[Maurice]

Hi all,

I need some advise,
I have been playing for about two years, I can play rhythm guitar, do some solo’s, if I like a song I download the tabs or the chords and I can play along.
Now that is fantastic of course but I can not play along If I hear a song playing, I can not seem to find the right chords, can I practice on that if yes what would be the best way?

I have a problem with the chord scales also, do I have to memorize a chord scale or is there another way?

I am a little stuck with these things, I also want to order the Planetalk book and DVD, but first I want to get these things going for me

Thanks,
Maurice

[si16]

Hi Maurice,
It sounds like the actual mechanics of playing guitar are coming along fine but you could maybe do some work on training your ear. When trying to work out a song it's most important to work out the key. I usually try this by working out the bass note of the home key and when I find one that sounds right I try playing a major or minor chord over it. This is quite simplistic, and by no means foolproof, but works surprisingly well. Once you know the key you'll find that a lot of chords being played throughout the song are related so it helps if you know these. It also helps greatly to work on intervals. If you listen to the transition from a C chord to a G you will find it has the same quality as the change from D to A. This is because they have the same interval between them. With enough training you will soon recognise chord intervals and obviously if you know the interval it is easy to work out the chords. Here is a link to a web site which will helps with training the ear http://www.good-ear.com

It is like most things, with enough practise it soon becomes second nature.

[allthumbs]

Sounds like your ready to buy Kirks' Plane Talk materials. It teaches exactly what your asking about among other things.
Look at the most common chord progressions. Once you have figured out one chord,you can start looking at how it fits in the most used progressions and that tells you what the other chords are likely to be.

[lezenko]

Try a program called Guitar Pro...

Download the tab and play along....but build the volume up gradully if thats the problem

[typhoon1989]

hi i am a nubie i have a classical valencia guitar and one think i am wanting to know is how do i fit a strap button onto it as it unfortunately i dont have one on there. also i am needing to know whhat types of strings to fit on there as at the moment there is only 3 steel ones on there and 3 nylon and i dont know whether to get all metal or 3 of each. if you could help me ou here i would be very very greatful plz

[chuckswood2001]

i was reading in another post the other day, i think the strings are all nylon but the three bass strings are wraped with steel, u might try reading some of the other posts and see if u can find that one, if not im sure someone will come along and tell u for sure

chuck

[danthelion]

Originally Posted by typhoon1989

hi i am a nubie i have a classical valencia guitar and one think i am wanting to know is how do i fit a strap button onto it as it unfortunately i dont have one on there. also i am needing to know whhat types of strings to fit on there as at the moment there is only 3 steel ones on there and 3 nylon and i dont know whether to get all metal or 3 of each. if you could help me ou here i would be very very greatful plz

Hi there typhoon 1989

You could have started a new thread with this one as it is a different subject.

You shouldn't have steel strings on a classical guitar as they could damage the guitar, classicals are not designed for the amount of tension steel strings would create. You will probably find that the 3 strings you refer to are not actually metal but silk thread (or similar fibre) bound with with metal. [Translation: look like metal strings, but they are not. :-)]

I would suggest that you buy a set of nylon strings from your local music store (the 3 bass strings E A D will look like metal, but they are not). Also buy a spare D string as that is the one that breaks the most on classicals.

Regarding the strap, I would suggest that you take your guitar to the music store & get them to help you. There are different kinds of strap setups, one kind attaches to a button at the base of the guitar & the other end gets tied to the head. Alternatively, you can have a button put on or near the heal of the guitar & attach the strap to the 2 buttons. But once again go to a music store, you can have a look at both set ups, they will be able to give you advise & help you set up your guitar (drill the holes & put the button/s in the right place), after all you don't want to end up with unsightly holes in your guitar. You will find that most music store staff are very helpful.

Hope that helps

Dan

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by typhoon1989

hi i am a nubie i have a classical valencia guitar and one think i am wanting to know is how do i fit a strap button onto it as it unfortunately i dont have one on there. also i am needing to know whhat types of strings to fit on there as at the moment there is only 3 steel ones on there and 3 nylon and i dont know whether to get all metal or 3 of each. if you could help me ou here i would be very very greatful plz

This will tell you how to put on buttons yourself. Just order a set of nylon strings and you will see that the bottom three are nylon wrapped in steel. That is standard so you have no problem when your buying a set.
http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/strapbuttons.htm

[Maurice]

Wow this is weird, totally off topic

Hey guys, thanks for the reply concerning my questions. I will train on the ears and keep on practising the chord progressions.

I am going to buy Plane talk !! I will get it for my B-day in March, what a great present