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chording question: i can hear this but i cant find out how its done.
chording question: i can hear this but i cant find out how its done.
Hi,
this will be my first post here, although ive been reading this forum for a long time, and i really get a lot out of it, thanks to all for contributing. anyways, i hear this rythm pattern in a lot of scot/irish tunes usually when a guitar is acompaining. heres the best i can explain it, the first half of the A is played with about one or two chords, then for the end the chords seem to step up a latter, about three or four steps each step higher than the next. an example of this is the song Sky City, by the Old Blind Dogs, after the tribal whistle and drums part. Excuse my (VERY) simple terms but its the only way i could explain.
Thanks
You might be referring to a harmonized diatonic scale.
For example, in the key of G, you might try getting this progression under your fingertips:
Gmaj7, Amin7, Bmin7, Cmaj7, D7, Emin7, F#min7b5.
Now, the 7th part of it will be optional... and you can even boil it down to just voicing the 1rst and 3rd voicing, or if you're hip, the 3rd and 7th (the 1st and 5th are frequently implied by another instrument already). The jazz guys do this all the time.
Frequently, you'll hear the 2nd chord in the progression above substituting in for the 4th. (Notice Cmaj7 and Amin7 have a lot of notes in common). Ditto for the 3rd and the 5th (Bmin7 substituting in for D (But usually not for D7, for some reason, in Irish music)
To put an example in a tune, consider the tune The Mason's Apron. I'm thinking especially of the B part.
A lot of guitar players will simply play A //// D //// A//// D// E// A//// etc.
But next time you hear it, try this:
A //// Bmin7 //// C#min7 //// D// E// A//// etc.
That's just a diatonic walk up the A major scale. I, ii, iii, IV, V, I
That might be the "walk-up" you're referring to.
In this case, the Bmin7 FUNCTIONS as the D in the first example. The C#min7 FUNCTIONS as the A again (notice they some notes in common) then D and E. (You can substitute the ii minor for D, as well)
Believe me, this is easier to play than to explain!
Re: chording question: i can hear this but i cant find out how its done.
In simple terms, you can work it out this way : most of the tunes can be backed with 3 chords : the 1rst degree, the fourth and the fifth. In C, that would be 1srt = C, 4th = F, 5th = G; in D : D, G, A, and when you play the fifth before the 1rst, you add the 7th : for example : A7 - D. The same goes with minor tunes.
But if you play only those 3 chords, it gets a bit boring, so harmonist developped substitutions : you can substitute the 6th or the 3rd degree for the 1rst, the 2nd degree for the 4rth, and - sometimes - the 7th or the 3rd for the 5th. In D that would go : Bm or F#m instead of D, Em in place of G, and C#dim or F#m instead of A. that allows you to play progressions all other the scale you're in... have fun trying !
chording question: i can hear this but i cant find out how its done.
chording question: i can hear this but i cant find out how its done.
Hi,
this will be my first post here, although ive been reading this forum for a long time, and i really get a lot out of it, thanks to all for contributing. anyways, i hear this rythm pattern in a lot of scot/irish tunes usually when a guitar is acompaining. heres the best i can explain it, the first half of the A is played with about one or two chords, then for the end the chords seem to step up a latter, about three or four steps each step higher than the next. an example of this is the song Sky City, by the Old Blind Dogs, after the tribal whistle and drums part. Excuse my (VERY) simple terms but its the only way i could explain.
Thanks
# Posted on June 3rd 2008 by Jwalkert
Re: chording question: i can hear this but i cant find out how its done.
Post a link to an example (mp3, youtube, etc).
# Posted on June 3rd 2008 by crazy_fingerz
You might be referring to a harmonized diatonic scale.
For example, in the key of G, you might try getting this progression under your fingertips:
Gmaj7, Amin7, Bmin7, Cmaj7, D7, Emin7, F#min7b5.
Now, the 7th part of it will be optional... and you can even boil it down to just voicing the 1rst and 3rd voicing, or if you're hip, the 3rd and 7th (the 1st and 5th are frequently implied by another instrument already). The jazz guys do this all the time.
Frequently, you'll hear the 2nd chord in the progression above substituting in for the 4th. (Notice Cmaj7 and Amin7 have a lot of notes in common). Ditto for the 3rd and the 5th (Bmin7 substituting in for D (But usually not for D7, for some reason, in Irish music)
To put an example in a tune, consider the tune The Mason's Apron. I'm thinking especially of the B part.
A lot of guitar players will simply play A //// D //// A//// D// E// A//// etc.
But next time you hear it, try this:
A //// Bmin7 //// C#min7 //// D// E// A//// etc.
That's just a diatonic walk up the A major scale. I, ii, iii, IV, V, I
That might be the "walk-up" you're referring to.
In this case, the Bmin7 FUNCTIONS as the D in the first example. The C#min7 FUNCTIONS as the A again (notice they some notes in common) then D and E. (You can substitute the ii minor for D, as well)
Believe me, this is easier to play than to explain!
# Posted on June 3rd 2008 by jwvansteenwyk
Re: chording question: i can hear this but i cant find out how its done.
Thanks ill try some of this out.
# Posted on June 4th 2008 by Jwalkert
Re: chording question: i can hear this but i cant find out how its done.
In simple terms, you can work it out this way : most of the tunes can be backed with 3 chords : the 1rst degree, the fourth and the fifth. In C, that would be 1srt = C, 4th = F, 5th = G; in D : D, G, A, and when you play the fifth before the 1rst, you add the 7th : for example : A7 - D. The same goes with minor tunes.
But if you play only those 3 chords, it gets a bit boring, so harmonist developped substitutions : you can substitute the 6th or the 3rd degree for the 1rst, the 2nd degree for the 4rth, and - sometimes - the 7th or the 3rd for the 5th. In D that would go : Bm or F#m instead of D, Em in place of G, and C#dim or F#m instead of A. that allows you to play progressions all other the scale you're in... have fun trying !
# Posted on June 4th 2008 by Nikita Pfister