Try using a Ballad or Slow Rock rhythm with the new song. Gm is a new chord E.Z. play style, it is G and Bb–or Bb and G–it doesnt matter which way around you play the notes. We talked about putting your pinky on the F chord whenever you are in the key of F. You can tell what key the song is written in by looking at the last chord of the song. Some folks have found pinky position of chords easier, no matter what key the song is written in.

As far as “minor” chords go–remember there are really only two types of chords–major and minor. Everything without a little m after it is considered a major chord–therefore everything with a little m after it is considered a minor chord. You must must must must play 2 notes to form a minor chord. The easiest way to figure those 2 notes out (without asking me) is look at the name of the chord–in this case it is a G, then go to the right 3 keys (remembering to count the blacks)–whatever note you land on is the one you add to the name of the chord. Sometimes it will be a black note -, sometimes not. Try Dm for instance–also try Em.

Have fun–

See ya

Once again we have right hand “stuff” going on. As an intro play the following notes with your right hand . The notes are F (low) to F (high) then back to F (low) then up to Eb then Eb again then E natural. You start with an F chord then change to a Cm when you play the first Eb, then change to a C7 when you get to the E natural. Now start playing the song itself. Put a Cm chord over the  D# note in the last measure of the 1st line. Put an Abaug. (Ab-C-E) over the G# in the last measure of the 2nd line. There is no E.Z. play alternative for this chord. At the end of line 3, try putting a turnaround in between the C and Bb notes. Also try doing one at the end of line 4 in between the A and G notes. At the 1st repeat  throw a Cm chord in between the F and C chord, before you go back to the beginning.

See ya

“Blue Hawaii”, like I said, is pretty simple. Use a “Hawaiian” rhythm, if you have one—if not, use a “Bossa Nova”. Try changing your sounds, or presets, if you have them, at the end of each musical sentance. Nine times out of ten there will be a period to help you locate that “end”.

Remember–G# and Ab are the same note.

Start with your 3rd finger–1st measure, 2nd line use your 4th to stretch up to the E, because you need your pinky to play the following F note. Reach “down” with your thumb to catch the low F#

At the beginning of the bridge,(2nd  line, 1st measure,2nd pg.) start with either 1 or 2–the rest should work itself out for you.

Have fun.

See ya

Most folks seemed to like last week’s song, even though it was a little “unfamiliar”. Just shows to go ya, you don’t HAVE to know the song to play it, and maybe even come to like it!!

Several folks in Tuesday’s class said they weren’t familiar with this week’s either, But after I played it, it was somewhat familiar.

This was written in the 20′s (a little before my time)–and I tried to make it sound somewhat like a 20′s band or orchestra would have played it. Using “lead in” notes is one of the ways to do this.

At the beginning I started on the lower D note, then up to G, then A, landing on the higher B (the first note writ) That is an example of what I mean by “lead in” notes.

I kinda did the same thing at the end of the 2nd line. Take the dot off the last held over F# note, and replace it with A and B going up, “leading” to the C’s on the next line. These two notes are eighth notes.

I also used a “pyramidal” effect at the beginning of the 2nd line, 2nd pg. Play the E, then the G# then the B, then the D–holding all the notes down as you play them. When you’ve reached the D,let go of the previous notes and keep playing the next notes as you would normally do.

I added a G dim. chord in between the G and D7 chords at the bottom of the 1st pg. Full chord guys= G-Bb-Db-E. E.Z. play guys=G and Db (or C# if you would rather think of it that way)

At the end,I played a B-thenD then G (going up)–that’s it.

See ya

I combined a couple of classes (‘Tis that time of year)–and I must say, the folks from the class that was a good bit further back in number of week’s playing, did very well. Kudos.

If you keep your fingers the same distance apart going from line to line, and do the “crab walk”you’ll do much better than trying to “think” too much. 5,1 all the way, until you get to the last line of the 1st pg., where you are going from the low B up to the G#–this time put a 4 on that G#, and slide off the black note to the A, leaving your pinky for the higher B. I gave out fingering for the second page, but stressed the importance of getting the 1st pg down before even attempting the 2nd.

If you get there, fine, we’ll make the decision next week as to wether we spend 2 weeks on this particular song. It’s a pretty one, and worth doing well.

See ya

Just like our last song, we are going to use right hand “stuff” instead of left hand chord changes to “fancy up” the song.

I used a “Guitar Arpeggio” rhythm, this is under your “Acoustic” button. There are a lot of really nice backgrounds in that section. You can use several of these instead of automatically going to the “Country” button.

Go to #2 preset at the end of line 3, just before the last note (lower)

Go to #3 preset on the 2nd line of pg. 2 just before “Iknow you’re” (lower) I also hit the stop button (or right kick switch) before I played those 3 notes (by themselves)

When you come to the end go back  where we just talked about, and go to preset 4 (upper)

When you get to the end again, go to an Am7, and slowly gliss up with your right hand , to the higher G note, and go back to the G chord (It’s the law)

We did several thurnarounds–some up and back, some down and back. Give it a shot.

I did automatic ending on variation 2, while I held the high G note.

See ya

Use a Slow Country or Fox Trot, or maybe even a simple Ballad rhythm.

Where there is a N.C.–either just let go of your chord, or hit the stop button. I kinda like the latter. If you don’t feel like playing the song twice, just eliminate the 1st ending on the last line, and jump to the second ending.

We talked about adding a few extra notes, something that is best understood visually–therefore, I’m not going to go into that here.

Start with your 2nd finger. That should pretty much set you up for the whole 1st pg. At the top of the 2nd pg.–where the 3 C’s are, start with 4 or 5. That is the beginning of the (bridge) When you get to the 3rd. line, (where the N.C. is) put 2 on the G note (the preceding B note is the end of the bridge)

That should do it—have FUN!!!!!

See ya

See ya

Everybody did well on last week’s song, I must say.

This week’s is pretty easy–Play it the way you know it.

Fingers 3 and 1 work extensively in the song, for the E’s and C’s as well as the Eb’s and C’s.

At the “bridge” (last measure, 2nd line, 2nd pg) start with 3 on the B–on the next line where the F3 sharp, try using your 2nd finger on the F#. Do the “crab walk” starting at the end of the 2nd to last line ” railroad track that takes me back” 3,1,3,1,3,1,3-then 2 on the word “back”.

Have fun, just relax, this is a fun, and easy song to play.

We introduced “Mangos”–(No, I didn’t know it either)

I used “Night Bossa”, advanced–that is your second choice under “One Touch”. I preferred the Variation 3 Intro.

If you couldn’t make this week’s class, see if you can figure out where the preset changes are (betcha can) My second “change” however, is not a different preset–it is “to lower” at the top of the second page. You are on preset 2 at this time. Play an F# then an F chord just before that “to lower” Kick the left footswitch to stop the rhythm (or just hit the stop button) and play the F, G, G# notes all by themselves, then come in with an Em (not the A chord) then go to A or A7 chord on the 3rd beat of the same measure. At the end of line 2,(2nd pg, of course) play a Dm7 then the G7 over the 3rd G note. I also threw in and E and an F chord in the 1st measure, 3rd line, 1st pg, and the same thing on the last pg, 2nd line 2nd measure. I chose not to repeat, just go to the 2nd ending and play a C7 then an F chord (1st and 3rd beat of that last measure) I just did an abrupt stop after that (either with the left kick switch, or the stop button)

See ya