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Music Theory for Classical Guitarists

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Alphonsus Jr.

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Nov 24, 2012, 3:57:30 PM11/24/12
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I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

thomas

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Nov 24, 2012, 4:45:00 PM11/24/12
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On Saturday, November 24, 2012 3:57:30 PM UTC-5, Alphonsus Jr. wrote:
> I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

There is none. It depends on your goals.

saraband

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Nov 24, 2012, 4:48:09 PM11/24/12
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On Nov 24, 3:57 pm, "Alphonsus Jr." <alphonsu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

http://www.productionsdoz.com/fr/autres-produits/ouvrages-theoriques-et-livres/DZ1399.html

If you are starting right from scratch, you might also consider some
instrument-neutral rudiments. This is just fine:

http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Rudiments-Music-Recommended-Conservatory/dp/0887970044/ref=pd_cp_b_1/178-9453027-6367342

Steven Bornfeld

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Nov 24, 2012, 4:51:49 PM11/24/12
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Several years ago, the guys over at rmmgj suggested this book for those
without a lot of previous music theory. I think it's a pretty good
choice--readable but not condescending:

http://www.amazon.com/Edlys-Music-Theory-Practical-People/dp/0966161661/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353793795&sr=8-1&keywords=edly%27s+music+theory+for+practical+people

Steve

Mental Handle

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Nov 24, 2012, 5:00:24 PM11/24/12
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This one is fine too:
http://archive.org/download/rudimentsofmusic00hama/rudimentsofmusic00hama.pdf

Slogoin

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Nov 25, 2012, 11:54:25 AM11/25/12
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On Nov 24, 12:57 pm, "Alphonsus Jr." <alphonsu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

Learn SolFa.

Only learn what theory you can sing. Do not play anything you
cannot sing with SolFa. Sing with SolFa BEFORE you play.

Start with the major scale, both directions, one octave, with hand
signs, until fluent.

Memorize at least 7 kids tunes with SolFa and hand signs.

Once you can sing stepwise scales, randomly changing direction, work
on triads and other scale patterns that include 3rds.

Cactus Wren

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Nov 25, 2012, 12:50:17 PM11/25/12
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On Saturday, November 24, 2012 1:57:30 PM UTC-7, Alphonsus Jr. wrote:
> I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

Simply answered, find an expert teacher who uses this book:
http://books.google.com/books/about/Counterpoint.html?id=OcSVGkug58gC

The author focuses on counterpoint in the style of Paletrina. Obviously, this is a superior method because Palestrina was not Protestant.

Slogoin

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Nov 25, 2012, 1:12:53 PM11/25/12
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On Nov 25, 9:50 am, Cactus Wren <elegantspanishgui...@gmail.com>
wrote:
>
> Simply answered, find an expert teacher who uses this book:  http://books.google.com/books/about/Counterpoint.html?id=OcSVGkug58gC

Way too advanced, a common adult learner mistake. Like reading
about Relativity without a clue what a vector is.

Long before you use this book your SolFa skills need to be well
established. Unfortunately the number of adult CG students who are
willing to do the work is so small that it's doubtful any adult
learner in RMCG will do it.

JPD

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Nov 25, 2012, 1:13:40 PM11/25/12
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On Nov 24, 12:57 pm, "Alphonsus Jr." <alphonsu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

People seem to love or hate Walter Piston's classic, Harmony. I loved
it. Mine is the 3rd edition. I don't know about the other editions.

Slogoin

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Nov 25, 2012, 1:42:50 PM11/25/12
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On Nov 25, 10:13 am, JPD <googlegroo...@guitarist.com> wrote:
>
> People seem to love or hate Walter Piston's classic, Harmony. I loved
> it. Mine is the 3rd edition. I don't know about the other editions.

I tutored students who used this book and those who had
difficulties lacked basic skills so they struggled. What I did was
mostly drill them until the basics were there so they could do the
exercises without all the calculations. The difficult stuff for most
students was the SolFa and ear training and those who had those basic
skills seemed to have no difficulties with the theory. I would also
recommend learning basic piano where the focus is on learning to read
hymn style four part harmony.

YMMV

David Raleigh Arnold

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Nov 25, 2012, 2:22:13 PM11/25/12
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On Sat, 24 Nov 2012 12:57:30 -0800, Alphonsus Jr. wrote:

> I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically
> learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

Music theory has been drifting away from its basis,
which is historic. Check out Karl Wilson Gehrkens'
works in the Gutenberg project. Some musical illustrations
have even been put in midi format for listening.
The older the better for understanding theory
in context. And it's free.

Among the moderns, George Thaddeus Jones' book is
similar to Piston's but seems to be a bit better
written. I only compared their treatment of the
ninth chord to pick the winner. Regards, daveA

--
Guitar teaching materials and original music for all styles and levels.
Site: http://www.openguitar.com (()) eMail: d.raleig...@gmail.com
Contact: http://www.openguitar.com/contact.html"

Cactus Wren

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Nov 25, 2012, 3:32:02 PM11/25/12
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Excellent point. Perhaps we should start with this: http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail-features.aspx?ID=16942

I have an earlier edition, and it would seem to fit the bill.

Better would be to join a old-fashioned choir.

Murdick

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Nov 25, 2012, 4:20:54 PM11/25/12
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On Saturday, November 24, 2012 2:57:30 PM UTC-6, Alphonsus Jr. wrote:
> I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

If you are starting from scratch, you might try Aaron Shearer's Music Theory Workbook. It's a thin book that teaches students exactly enough theory to be able to analyze music for interpretation purposes (you will need more eventually). Of course you will need a teacher to show you how music theory is applied to interpretation. Statistically speaking, those kinds of teachers don't exist. The fact that you are asking this question illustrates what a piece of crap your former teacher was. Let me make a predictions: your next teacher will be a piece of crap as well.

jdwil...@verizon.net

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Nov 25, 2012, 5:30:57 PM11/25/12
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On Saturday, November 24, 2012 3:57:30 PM UTC-5, Alphonsus Jr. wrote:
> I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

The best advice i ever got from an old teacher was "never play a chord without naming it". This very simple little maxim (discipline) has helped me so much over the years to understand the fingerboard in a very hands on & practical way.

Slogoin

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Nov 25, 2012, 5:33:43 PM11/25/12
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On Nov 25, 12:32 pm, Cactus Wren <elegantspanishgui...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Excellent point.  Perhaps we should start with this:  http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail-features.aspx?ID=16942

Not needed until he learns the basics. Like many adults he needs to
be a child again but like so many adults he's confused learning about
music with learning musical skills. What he needs are skills, not more
words about music.

> Better would be to join a old-fashioned choir.

That works but don't neglect the SolFa as many who take choir do.

It's hard to learn SolFa in a culture where it is rare even among
musicians. Just singing tunes using SolFa is something few have heard.
I've found that the combination of hand signs and SolFa is something
kids love but adults, not so much.

Mental Handle

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Nov 25, 2012, 6:42:34 PM11/25/12
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SolFa might also be a temporal effect--later one might innerly feel or
call all the distances in absolute terms (because he skillingly knows
a-e is the same as e-g in solfa, there is no more need to solfa).

Mental Handle

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Nov 25, 2012, 6:44:56 PM11/25/12
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Mental Handle wrote:

a typo, sorry...

> SolFa might also be a temporal effect--later one might innerly feel or
> call all the distances in absolute terms (because he skillingly knows
> a-e is the same as e-g in solfa, there is no more need to solfa).

... please read: ...a-e is the same as c-g in solfa...

Mental Handle

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Nov 25, 2012, 7:06:49 PM11/25/12
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*) To 'knowingly know' = possession of an efficient 'mental handle' - so
to 'unwillingly know' means 'boah-does'nt he plays soo emotionally' ;)

Mental Handle

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Nov 25, 2012, 7:11:17 PM11/25/12
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Please read:

To 'skillingly know' = possession of an efficient 'mental handle' - so
to 'unwillingly know' means 'boah-does'nt he plays soo emotionally' ;)

(Because 'to know' is/should be either a skill OR a surprise ;)

Slogoin

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Nov 25, 2012, 7:28:34 PM11/25/12
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On Nov 25, 1:20 pm, Murdick <lutem...@aol.com> wrote:
> The fact that you are asking this question illustrates what a piece of crap your former teacher was.

Not true. His teacher is very good. The fact that he asks the
question shows how little he listened to his teacher. I bet you could
not have done any better with him. In case you had not noticed, he
doesn't listen to anybody, about anything.

Mental Handle

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Nov 25, 2012, 7:39:07 PM11/25/12
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Are suches like which some called bots?

thomas

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Nov 25, 2012, 7:40:20 PM11/25/12
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That's pretty insightful for you, Larry. Well done.

Murdick

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Nov 25, 2012, 8:41:54 PM11/25/12
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That may be true, Larry.

Cactus Wren

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Nov 25, 2012, 11:08:39 PM11/25/12
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Larry, the book has few words. It's a bunch of songs and snippets designed to progressively teach solfege to choirs, starting with easier intervals.

Alphonsus Jr.

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Nov 25, 2012, 11:59:47 PM11/25/12
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This thread was a test. Most passed. The usual suspects failed.

Though it was just a test, this thread might well be helpful for others in the future. As you know, I'm happy to help in every way.

edspyhill09

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Nov 26, 2012, 12:09:41 AM11/26/12
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Back when I used to audit any and all masterclasses within about a 3 hour driving distance, the best players and teachers and sight readers were mostly all Europeans because they knew solfege. The ability to sing the notes before they were played on the guitar is invaluable. But I'm among those who do not take the time to learn solfege.

I think music theory is music theory. To mold that knowledge to guitar just requires sight reading CG music, and maybe position study books.

Ed S.

edspyhill09

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Nov 26, 2012, 12:19:11 AM11/26/12
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On Sunday, November 25, 2012 11:59:48 PM UTC-5, Alphonsus Jr. wrote:
> This thread was a test. Most passed. The usual suspects failed.
>
>
>
> Though it was just a test, this thread might well be helpful for others in the future. As you know, I'm happy to help in every way.

If memory serves me, you never add anything to these discussions that you start as "tests". I do hope you glean something from all the information people unselfishly impart.

The tests that are important lately for me, the ones I care about, are my cholesterol tests ( I fail every damn one), and the ability to do head stands and shoulder stands in Yoga with almost perfect form. My next big Yoga test will be passed when I can do a full handstand for 30 seconds. I might even go for the first assessment test for the first Iyengar teacher level. But if it entails going to India for a week or two, forget it.

Ed S.

Slogoin

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Nov 26, 2012, 11:01:23 AM11/26/12
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On Nov 25, 8:08 pm, Cactus Wren <elegantspanishgui...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Larry, the book has few words.
>  It's a bunch of songs and snippets designed to progressively
> teach solfege to choirs, starting with easier intervals.

It is overkill and could be just another failed weight loss
program.

Basic SolFa is taught all over this globe. It seems to be a big
thing in many developing nations. The US is as behind on this in grade
school as it is in maths and sciences. A progressive method is fine
but it's better just to do SolFa all the time as a habit just like
naming all the chords you play, as Jerry said.

Slogoin

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Nov 26, 2012, 11:22:33 AM11/26/12
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On Nov 25, 9:09 pm, edspyhill09 <edspyhil...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> The ability to sing the notes before they were played on the guitar is invaluable.

Or read a score for any instrument.

>  But I'm among those who do not take the time to learn solfege.

And didn't get it in school like they do in other countries. It's
not easy to learn unless it's in your culture but as you say the
rewards are obvious when you attend master classes. It also makes for
a more educated audience. It's sad to see a master class where the
student cannot sing the lines even without SolFa. To me singing and
rhythm with movement and words are obviously where you start kids, so
why is it different for adults?

Gerry

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Nov 26, 2012, 12:22:05 PM11/26/12
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Listening is a good way to begin learning.
--
Music is the best means we have of digesting time. -- W. H. Auden

Alphonsus Jr.

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Nov 26, 2012, 2:55:19 PM11/26/12
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Larry, in light of your failure to recognize the hemiola section mentioned here:

https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups=#!topic/rec.music.classical.guitar/MxG3H4lNERM

future readers of this thread might have trouble embracing your expertise.

Slogoin

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Nov 26, 2012, 3:25:48 PM11/26/12
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On Nov 26, 11:55 am, "Alphonsus Jr." <alphonsu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Larry, in light of your failure to recognize the hemiola section mentioned here:
>
> https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups=#!topic/rec.music.c...
>
> future readers of this thread might have trouble embracing your expertise.

Ahh, how sad. You really should not play this game. I am not your
enemy, that seems to be mostly just you.

Murdick

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Nov 26, 2012, 4:37:21 PM11/26/12
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Ed, it is too late to learn a fixed do system; you have to start very young. For those who disagree with me and say they have done it, I congratulate you, but it is still like learning a second instrument from scratch- it is not worth it. The good news is that you can lean a movable do system at any age without a lot of agony, and it will do you almost as much good.

Cactus Wren

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Nov 26, 2012, 4:41:09 PM11/26/12
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You just learned a second instrument from scratch and are enjoying it more than this monkey on your back called the classical guitar, so what you talkin' about?

Andrew Schulman

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Nov 26, 2012, 6:11:45 PM11/26/12
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On Nov 25, 5:30 pm, jdwilla...@verizon.net wrote:
> The best advice i ever got from an old teacher was "never play a chord without naming it". This very simple little maxim (discipline) has helped me so much over the years to understand the fingerboard in a very hands on & practical way.
>
>
Very good advice!

Andrew

Steven Bornfeld

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Nov 26, 2012, 7:02:09 PM11/26/12
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On 11/26/2012 12:22 PM, Gerry wrote:
> On 2012-11-26 00:28:34 +0000, Slogoin said:
>
>> On Nov 25, 1:20 pm, Murdick <lutem...@aol.com> wrote:
>>> The fact that you are asking this question illustrates what a piece
>>> of crap your former teacher was.
>>
>> Not true. His teacher is very good. The fact that he asks the
>> question shows how little he listened to his teacher. I bet you could
>> not have done any better with him. In case you had not noticed, he
>> doesn't listen to anybody, about anything.
>
> Listening is a good way to begin learning.

"You can see a lot just by obsoiving."

Y.B.

ronaldg...@gmail.com

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Nov 27, 2012, 9:25:12 AM11/27/12
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Slogoin,
You are too kind to this psychotic little bitch. Although it is sad, Alphonsus, Jackson, Jackoff, whatever you wish to call this asshole, is current puppeteering RMCG. Regular readers know Jackoff doesn't know really anything about music. He just wastes his time trolling on RMCG instead of practicing. You have never claimed expertise (you do know much about music) and the troll does not deserve your time or you help.

Ron

Cactus Wren

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Nov 27, 2012, 9:38:13 AM11/27/12
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Actually, Larry gave him a nice earful the last go-around. Jackay
likes it.

ronaldg...@gmail.com

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Nov 27, 2012, 9:54:32 AM11/27/12
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No mercy, a great offensive is the best defense in war. Of course, if you want keep this douche bag around, be nice.

Fadosolrélamisi

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Nov 27, 2012, 10:14:20 AM11/27/12
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How do you spell the chord at the very beginning of "It's been a hard day's night"?

Gerry

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Nov 27, 2012, 12:19:39 PM11/27/12
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On 2012-11-27 14:54:32 +0000, ronaldg...@gmail.com said:

> No mercy, a great offensive is the best defense in war.

There are different kinds of wars. The only way to deal with nut-cases
on usenet is to ignore them. Attention is their sole intent; deprived
they dry up and blow away.

JPD

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Nov 27, 2012, 12:53:40 PM11/27/12
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Some of us don't care who starts a thread, we just like talking shop.

Gerry

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Nov 27, 2012, 1:55:55 PM11/27/12
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On 2012-11-27 17:53:40 +0000, JPD said:

> Some of us don't care who starts a thread, we just like talking shop.

Same here. I just care how long it takes before migrating to personal
invective and pissy little slap-fights.

Alphonsus Jr.

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Nov 27, 2012, 3:53:23 PM11/27/12
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Such rudeness. Why this hate?

Tommy Grand

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Nov 27, 2012, 4:18:22 PM11/27/12
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On Nov 24, 2:57 pm, "Alphonsus Jr." <alphonsu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

Get Duarte's wonderful book: http://www.amazon.com/Mel-presents-Melody-Harmony-Guitarists/dp/0786676884

A fine composer and accomplished player, no doubt.

dsi1

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Nov 27, 2012, 6:06:52 PM11/27/12
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My talented guitar buddy had a stretchy chord which he was fond of. He
called it an "A flattened Egyptian 13." It was a one-off chord with
little value on most any context you could name but he cherished it. The
notes of the chord have been lost in the sands of time and only the name
remains. It boggles the mind at how many chords have been lost this way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvxPc5MPEuQ

Fadosolrélamisi

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Nov 27, 2012, 8:25:13 PM11/27/12
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On Tuesday, November 27, 2012 3:06:52 PM UTC-8, dsi1 wrote:
What a demystification ... Tu as couper l'herbe sous le pied d'Andrew, comme ça! (You've cut the grass under Andrew's feet, It's a french expressing the fact that someone went ahead, in this case you demystifying the Beatles chord) ... Amazing how everything can be solve through the web, webpower.
There's assuredly an Egyptian scale that goes with your friend "A flattened Egyptian 13" and it probably provide for some very interesting, not to say groovy, side way danse stepps.

ucr...@ucl.ac.uk

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Nov 28, 2012, 8:03:38 AM11/28/12
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On Saturday, November 24, 2012 8:57:30 PM UTC, Alphonsus Jr. wrote:
> I've decided to abandon my haphazard approach and to systematically learn music theory. What's the single best resource you know of?

Bach chorales, if you haven't already worked on these.

Find someone, or a book, that will tutor you in harmonising the chorales. Compare yours with Bach's. Everything else is footnotes

Murdick

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Nov 28, 2012, 9:12:51 AM11/28/12
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You know another nice use for Bach chorales is to learn and gather interesting chord progressions. I gave a song writer this advice when he asked me how to create interesting sets of changes. Much better than looking a jazz tunes. I think we (and the public) are getting sick of I,V,vi,IV.

Slogoin

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Nov 28, 2012, 10:35:24 AM11/28/12
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On Nov 27, 6:25 am, ronaldgraci...@gmail.com wrote:
> Slogoin,
> You are too kind to this psychotic little bitch.

Jackson is a real person who studied with a fine CG teacher I
know. His posts in RMCG do not tell the whole story and if I was you I
would not be making stupid assumptions about him nor anybody else who
you do not personally know.

YMMV

Cactus Wren

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Nov 28, 2012, 10:36:02 AM11/28/12
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I once received advice to get a book of the chorales for piano and
pick through them, one by one. Supposedly, at some point, things will
begin to make sense! I started on this project, but my piano skills
were so horrid that it was a rather painful experience.

Alphonsus Jr.

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Nov 28, 2012, 10:49:24 AM11/28/12
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That was a classy move, Larry. Many thanks.

Slogoin

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Nov 28, 2012, 10:52:56 AM11/28/12
to
On Nov 28, 7:36 am, Cactus Wren <elegantspanishgui...@gmail.com>
wrote:
>
> I once received advice to get a book of the chorales for piano and
> pick through them, one by one.  Supposedly, at some point, things will
> begin to make sense!  I started on this project, but my piano skills
> were so horrid that it was a rather painful experience.

It's better if you are at least studying piano and have someone
who knows the Bach chorals to check your work. My composition teacher
knew them well and going through them with her was a real joy. She was
also of the opinion that this was something every serious student of
harmony should do. I only did some of them at the time but it sure was
more interesting than the stuff we were doing in harmony class. This
is why I suggested stressing Hymnal style piano. I have a Methodist
Hymnal that I used to learn the style.

Alphonsus Jr.

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Nov 28, 2012, 10:53:26 AM11/28/12
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Speaking of which:

http://books.google.com/books/about/Four_part_Harmony_at_the_Classical_Guita.html?id=mHGtNwAACAAJ

Slogoin

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Nov 28, 2012, 11:16:02 AM11/28/12
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On Nov 28, 7:53 am, "Alphonsus Jr." <alphonsu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Speaking of which:
>
> http://books.google.com/books/about/Four_part_Harmony_at_the_Classica...

More overkill. The first thing I would do is find out where you are
at. I doubt that you have the basic skills you need to study this
book. Stick with basic skills and forget about reading more books or
finding some method that is the "best". Start with being able to sing
basic SolFa as I'm betting your "theory" skills are ahead of your ear
and singing like most in the US, but nobody here can tell unless you
tell us where you are at.

Jonathan

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Nov 28, 2012, 11:31:59 AM11/28/12
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Have you ever heard of Mick Goodrick's "Almanac of Guitar Voice Leading?"
It believe it uses some sort of mathematical formula to generate voice leading possibilities, and I have heard that some of the harmonies come out sounding like Bach.
Supposedly some folks have used it to find interesting progressions as well.

dsi1

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Nov 28, 2012, 3:12:29 PM11/28/12
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On 11/27/2012 3:25 PM, Fadosolrélamisi wrote:
>
> What a demystification ... Tu as couper l'herbe sous le pied d'Andrew, comme ça! (You've cut the grass under Andrew's feet, It's a french expressing the fact that someone went ahead, in this case you demystifying the Beatles chord) ... Amazing how everything can be solve through the web, webpower.

It's a whacky chord alright. I guess John and Paul wanted to play D but
George thought F was better. Ringo suggested that they at least play a G
note together. The rest is history...

> There's assuredly an Egyptian scale that goes with your friend "A flattened Egyptian 13" and it probably provide for some very interesting, not to say groovy, side way danse stepps.
>

Pharaohs long dead are awakened every time an flattened Egyptian chord
is played. Unfortunately, hardly anybody plays FE chords these days and
they slip back into their dark tombs once the vibrations subside.
Frankly, they want people to stop bugging them!

Andrew Schulman

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Nov 28, 2012, 5:55:37 PM11/28/12
to
On Nov 28, 10:49 am, "Alphonsus Jr." <alphonsu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> That was a classy move, Larry. Many thanks.
>
>
Hey Alphonsus Jr.,

Larry was just kidding!

Andrew



Gerry

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Nov 28, 2012, 6:18:49 PM11/28/12
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Bad news, Alphonsus Jr.,

Andrew was just kidding!

saraband

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Nov 29, 2012, 6:04:17 AM11/29/12
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On Nov 27, 6:06 pm, dsi1 <ds...@eternal-september.invalid> wrote:
From Keith Richards' excellent autobiography:

"Chords are something to look for. There’s always the Lost Chord.
Nobody’s found it."

dsi1

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Nov 29, 2012, 1:26:12 PM11/29/12
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On 11/29/2012 1:04 AM, saraband wrote:
>
> From Keith Richards' excellent autobiography:
>
> "Chords are something to look for. There�s always the Lost Chord.
> Nobody�s found it."
>

I've lost many tasty chords. Don't you just hate when that happens? Of
course, I've never found THE lost chord. Probably never even been in the
proximity of it. Rumor has it that it will grant immortality to anyone
that plays and hears it. It's a good deal all around.

Murdick

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Nov 29, 2012, 2:56:27 PM11/29/12
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The guitar doesn't really voice very well in four parts- too many things you can't do. Three parts is far more versatile (see Sor study #1). Having said this, you can essentially master fingerboard harmony very quickly if you learn all the four note chords on 4th,3rd and 2nd strings, or the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings with the bass note on a convenient wound string.

Gerry

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Nov 29, 2012, 7:13:46 PM11/29/12
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On 2012-11-29 18:26:12 +0000, dsi1 said:

> On 11/29/2012 1:04 AM, saraband wrote:
>>
>> From Keith Richards' excellent autobiography:
>>
>> "Chords are something to look for. There’s always the Lost Chord.
>> Nobody’s found it."
>>
>
> I've lost many tasty chords.

Not to worry, they usually come home when they're hungry enough.

> Don't you just hate when that happens? Of course, I've never found THE
> lost chord. Probably never even been in the proximity of it.

If it wasn't initially found, it couldn't later be lost. But if you do
lose it you'll know you once had it.

> Rumor has it that it will grant immortality to anyone that plays and
> hears it. It's a good deal all around.

Rumors get bungled: Should read "immorality".

dsi1

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Nov 29, 2012, 7:26:13 PM11/29/12
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On 11/29/2012 2:13 PM, Gerry wrote:
> On 2012-11-29 18:26:12 +0000, dsi1 said:
>
>> On 11/29/2012 1:04 AM, saraband wrote:
>>>
>>> From Keith Richards' excellent autobiography:
>>>
>>> "Chords are something to look for. There’s always the Lost Chord.
>>> Nobody’s found it."
>>>
>>
>> I've lost many tasty chords.
>
> Not to worry, they usually come home when they're hungry enough.
>
>> Don't you just hate when that happens? Of course, I've never found THE
>> lost chord. Probably never even been in the proximity of it.
>
> If it wasn't initially found, it couldn't later be lost. But if you do
> lose it you'll know you once had it.

You know, you never know what you've lost until you truly lose it but
then, after a while, you realize that you've never really lost it
because it was already here the whole time. You just had to know where
to find it. It was on page 47 of Mel Bay's Complete Book of Guitar
Chords, down around the middle, a little to the left.

>
>> Rumor has it that it will grant immortality to anyone that plays and
>> hears it. It's a good deal all around.
>
> Rumors get bungled: Should read "immorality".

CURSE YOU "T!"

Andrew Schulman

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Nov 29, 2012, 11:37:01 PM11/29/12
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On Nov 27, 10:14 am, Fadosolrélamisi <rei...@telus.net> wrote:
> > > The best advice i ever got from an old teacher was "never play a chord without naming it". This very simple little maxim (discipline) has helped me so much over the years to understand the fingerboard in a very hands on & practical way.
>
> > Very good advice!
>
> > Andrew
>
> How do you spell the chord at the very beginning of "It's been a hard day's night"?
>
That really is one of the greatest song opening chords in the history
of music. In terms of its impact, maybe the greatest.

Proof? Type "opening chord" into Google search.

I love where Paul placed the bass.

Read the Wiki article. It mentions Walter Everett's 2 volume work on
the Beatles music. Highly recommended.

Andrew

Andrew Schulman

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Nov 29, 2012, 11:42:32 PM11/29/12
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On Nov 27, 8:25 pm, Fadosolrélamisi <rei...@telus.net> wrote:
>  Tu as couper l'herbe sous le pied d'Andrew, comme ça! (You've cut the grass under Andrew's feet, It's a french expressing the fact that someone went ahead, in this case you demystifying the Beatles chord) ...
>
Oops, just saw this, moments after posting my response. You've cut
the grass, but since I haven't smoked any grass in ages it doesn't
matter.

Of course, I never inhaled.

Haha.

Andrew

Andrew Schulman

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Nov 29, 2012, 11:45:00 PM11/29/12
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On Nov 29, 7:26 pm, dsi1 <ds...@eternal-september.invalid> wrote:
> You know, you never know what you've lost until you truly lose it but
> then, after a while, you realize that you've never really lost it
> because it was already here the whole time...
>
>
Uh, David, there's still a lot of grass in Hawaii, right?

Andrew

Andrew Schulman

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Nov 29, 2012, 11:46:10 PM11/29/12
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On Nov 28, 6:18 pm, Gerry <addr...@domain.com> wrote:
> > Hey Alphonsus Jr.,
>
> > Larry was just kidding!
>
> Bad news, Alphonsus Jr.,
>
> Andrew was just kidding!
>
Gerry, leave the comedy to us professionals...

Andrew

Fadosolrélamisi

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Nov 30, 2012, 12:28:23 AM11/30/12
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this Ale is in ...but ... Puck there's no hockey yet!
Me too in ages (30 years!)... in my case it does matter
Euh ... for the better.
Do you predict a migration to Washington and Colorado states in a near future?
Anywhooo ... yeah ... this opening (The beatles chord) and the opening of also flashes Zarathustra are pretty top on my list of great openings.
Do not forget in all that that John Cage is celebrating his 100th this year ...

himmelhoch

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Nov 30, 2012, 8:29:24 AM11/30/12
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Try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvxPc5MPEuQ
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