constantly from students is “it just doesn’t sound like music”. Remember that tutor I advised you to get? Well here’s what they should be telling you about your fretting hand, imho….

Firstly…

When you’re fretting a chord (a collection of notes) or a single note, the optimum place to have your fingers is immediately behind the fretwire. A clear note is the result of the string vibrating between where you’re fretting and the bridge (the bridge is where the strings attach to the body of the guitar). If you’re immediately behind the fret you don’t need to press as hard to get a good note. It’s not always perfectly possible, but generally too little pressure and you’ll get a buzz, too much pressure and you can stretch the string out of tune. And it hurts your fingers. Be Goldilocks...

Secondly…

The first chords most people learn are “open chords”, so called because they involve both fretted and unfretted (or open) notes. It’s important then to play the fretted notes in a way that doesn’t mute or foul the open notes you want. Try to use the tips of your fingers, not the pads, and, sorry Wolverine, you may need to trim those nails. There’s nothing worse than going to all the hard work of learning that chord shape only for it to sound a bit…meh. If you pick through the notes slowly, you should be able to hear each one, if one sounds dead or muted, try and work out why! The difference between success and failure can be millimetres.

Thirdly...

Another common struggle is getting to grips with the fact that some chords don’t want you to play all the strings. In fact, out of what might be considered your average selection of “open chords for beginners” E, Em and G are the only ones where you strum all six strings. For A, Am, B7, C and the like, it’s five strings, and for D, D7 it’s only four. Actually then, for the majority of the time you don’t want that pesky bass E string at all. The answer is not to avoid it, but to mute it by reaching your thumb over the top of the neck for certain chords. I stress “mute” it, so, “just touching / in contact with” not fretting or actually pushing down. Lots of tutors, particularly those orientated towards classical playing, will tell you to always have your thumb on the back of the neck, and there will be times you need to do this….but now isn’t one of them, (unless your aim is to learn traditional, classical technique).

Lastly...

This is a more general point, but I'm not sure it can be emphasised enough. Listening to what you're doing is massively important. Yes, it's difficult sometimes playing in big groups, or when you're in the grips of an open mic performance or whatever, but you MUST try to listen critically to what you're playing. If you can't hear what you're doing, or take the time to work out why it might be wrong, it's going to be an uphill battle.

Record Time

Haven’t done a proper one of these in a few weeks now. One record I have reconnected with recently is “Thirst For Romance” by Cherry Ghost. In all honesty I think I remember it got slated in critical review upon release, but I’ve got a lot of time for it. It’s got a ‘Coronation Street meets the Great Plains of Wyoming’ kind of vibe. Make of that description what you will ;-) Until next time!

The First Gig (of the year, and how Coustics began...)

The First Gig

Friday January 5th 2024

No sooner has the new year come and gone, it’s time to get on the road again. I mean that figuratively really, because I don’t actually tour per se, I mean it’s time to get back to work. January’s Guitar Club night is usually the first booking of the year. I’ve always thought it appropriate in many ways because the club is where the music portion of my life began to take shape properly. So…..

Come with us now on a journey. Through time and space, to the world of…well, not The Mighty Boosh certainly, this is a country pub in Crockerhill, Sussex, circa 2006.

I have a new neighbour, his name is Eric. Eric is, (or now sadly, was) an endlessly enthusiastic, generous and friendly sort, quite literally in a permanent rapture as to the glorious wonders of music, mini golf and homegrown tomatoes. Upon learning that I had “flirted” with playing the guitar for a few years, I was eagerly invited to join him at a new guitar club, his music tutor Sally was running for her students at the pub. I still believe the offer to join him was honest, and in the spirit of friendship and musical adventure......the fact that Eric needed me to drive him there on dark evenings was entirely inconsequential.

Everybody squeezes themselves into the bar, warm beer is ordered and wonky music stands begin to sprout like weeds from the sticky carpet. What few locals there are are hoping for a quiet night... and they're disappointed. The classic rock and pop of the 1960s, 70s and 80s appear to be the tunes of choice, and to my surprise, I really quite enjoyed it. Which is lucky, because Eric LOVED it.

As time passed, Sally became unable to run the club, and some of us stepped up….

It is now 2024. The venue has changed, but the format has little. What’s always a bit of a wonder to me is that many of the faces haven’t changed either. It’s a testament to the strength of Sally’s original concept and that original group of people, who, 18 years later, are still clocking in every first Thursday of the month to strum a few tunes. New faces and friends are great and valued, but here’s a special shout out for the old guard for the first gig of the year, you know who they are. It would literally not be the same without you.

Anyway....last night's club was surprisingly well attended, given that many of the roads around our way have been flooded for about 2 months now, and it's January. Nobody likes January. I didn't get any good photos last night, so I thought I'd keep driving down that partially flooded memory lane and dig out some of the oldest guitar club photos I could find. I may not be thanked for posting these ;-)

Eric is the one in the second picture, looking after all the ladies. The old smoothy.......

Where To Start Finding Your Sound (Hint : Everything Matters)

Where To Start Finding Your Sound

Wednesday January 3rd 2024

One of the biggest mysteries, and hence to me one of the most exciting bits about playing an instrument is finding “that sound”. As usual, I’m going to mostly keep this guitar related, but all instruments, drums, pianos, whatever, have their own symphony of potential sounds, and one sound definitely doesn’t fit all.

“That sound” could be your signature sound, or you could be trying to copy somebody else’s. It doesn’t really matter, the important thing lots of people just don’t get is that EVERYTHING to do with your guitar setup, affects your sound. From the wood your guitar is made from, the pickups, strings, cables, pedals, amplifiers to your playing technique, style and the calluses on your fingers. EVERYTHING has an effect, and finding your sound is an important part of being inspired to play.

I’m trying to impart this little nugget as a precursor to a set of blogs I’m planning to write about some of the gear dilemmas I’ve encountered, and what I've chosen to use, (and indeed, not use). I’d like to think they might help you to not make the same missteps I have, but to be honest, I think everybody probably needs to make some of their own mistakes about this kind of stuff. You’re on your path, I’m on mine, but informed opinion is better than expensive guesswork so, where does one start? I hear you <<both>> cry….

Well the unglamorous answer to that has already been mentioned, it’s probably strings. They’re relatively inexpensive and easily changed, (learn how to do it!) Basically heavier gauge strings give you a bigger, fuller sound, but can be slightly harder to fret or bend. Lighter strings for faster playing. Super hint for ukulele players : try swapping your standard “G” string for a low “G”, I swear that one thing could change your life ;-) Plectrums are another great starting point, what type to use, or whether to use one at all. I’m not trying to kid you that posh ukuleles, shiny guitars and amp stacks have arguably a bigger, or more immediate effect on your sound, but they definitely do have a bigger, more immediate effect on your wallet.

The first step then in embracing the mystery and adventure of discovering how far you can go with music is actually…..listening. Think about your playing and about what might be missing. Be critical, but not overly harsh. You might need to ask somebody how to achieve “that sound” or do a deep dive on youtube….. I’d like to refer you back to one of the first blogs I wrote last year in November….”Guitar Playing 101”.... which you might also consider a reasonable place to start thinking about some of this stuff in the right kind of way… However you go about it though, taking the time to try and get the best sound out of the instrument you’ve chosen is never a waste of time.

Do you have any similar tips to share, or a particular piece of gear you find particularly inspiring? Share it with us!

The Guitar / Ukulele Relationship

The Ukulele / Guitar Relationship

Tuesday January 2nd 2024

Firstly, and above all - a happy new year to you! Like me, hopefully, you’ll be looking to deepen your relationship with music this year, learn more, play more, listen more.

One way, as a player, that you can deepen that relationship I’ve learnt, is to try to play another instrument. Specifically, if your weapon of choice is the ukulele, you can actually already play some guitar, and vice versa. You might not have realised that. I know plenty of people who can play both, but have no real idea how the two instruments relate, so let’s deal with the “science bit”.

A ukulele (specifically the soprano, concert or tenor sizes) are basically a guitar with the first five frets chopped off, and the thickest two strings thrown in the bin. Binning those two bass strings is easy, chopping off the first five frets obviously isn’t, but fortunately sticking a capo on the fifth fret of a guitar achieves the same thing. Hey Presto! You’ve converted your guitar into a ukulele. A ukulele is strung five frets higher than a guitar, which in turn means that in order to play the same chord sound, (emphasis on "sound", i.e. tones, specific notes) you need to use a different chord shape.

Hopefully I don’t need to tell you that this picture is to help illustrate what I just said. DO NOT simply attempt to chop saw the end off of anyone’s guitar, to turn it into a ukulele. Always put safety goggles on first ;-) ……

You can think about this relationship both ways round. As a ukulele player, if you can get your hands on a second hand guitar, you can follow this suggestion and start to get used to playing a bigger instrument, without learning any new chord shapes. If you’re a guitar player, the next time you need to change your strings, just remove your bass “E” and “A” strings, put your capo on five and look up some ukulele chords. Try playing some songs you know using these new chord patterns. It’ll sound new, maybe even interesting. It’ll sound even better if you have a friend who can play the "normal" guitar chords whilst you play these new ones.

The astute amongst you may have noticed, or at least suspected, I’ve used a few phrases that are deliberately…… misleading.

The phrase “science bit” could also be read as “music theory”, which I know can sometimes have the result of people sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting “LA LA LA……” Tough. Music theory is good, I think, as long as it has a practical application to what you’re doing, and this is one of those times. “New chord patterns” is the another one, ukulele and guitar chord patterns are actually the same, albeit that ukulele chord shapes are truncated versions of guitar chord shapes, because you don’t have as many strings to worry about.

If all this is new to you, it might be raising some more questions that require a bit more explanation - that’s great! I’m going to continue this topic another time, but, if you have any burning questions that just can’t wait, email me, or ask me at a club night.

Record Time

This week, record time has nothing to do with this blog what-so-ever. I'm going to recommend you check out the album "Mother Road" by Grace Potter. It's a pretty candid, sometimes rude, kinda autobiographical, self help romp across the desert backroads of America. Fans of Tina Turner may approve.

Here's a link to a live version of the song "Ready Set Go" on youtube....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAsflXVXqZ0

Until next time!

Guitar Playing 101 (Getting realistic about getting started...)

Guitar Playing 101

Tuesday November 28th 2023

It only seems fair that one of these earlier blogs talks a bit about playing the guitar. It is basically what I do with my time, and by that I really mean, playing it, working out how to play it, working out how someone else can play it….you get the idea. How I got to this point is perhaps a story for another day, but right now, in this cold, hard, social media, everything NOW kinda world you probably want facts, so…..

Tip #1 : Find A Tutor…

Of course I’m going to say that, I’m a tutor! Although there’s half a million people offering a free opinion on YouTube who claim to have all the answers, they can’t tell you what you’re doing wrong. Success at the guitar is measured in millimetres…. A stray note here, a buzz there, it’s all very disconcerting. Not to mention a good tutor will find a way to teach you in a way that you understand. Everybody learns differently. Some people can do it on their own, no doubt about it. If I think back and I’m honest though, I did get some guidance on my first attempts from a friend at college who had actually received lessons. A knowledgeable person such as this can also help with the next tip….

Tip #2 : Get A Guitar…

You’d be surprised, (or perhaps you wouldn’t), how many times I’ve encountered somebody who wants to learn to play the guitar, but doesn’t have access to a guitar. Special shout out to that family I went to one time who thought their son could use his Guitar Hero controller…. What’s actually most typical is the young budding, rock guitarist is handed Uncle George’s classical guitar, that’s been delaminating in the attic under some soggy Christmas decorations for fifteen years. Or the mature gentleman who’s spent £5,000 on a salmon pink, Hank Marvin signature model Stratocaster they saw him play on the Royal Variety Show. 

Funnily enough, neither is the ideal starter guitar. Choose something simple, not the cheapest, but an affordable instrument you can hold properly and you like the look of. Get the guitar shop to make sure it’s set up correctly. Ideally, take your tutor (or significant, knowledgeable other) to the shop with you to help you choose. For beginners, I’d always say start with an acoustic, rather than an electric guitar. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think an electric guitar is “easier” - there’s more to worry about, more gear required and more moving parts. Get a basic guitar bag, a selection of plectrums of different gauges to experiment with, and a tuner, or download a smart phone app. If your guitar’s not in tune, you don’t stand a chance.

Tip #3 : Be Realistic…

Chances are, there’s going to be a disconnect between what you see yourself playing, and what you can do at first. That whole myth about practising a little every day being the key to success, isn’t a myth. For most people, it’s gonna take time, a whole lot of precious time, it’s gonna take patience and time, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do, to do it, to do it right child. George Harrison said that, and he was in The Beatles. The good news is, if you’ve followed tip #1, you’ll spend less time in this initial limbo period thinking the whole adventure was a terrible mistake.

Now I know none of these three pointers are going to get you shredding by next Tuesday, but there’s a lot of wisdom in the whole “right tool for the right job” idea. It’ll stand you in good stead for “Guitar Playing 102”.....

Record Time

This week’s musical share is the first album by little known Manchester group, Oasis. It’s called “Definitely Maybe”. Now I’m not the biggest Oasis fan ever, but I do appreciate and respect Noel Gallagher as a songwriter. The album came out whilst I was taking my first few steps with the guitar. I liked the simplicity of some of the songs, like “Columbia” and “Live Forever”....so I went and bought the songbook from HMV in Tunbridge Wells, and I sat in my bedsit and played along. Finding something to play along to that you find inspiring is a powerful thing - hopefully you can find yours!

Please Allow Me To Introduce Myself

Please Allow Me To Introduce Myself

Thursday November 23rd, 2023

I googled, “Why do people write blogs?” and the answer I got back, (in 0.41 seconds) was, “...at its most basic, blogs can help you develop an online presence, prove yourself an expert in an industry, and attract more quality

leads to all pages of your site.”

That doesn’t really sound like me. Online? Clearly…. Expert? Hardly. I’m a middle aged man trying to process his thoughts. Trying to share some passion and experience that the common musician, possibly hiding out in their basement or attic, with an inkling towards actually playing in front of real people, might find useful. Or at least, vaguely interesting and occasionally funny. Google suggests that these are potentially secondary goals for blog writing. I don’t care. They’re my goals.

So again, without getting too hung up on definitions, please allow me to introduce myself, as a “professional” musician, with no formal training what-so-ever. I’ve gone from hiding out in my attic to playing at (and running) guitar clubs, teaching, open mic'ing, and gigging at regional theatres and festivals….oh, and now songwriting (and blogging). More on all of these later.

This blog is not about conquering the Spotify playlists, mastering studio compression techniques or driving your Rolls Royce into a swimming pool for kicks.....I mean it might ultimately be, because I’m on a journey like everybody else. Our journeys are probably different, but we might share a parallel course for a bit, and that’s the bit I’m counting on.

This blog is about what I’ve found out whilst trying to play, and what I find useful. How I got to where I am, and what I’d like to do next. I am fortunate to know some friends further down the musical road than me, I hope to enlist their help. They don’t know it yet. It’ll be fine.

And I’m going to try and share good stuff I’ve seen, read or listened to. I encourage you to do the same, with me, or your friends….and we’ll see how it goes.

So in the spirit of sharing, whilst I’ve been writing this, I’ve been listening to the album “Southeastern” by Jason Isbell, who is for me, a relatively recent find. Fans of the “Americana / singer songwriter with a conscience” genre are probably screaming in disbelief right now, given the kinds of artists I’ve listed on my profile as influences, that I should have discovered him sooner. If only some like-minded soul had made a recommendation….