[musictlk] Trouble with Chet Atkins guitar chords

Fri May 11 14:33:48 UTC 2012

In defense of the humble capo: *smile*

I was, for about four lucky months, the student of an internationally known Flamenco guitarist; I can tell you that I never worked so hard in my life!  He was all over the neck and played like the wind.  I was used to thinking of myself as a pretty cool guitar player, but I ate dust the whole time; it was incredible.  Not a pace I could maintain with a fulltime job, but an awesome, humbling and exhilarating time.

Once, I was trying to work out how he'd managed some piece of music or other, thinking the guy had grown  another finger or something, and it turned out he was using a capo.  He told me he uses a capo whenever the mood strikes him: just to mix up the sound of a piece a little bit or, he said, to see what would happen in a practice session if he put on a capo: sometimes on the first fret and sometimes way up on the seventh or higher.  I thought, dang, if he can do it, I can, too!

I also use a capo quite a bit when playing with our little band: Those crazy keyboard players (sorry, keyboard players!) like playing in E flat, and although I suppose I could do that with bar chords, it seems a little silly.  

As long as you're making good music, use what you have.

Peace,

Sheri

-----Original Message-----
From: musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 9:15 AM
To: Music Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [musictlk] Trouble with Chet Atkins guitar chords

Joshua,
    Some may call using a capo "Cheating". Some of the best guitarists in the world use a capo to accomplish fingering not possible in other chords. 
Those that come to mind are Peter yarrow and Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul, & Mary, John Denver, Don McLean, and many more. A capo also creates some very interesting voicing. For instance, I play Scarborough Fair capoed on the seventh fret and get an almost mandolin voice.

Fraternally yours,
Marion

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joshua Lester" <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu>
To: "Music Talk Mailing List" <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 8:59 AM
Subject: Re: [musictlk] Trouble with Chet Atkins guitar chords

> Thanks for the advice!
> Alot of people, that I've dealt with, have cheated, by using the capo.
> I don't want to do that!
> Blessings, Joshua
>
> On 5/11/12, Marion Gwizdala <blind411 at verizon.net> wrote:
>> Also, when playing most first position chords, you only use three 
>> fingers,
>> leaving the fourth available to play melodies within the chord. For
>> instance, while playing a C chord, you can play any note in the key by
>> adding or lifting the appropriate fingers.
>>
>> Fraternally,
>> Marion
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Rob Hudson" <captinlogic at gmail.com>
>> To: "Music Talk Mailing List" <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 7:03 AM
>> Subject: Re: [musictlk] Trouble with Chet Atkins guitar chords
>>
>>
>>> They also use two finger substitutes for chord shapes. Since often times
>>> you only need to hit one or two notes in that chord you don't need to 
>>> form
>>>
>>> the whole chord, just those specific notes, leaving your other fingers 
>>> to
>>>
>>> finger alternate notes, if that all made any sense.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
>>> To: "Music Talk Mailing List" <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 5:52 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [musictlk] Trouble with Chet Atkins guitar chords
>>>
>>>
>>>> Joshua,
>>>>    Chet Atkins was a master on the guitar. Many guitarists use
>>>> alternative tunings that simplify playing of melodies by tuning the
>>>> guitar to a specific chord rather than the standard tuning in fourths.
>>>> Steel guitarists often use alternate tunings, especially in the keys of 
>>>> G
>>>>
>>>> & E. There are a number of YouTube videos available to teach you about
>>>> alternate tunings. Also, check out anything by Leo Kottke. He does a 
>>>> lot
>>>>
>>>> of alternate tunings.
>>>>
>>>> Fraternally yours,
>>>> Marion
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Joshua Lester" <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu>
>>>> To: "Music Talk Mailing List" <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 12:06 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [musictlk] Trouble with Chet Atkins guitar chords
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> When he'd play the melody, he could play it, as well as keeping the
>>>>> rhythm going.
>>>>> I don't know how to do those complicated leads, on the acoustic.
>>>>> Thanks, Joshua
>>>>>
>>>>> On 5/10/12, Michael <bonsai1b at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>>>>> Which chords specifically are you talking about Joshua?  Chet, along
>>>>>> with
>>>>>> other fingerstylists, play drop two chords a lot of the time.  These
>>>>>> chord
>>>>>> shapes are different from classic chords taught by most teachers but
>>>>>> enable
>>>>>>
>>>>>> you to more easily incorporate the melody into the arrangement.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Michael
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: "Joshua Lester" <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu>
>>>>>> To: "NFBnet Music Talk Mailing List" <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2012 9:39 PM
>>>>>> Subject: [musictlk] Trouble with Chet Atkins guitar chords
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Why do I have so much trouble playing those Chet Atkins chords, on 
>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>> acoustic guitar?
>>>>>>> Do any of you guitarists know how to do them?
>>>>>>> Thanks, Joshua
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
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