“…turn the guitar up Mike please….” Awhile back I took a look at the open D tuning and I’d like to revisit it once more but with a focus upon the idiosyncratic style of seminal folk maestro, icon and messenger Richie Havens; the great and the good – Richie Havens If there was ever a […]
Month: October 2009
Hendrix hooks & Root 5 chord
The reason this chord is called a root five is because it contains only the ROOT note and a note a FIFTH interval above it. To build a MAJOR CHORD we take the FIRST, the THIRD and the FIFTH notes of the D Major SCALE – in this context we would use a D an F# and a A to build a Dmajor chord.
In today’s example we are breaking down a D major chord (D F# A) and removing the third – the F# to play a DIAD, a two note chord. The chord will be made up of only D and A, the 1st and 5th therefore making it neither major nor minor but modal.
Roman Numerals are conventionally used to identify each chord within any given key; so starting with a D we also play the fifth, an A. If this is beginning to sound a little like rocket science rather than music DONT PANIC; all will become clear in due time. For the moment, study the diagram and try to understand how the interrelationships between the scale, the chords and the fretted notes work. If it seems a little complex and confusing DONT PANIC; it’s just a small step forward on the route to greater understanding and don’t put yourself under any pressure!
On Hendrix’ second sophomore album Axis:Bold as Love Jimi takes the compositional skills first illuminated on Wind Cries Mary into a new dimension with an increasing emphasis upon lyricism over the acid soaked rock of his first release. Songs such as Castles made of Sand, the exceptional title cut, Bold as Love and the inspirational love song Little Wing bear testament to this progression away from rock simplicity towards lyrical complexity.
Custom Shop
The sims custom shop are one of the grooviest custom shops around – I`m sure they’ve customised one of Jeff Beck’s strats with a funky camourflage finish. If you would like an LED system built into your guitar, some lazers, a custom scratchplate or a complete guitar finish overhaul SIMS custom guitar finishes can do […]
Line 6 Guitar Port
If you have a laptop or tower computer but you are wondering exactly how you can plug your guitar into it one of the most popular and versatile options is the Line 6 guitar port. The advantage of using your computer as an amp and guitar control centre is that you can get killer guitar tones without blowing the windows out receiving lawsuits from your neighbours.
Just connect the shiny red GuitarPort XT to your Windows® or Mac® machine with the included USB cable and connect the stereo output on GuitarPort XT to your computer speakers, headphones or stereo. Fire-up GuitarPort software, plug in your guitar and you’re ready to go!
Jam Vox
Are you sick of Eric, Jimmy and Joe getting in your way when it comes to your solos? Well, show them who’s boss with the JAMVOX an integrated monitor and software system that extracts the guitar from any MP3 and plugs you into the mix of their favorite bands.
JamVOX gives guitarists instant access to dozens of legendary amps and effects all in one easy to use “drag and drop” software interface. Revolutionary Guitar XTracktion (GXT) technology lets you remove the guitar part of your favorite song with the push of a button.
1. 19 famous guitar amps and 54 effect units ranging from vintage to modern are provided as software.
2. Easy-to-use “drag and drop” interface enables guitarists to create their “dream guitar rig” without any advanced knowledge of amps or effects. Sound famous fast!
3. A music player feature with convenient functions for jam sessions or practice.
4. Import music files to jam along with from your favorite CDs, music library or MP3 player.
5. A dedicated USB monitor speaker is included, and there’s no need for complex wiring or specialized knowledge of computer music.
6. Two guitar play-along CDs containing 28 famous rock classics.
You can loop the playback, use the Tempo Change function to slow down the playback speed without affecting the pitch, and you can even use these functions while using GXT to extract the guitar part, making it much easier to learn rapid phrases by ear, or to practice difficult phrases. The Pitch Change function lets you change the pitch without affecting the tempo of the song, allowing you to correct slight discrepancies in pitch between your guitar and the song, or to play along with songs that use a dropped tuning.
Stringless guitar
It features 6 lighted frets that show beginners the actual hand positions for chords, plus six “strings” that emulate strumming or finger-picking. The onboard selection of songs can be expanded via the Web – songs can be downloaded into the guitar’s Flash ROM and a quick connection to a computer.
You’re literally playing in minutes. And, as easy and fun as the EZ-AG is – you’re really learning to play and you can plug the EZ-AG into a standard guitar amplifier, or use the mini-headphone jack for private practice.
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