The February 7th meeting of the Wahkiakum Acoustic Guitar Society had a workshop orientation, albeit an informal one, focusing on the theme of "Tips, Tricks, and Licks".
This evolving educational evening was well-launched by the jazz progressions played by Rick Nelson--a delightful demonstration deviating from the well-known major chords, and extending into enthralling (if slightly esoteric) 6ths, 9ths, and diminished chords up and down the fretboard.
Ok, ok, merely more of my hyperbolic blather *grin*, but you don't have to take my word for it...try this:
For the 1st chord,
- cover the 6th string on the 5th fret (1st finger)
- cover the 4th string on the 6th fret (2nd finger)
- cover the 3rd string on the 6th fret (3rd finger)
For the 2nd chord,
- cover the 6th string on the 5th fret (2nd finger)
- cover the 4th string on the 4th fret (1st finger)
- cover the 3rd string on the 6th fret (3rd finger)
...alternate between the two chords leaving the 3rd finger in place
For the 3rd chord,
- cover the 6th string on the 7th fret (1st finger)
- cover the 4th string on the 7th fret (2nd finger)
- cover the 3rd string on the 7th fret (3rd finger)
For the 4th chord,
- play the open 6th string
- cover the 5th string on the 7th fret (2nd finger)
- cover the 4th string on the 6th fret (1st finger)
- cover the 3rd string on the 7th fret (3rd finger)
...alternate between the two chords, then switch back to the first 2 chords
Nice sound...and there is more to the progression, but you'll have to get Rick to explain it more detail... *smile* In addition to the work on the progression, Rick provided a bit of the background theory and music industry history in the development of such jazz guitar progressions.
Well, this fine beginning to the evening was enhanced by Andrew Emlen's demonstrations and explanations of third-hand and 3-string capos and their uses to re-key songs, create specialized sound or support specialized tunings, and to ease the ability to play familiar fingerings in unfamiliar keys.
The evening just kept getting better, as Randy Williams then took us on a tour of the Travis alternating-bass finger-picking style, and bits of classical influences in the placement and use of the first three fingers on the right hand to pick the corresponding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings. His tutorial method made the manipulation easy, as he started us slowly with just doing the alternating base with the thumb while performing basic chord changes, and then gradually increased the complexity by adding in the interspersed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings.
The time flew by way too quickly--I could have easily spent additional hours absorbing and learning more techniques, theory, and details of coaxing my guitar to do more and more...
At the end of the evening, we managed to convince Rick to be the next featured performer at the next WAGS meeting--that is, February 28th 7pm, prepare for the melodious maneuvers of the flying flamenco fingers of Rick Nelson!
Hope to see you there!
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