Posted: 12/30/2007 4:05:34 PM EDT
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So I've been practicing a few chords, chord changes and doing the 1-2-3-4 and 4-3-2-1 thing up and down the fretboard getting used to moving my fingers across the different strings. I plan on signing up for some lessons next week (they got a 2 for 1 thing starting in January), but I've also downloaded some tab and I've been dinking around, trying to learn a couple songs. Am I cheating myself by skipping over the basics and trying to learn a song? I wasn't sure if learning how to play a song before learning more chords and whatnot would hamper progression further on down the road. |
Cool. While you're here, I got a tab question too.  -|-------------9----------|------9p7-------7-9---|-7p5------5------|----------- -|-------------9------------|----------7-----7-7--|-5--------5---5--|----------- -|---------9---9h11p9-----|------------8---8-8--|-6--------6h7p6--|----------- -|----9----9----------11\-|----9-------9---9------|-7-----7--7------|----------- -|----9h11----------------|-----------------------|-----------------|----------- -|-0------------------------|-/7------------------|-----5-----------|----------- Argh, cut and paste didn't line it up exactly. Anyways, after playing the low E open, it calls for the 9th fret on the A and D strings, with a hammer on to the 11th. Do I fret/strum the A and D together for that part? Same goes for the 9th fret on G, hammer on 11, pull off 9, am I fretting and playing the E, B and G strings all at the 9th fret? And the 11\ on the D, what's the \ mean? It looks like it's joined with a /7 on the low E? |
I've been waiting for one of the expert dudes to show up to answer your question, but they're out partying or something.  Thus, I'll help as much as I can. Let me address your questions in sequence: 1. After playing the low E open, it calls for the 9th fret on the A and D strings, with a hammer on to the 11th. Do I fret/strum the A and D together for that part? Yes 2. Same goes for the 9th fret on G, hammer on 11, pull off 9, am I fretting and playing the E, B and G strings all at the 9th fret? Yep, you got it! 3. And the 11\ on the D, what's the \ mean? It looks like it's joined with a /7 on the low E? Frankly, I had to look that one up. But it appears that / indicates an ascending slide, whereas \ indicates a descending slide. Tells about it here: Linky The whole article starts here: Linky All that said, you know, it's far easier just to sell your soul to Satan like everyone else does and get it over with.  Oh, all this book learnin' and hard practice and nose to the grindstone is all fine and dandy, but you're just delaying the inevitable. It's time to get the nose to the brimstone instead. How do ya think so many good players got that good? Skill?! Ha! Let me give ya a few examples: -Jimmy Page? Satan. -Buck Owens? Satan. -Mark Knopfler? Satan. -Charo? Satan (got a two for one deal on bewbies and Flamenco talent). -Mormon Tabernacle Choir? O.k., not Satan, but they don't play guitars. You get the drift.  **The above attempt at Satanic recruitment was intended for entertainment purposes only. I have not sold my soul to the devil and am, in fact, an excommunicated Druid.  |
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Sweet, you da mang. Also, with pull offs, I'm kinda confused about them. From a Youtube thing I've been watching, that guy was playing pull offs by playing a note then just pulling straight off the string. When I do that, the note intended for the pull off is very muted. I get better, louder, clearer notes by "plucking" off, instead of pulling my finger straight off the string/fret, I kinda drag it downwards plucking the string on the way out. Right, wrong, yes, no? |
100% right. You have to put some "oomph" behind the pull-off in order to get it to sound properly. Plus, always keep in mind: there are very few hard and fast rules. If you come up with a way to do something that sounds nearly the same, or close enough, or just a way you like to do it better, that's fine. That is, as long as it's not an actual "bad habit" that detracts from your playing.  For example, I don't think I've ever met anyone who plays a B chord by actually using 4 fingers (barre with the index and then the other three fingers on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings). Everyone simply uses two fingers: the index to barre and the ring finger for a "mini barre." I mean, it's a B chord either way, but technically the high E string is supposed to be played as well...even though no one does it.  I'm one of the few people I know who plays an A chord with 3 fingers - most people use one finger and don't play the high E - but I can do it because I have skinny fingers and they'll fit in there without muting other strings. |