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Chords- (or in this case– "sdrohC")
Think I’d like to share a small win, if I may.
Don’t know how you all do it as far as learning chords and chord groups- (as in “major”, “minor”, “7’s”, etc)….
Been working on chords regularly as a 10-15 minute segment of my everyday session.
I know quite well all the chords in the major, minor, 7, 5, major7, sus4, and sus2. 7 “groups”.
I can play them all easily— in the sequence of A, B, C, D, E, F, and then G…. My fingers have just learned the transitions from “muscle-memory” I think.
My small win today is that I have challenged myself to play them in REVERSE ORDER, and I did it with no hitches! Not fast in some cases, mind you, but complete never the less.
Starting with “sus2” group and working backwards to “major”, AND—– within each group— starting with “G” and working backwards to “A”.
If you have not tried this– it is MUCH more difficult than playing them “in order”.
I just wanted to learn them more “individually”/automatically- withOUT a known “transition” path between the chords– there is MUCH more thinking involved– it’s NOT so automatic.
Anyway- that’s my small win.
the old coach
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This discussion was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by
the-old-coach.
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This discussion was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by
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15 Replies
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@the-old-coach , I wondered what the sdrohC was. ha ha ha. You are correct about a different order of chords makes a difference. I have a song I play that I have to hop back on a chord that is using my pinkie and my pinkie just ain’t that fast. So practice makes perfect. Thanks for sharing.
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Ha ha, I just got it! That was really clever.
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Yikes,TOC, you are way,way beyond me! That’s why you continue to grow
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Great win @the-old-coach ! This is a good exercise to ensure you have the chords (or sdrochs)?imprinted I’m your mind and fingers. Thanks for sharing! 😀
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Thank you all for the nice comments!
One of my problems is– I actually have no idea how anybody else learns chords or chord “groups”, so I don’t have any clue if learning them in “groups”- (as in “major, minor, 7, sus4, etc like I mentioned)- is the best way or not- (return-advice welcome here).
I don’t even know if this method is helpful in the long run or not- or if it’s just really a mechanical exercise I use to fill up time.
Maybe the better way is to learn chords from what “key” there from- (again……. return-advice is much welcome on that matter).
I think that’s my next step is learning them by “key”. I’m just not quite “there” musical-knowledge-wise- (but that’s something else I gotta work on!).
Anyway- again- thanks for the nice comments!
PS- no one is “ahead” of anyone else— we’re all on the same team😉👍, and all play our part. More experienced players “pull” younger ones up. Younger ones “push” the more experienced ones to keep going, improving, and providing example and guidance. Boundary-stretchers keep the disciplinarians “fresh” with new ideas, and disciplinarians keep us wild ones in line and on path. Our TAC program– as a whole– keeps our “guitar-world” in balance- and our Forum is the PERFECT playing field. Anyway– that’s my stupid opinion.😃
the old coach
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very groovy, TOC, not to mention far out and even psychedelic
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Really love your take on the guitar learning journey😀 One of my biggest handicaps to overcome is that old urge to make comparisons – to other players, or even just to my image of where I want to be myself. All that really matters is enjoying the process, and being better than I was a week, month or year ago! Though I keep telling myself that I have no ambitions to be a “guitar hero”, part of me definitely cherishes the fantasy of being up on stage and cheered by thousands. Never going to happen in this lifetime – and that is quite okay. I have improved my ability to be “in the moment” these last few years, so need to keep focused on that and avoid the “wannabe” trap😆
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It’s great that you mentioned being “in the moment”…….
Jumpinjeff- (one of my super-heroes here in the Forum)- mentioned this in several of his posts a while back, and the importance of it has STUCK with me…….. it is an awesome feeling indeed!
I get to that point in maybe half of my practice sessions.
It takes- (me anyway)- a couple of extra minutes at the start of a session to “set myself”, but there is NOTHING like being “in the zone”!!! I come away from a session where I was “in the moment”- (or “flow”, or “zone– I think it’s the same)-” feeling invigorated and full of energy and guitar-excitement for sure!
If I may- I’d like to go out on a limb here and pass along an inspiring website that I really enjoy going back to now & again. There are several short videos that focus on the “in the moment” concept. I think it works VERY well when/while working thru/within the TAC program– certainly NOT “in place of” by any means, just alongside it.
There’s no direct-guitar playing or lessons- (like TAC)- just the psychological side, and tips for more effective practicing.
I look at it as kind-of a psychological “nudge” that, in tandem with TAC, helps me to learn- (and I need help!😜).
Anyway- if you want- check out (Youtube)- “play in the zone” by Mark Morley-Fletcher.
(I REALLY hope mentioning this doesn’t get me in trouble with Tony and the TAC team🙏, but think this is a great tool in my own learning and improving).
All the best– (and thanks Jeff!)-
the old coach
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Hey @the-old-coach ;
Here’s my take on practicing chords by group:
1st, you are learning chords for sure, and that’s important. There is a big however here.
However, you may never use all those chords. What’s important is to know all the chords in a song. Now, all the chords in a key are usually not in a single song. And songs can and frequently do, contain chords that are from outside the key.
But here’s the thing that your small win highlights: being able to “make” a chord is partly dependent upon what chord you are coming from. So there is a lot of connections you are making that are arbitrary. Now, this might give you an edge in writing songs with unusual chord progressions. It’s tough to say anything in music is actually wrong, but somethings can be ineffective.
The keys are very simple: Start with any of your major chords and go in order. A, B, C, etc. But play them in the pattern of Major, minor, minor, Major, Major, minor, diminished, Major. That’s it. Now, you can give them names: 1 Major, 2 minor, 3 minor, 4 Major, 5 Major, 6 minor, 7 dim. That way you can put in the 4th note and make 7 chords. The 1 and 4 get a major 7. The rest get a minor 7. This is frequently and incorrectly called a dominant 7 chord. The 5 chord is the dominant chord, whether it is a triad or a 7 chord. So the only “dominant 7” chord is a 5 chord with the 4th note.
Sus chords don’t have the 3rd. So if you add the 2 or 4, or the 9 or 11 (the same notes an octave higher), and it still has the 3rd, it is an add 2 or add 4 or add 9 or add 11.
So, I would advise practicing your chords in keys. However, even then, I wouldn’t go in order. I would play them in what ever order sounds good to you. This is music, not sports. It’s all about the sound.
Here are your keys. There are 12 of them. That’s all. Any other number comes from a misinformed and confused person. There are 15 key signatures because 3 of the keys are enharmonic, that is they have 2 names.
MG 😀
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Mike-
That is cool stuff right there.
I’m going to have to re-read your post a few more times to get a real “handle” on it- given my level of music-knowledge- (my lack-of is pretty obvious🙃)
Again, you have given solid advice- and honest direction- right as– and where– I needed it.
As I mentioned in my original post in this thread– (something like- “I don’t know if this is how anybody else does this, or even if it’s the “right” way”), I’m glad you showed maybe the much better way to “focus” on learning chords.
My approach to many things- (it’s NOT a gift….🤨.)- is to be very mechanical. Before your post here, my thought process was 1. Learn the chords- LOTS of them. 2. Learn to transition FROM ANY one of them TO ANY one of them. Then 3. Really LEARN how they all relate to each other within keys and songs. Kind of a “start at the bottom and work my way up” plan.
I can now see my plan is “OK”, but I maybe at the same time, need to focus equally on how they “go together” as just learning them.
Have I got that right?
Thanks again, Mike!
Always appreciative of help-
Mark
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Yes, that’s right, @the-old-coach , how the “go together” is the idea. But more pointedly, how the sound together.
Make sure you download that chart I gave you and study it. It is the circle of 5ths in a more understandable form. The problem with the circle of 5ths is that it’s like a code. If you can understand the code, then you can remember it and you don’t need the code.
Anything you don’t understand in the chart just pm me a question.
MG 😀
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“anything you don’t understand in the chart just PM me”……..
(be careful what you wish for!🙃)
Thanks as always
Mark
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LOL, Mark. Not a wish but an invitation. 😀
MG 😀
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While I have been messing with random s and work on some of this, your win is a game starter. (And along with a video of the Circle of Fifths training posted by @kitman this morning), a new routine is building that will help me progress.
Just Love It!! And it IS hard.
Thank you for sharing Coach. Living up to your moniker No Doubt.
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You are too kind, my friend.
We’re all the same, really, and all in this great adventure together… I just blab about it a lot. (too much, at times🙄).
I think it’s just that- (like many of us)- I’m pretty damned pumped and excited about all of it!
I owe ANY AND ALL success(es) that I’ve accomplished here in TAC, to the helpful and sincere mentors here in the Forum– and the Tony’s Acoustic Challenge program itself!!!
Thanks again for the kind words—
Mark– the old coach
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