Unanswered Questions 4
- The American Guitar Academy
- Aug 6
- 6 min read
In this installment of Unanswered Questions, we will discuss some helpful tips as well as trying to open your eyes, or those of the students who asked the questions, to the bigger picture.
The Chart for This Song Is Too Difficult. How Can I Make It Easier?
Sometimes it can be exceedingly difficult to play through a chart for a song. It could be that the chords move too quickly, the shapes are unfamiliar or there are other instructions that confuse you.
Let us look at this in a jazz context, as this is where I have found the problem myself most of all. There are seemingly endless ways to play chords, with hundreds of different voicings and inversions for you to play with. This is not including all of the extensions, and strange chord names given when things get mashed together.
Firstly, remember that every chord fits into one of the four following categories:
Major,
Minor,
Diminished,
Augmented
Those extensions I mentioned earlier are just that, an extension or addition to either of the four chords above. Take a look at the few bars I have copied below, this is a short excerpt from ‘Airegin’ by Miles Davis.
Starting off easily, let us look at the chord highlighted in green - Bbm7. This chord is not too tricky, but if you are unsure of the exact way to play the chord, disregard the extension and just play Bbm instead. It will not be perfect, but it will suffice!
Looking at the the chord highlighted in red - C7#5#9 - things become a little tricky. Assuming you have a good knowledge of notes on the fretboard and within the chord you are playing, you could disregard the #9, and even the b7 and play a C Major triad with a lowered fifth - you must do this in order to stay true to the harmony. If this is still a little tricky, simplify even further and just play the root note of C - that note is definitely in the chord and is something that big band players like Freddie Green did quite frequently, though this was done from a sound perspective.
Remember, if you’re not sure then simplify - there is no shame in that, and maybe it will highlight some things to you that you need to work on.
Everyone in My Band Is Better Than Me. What Am I Doing Wrong?
The best way to learn a language is to surround yourself with people that already speak the language, better yet, move to the country the language in question comes from. Having moved to Japan from the UK, my Japanese is infinitely better now than it was a year ago. When a chef is looking to improve his or her skills, they go to a restaurant that specializes in the area they are looking to improve in - Gordon Ramsey improved his French cooking skills by moving to France and working in some of the best restaurants the country had to offer.
The point is that if you are surrounded by those you deem more skilled than you are, providing they are helpful and encouraging, you couldn’t be in a better place. You should see it as an opportunity to learn by doing, to ask as many questions as possible and improve better than you can with any book or YouTube video.
Be warned, there should be a limit to the disparity between your skill levels. If you are an absolute beginner and you joined a band of touring, seasoned professionals then it would be a foolish move from both parties.
Is My Guitar Teacher Wrong?
This question was not specifically asked, but was inspired by a student who was determined to play the version of open G (Fig. 1) rather than what I had suggested instead (Fig. 2).
The voicing on the left is typically played with the middle finger on the A string, the ring finger on the low E string and the pinky finger on the high E. That is how this student learned the chord and is completely valid. However, the chord on the right uses the index finger on the A string, the middle finger on the low E, ring finger on the B string and pinky finger on the high E. I was insistent on using the best voicing for the following reasons:
The fingerstyle part we were playing used the D (third fret of the B string) - that is already in place with Fig. 2,
The next chord in the progression was a D chord, so the ring finger would not have to move in this case. This makes life much easier!
Does this mean the student was wrong? No. It means that, as the teacher, I had the experience to know what was the best choice in this situation.
In terms of personal experience, I recall a case of having a piece marked whilst I was at university. The tutor in question is a world-class musician of the highest order, and a lovely man too. He corrected a passage I had written to include a different note, however, I did not like the sound of it. Despite his correction being theoretically correct, I preferred it before it was changed. I think that you should always be open to being proven wrong, but also be ready to stick to your guns and pick what is best according to your ear.
Does Rock and Heavy Metal Always Have to Be Sad and Depressing?
Short answer? No. Longer answer? Definitely not.
Sometimes rock or heavy metal music can be slow, depressing and has no positive emotions attached to it. On other occasions, in the case of the examples I have linked below, you can introduce new sounds and feelings, all under the same genre.
Devin Townsend - Kingdom
This is probably one of the happiest songs I have ever heard. It just oozes joy and a sense of euphoria with Townsend’s signature blend of operatic and aggressive vocals. As a piece it is masterfully written, and given that it is played in open B it goes to show that lower tunings do not equal sad and gloomy.
Dream Theater - Along For The Ride
Dream Theater are renowned for having some immensely intricate rhythms and sections in their music, to the point of it being almost unfair to try and play. Each of the instrumental members are virtuosos in their own right, but they will not let it come in between them and the creation of a great song.
‘Along For The Ride’ is one of Dream Theater’s softer offerings, and although the tonality changes throughout, I think it is predominantly happy.
AC/DC - Have A Drink On Me
AC/DC are one of the most famous bands in the world, and they have a strong following in possibly every country. Some would argue a lot of their songs are similar, and I would agree with that statement, but you simply cannot argue with the impact their music has had since the early 1970s.
This song is not about a lost relationship, or some boring political tirade but rather getting your friends together and just having a great time - what can be better than that?!
I Thought You Just Liked Solos and Stuff. Do You Like Chords Too?
I was teaching a cool, neo-soul type pop song to a student some months ago and, rather ashamedly, I was nerding out a bit over the chords. I think chords are just the best, and the more you learn about them, the more you realize there is out there to learn - the journey is never ending!
I would like to reference a blog post, linked here, where I discussed the issue of people’s skills being judged prematurely, perhaps based on things such as their looks. You should never feel restricted to one particular area of study - if something takes your fancy then go for it!
If you are a metal guitarist, and you have to write a solo, you could create something with so much more interest and depth if you have an understanding of the chords you are playing over, or what you could imply with the right notes.
Final Thoughts
All of these points are interesting ones, and each has valid applications in the real world. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question and you should never be afraid of simplifying something if that is your only option - just don’t be lazy and simplify everything, people will start to notice!
If you have a question, don’t wait and let it fester! Ask your teacher and get the answers you need!
