General Music Chat

[/quote] Jsantos

I find it so much harder to transpose music on keyboard because of the the linear keys. The chord pattern can change drastically. On guitar, its easier because the chord patterns and they way you fret stays the mostly same, just a different position on the neck. Sometimes all you need is a capo if the song is simple enough. That's a funny story about the turntable![/quote]

The equally tempered keyboard is, in fact, a truely wondrous thing. Over time,I have found myself naturally grabbing the nearest chord when jamming out, seldom consciously realizing its name or inversion. It seems that many of us are skilled players without actually being musicians. (you can get away with it in rock&roll
Howlin'

Actually, howlinj,after listening,to all these skilled players and their music ,I would have to say they are more musician than any any theory proffesor you coud meet.That includes you, you play great.
Linear is a good way to put it ,on guitar it just helps to expand the neck in a linear way. When you can play a melody on one string it becomes a whole lot easier when you get a few strings back.

Oh yeah, smoke on the water is in fact in G and the last bitch I heard from Ritchy Blackmore is that the cords are not power chords they are one finger bars which makes them also sound totally different whether picked or plucked. Also to the subject of learning the notes and positions.scales, a good theory teacher will help immensely or you can do it yourself w/ various online sites that teach the different scales. what may seem like a daunting task at the beginning actually gets easier as you go along and similarities star to take root in your mind. Learning the different chord variations, A.K.A. as voicing s will also help. In my early years of instruction I was fortunate enough to have a very patient but intent teacher. he had me write out and play a boogie pattern in a different key each week. This was the first thing I had to do @ the beginning of each lesson and if I didn't get it right the lesson was over till the next week. This helps you to understand the chord structure w/ in a given key and as you learn the notes and positions up the neck the relation to this becomes obvious. WHEW.! Knowing all these things that you all have suggested makes you a better player by far. The best one Ive heard yet was 2 a pick up jam session in one guy`s studio in Scottsdale Az. Just 5 guy`s invited over to jam and exchange ideas and have some fun. Well, The drummer, who owned the place say`s, lets just start w/ a blues shuffle in G and we`ll go around the room and solo to see what everybody`s got. The bass player that night say`s watch out for the turnaround on that F# and Gb cause it`s real tricky. All of us laughed except for one of the guitar players. He obviously had no formal ed. in music and although he could play well enough he could not keep up w/ the whole thing cause he was not getting the conversations on what we were going to do. The bass player turned out to be the stand up player for the Phoenix Symphony orchestra. It was a great time but it also shows how you can be limited and kept in your own little zone w/out the theory behind the music. Now thats long winded.MRG2U

One last thing, Stop looking at the guitar neck.
Feel it and listen to every note you play.
Don't get locked into watching everything your fretboard hand is doing.Listen,Listen,Listen, and start to just feel the whole instrument.
I see so many young players not hearing what they play just seeing what they are trying to play.
YEAH I'M CRAZY but this is the only way I know to become free of fretboard theory.

Its definitely a great tool for lead shredder guitarists.

Even if you're just a rhythm player,

I dont mean to bust on your otherwise excellent post, Colors...

however...

The seeming subordination of rhythm guitar players caught my eye, in an adverse sort of way, as I would trade any number of neck shreddin' lead players for one masterful rhythm guitarist.

Howlin'

AGREED. Rhythm guitar IS a lost art. I've played with a bunch of hot lead guitarists who disappear when it comes to rhythm. My favorite blues guitarist for rhythm is Jimmy Vaughan. Rhythm can be just as interesting as lead if you put something into it.

Yeah, I'm one of those lead guitarist (I wouldn't go as far as to say "hot") that lacks in the rhythm department. Actually, I can keep a good rhythm going if I'm not having to sing at the same time (or chew bubble gum), and I have the deepest respect for rhythm guitarists that keep the song going in time and stay in that groove.