Hey Zeal!

[Chubbhead EFM]

Firstly, I'm still a bit hungover/drunkl so if I make mistakes I'm sorry.

 

Secondly, I missed Kasabian- [****!!****]!!

 

Thirdly, I'm gonna try and teach myself guitar (one major problem- I have no guitar. That'll soon be sorted though). Do you know any good tab sites that are easy to read? If so could you explain how to read tabs to me-you play guitar right? I have an idea of how to read them but it seems to vary from site to site and sometimes it confuses my little head. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/icon_band222.gif" alt="" />

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Tabs are pretty easy to read. I don't use them myself really, but as far as I'm aware there are chord tabs and finger-picking tabs.

 

Finger-picking tabs generally look like this...

 

 

---1----3----------5-----1

-1---2------1----1----2---

---------------0----------

--------------------------

-0----------2------------2

--------------------------

 

The top line is the top (highest sounding) string, the second line is the second string etc.

 

The numbers on the lines are which fret your finger should be on when you play that string. If it's a '0', then you just play the open string.

 

On this kind of tablature, a chord would look like this...

 

-2-

-3-

-2-

-0-

---

---

 

That's D. The bottom two stings have no numbers, so you don't strike them.

 

This is E...

 

-0-

-0-

-1-

-2-

-2-

-0-

 

...and this is A...

 

-0-

-2-

-2-

-2-

-0-

---

 

Now go and write a Status Quo song!!

[Laz]

I could never understand why systems like this were invented when they are seem no clearer than sheet music.

 

How about this for a G9:

 

-1-

-3-

-2-

-0-

-2-

-3-

 

It'll require you to swing your thumb over the top unless you live in Wisbech of course.

[MADEFM]

Try MXTabs, best tab site around I would say. My guitarists use it anyway

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Quote:

How about this for a G9:

-1-
-3-
-2-
-0-
-2-
-3-

It'll require you to swing your thumb over the top unless you live in Wisbech of course.

That's a tricky G9, mate. I'd be tempted to play it with an open B-string.

[Laz]

That would give a doubled third. I was always told you should only have one third in a chord.

 

I suppose

 

-5-

-3-

-4-

-3-

-5-

-3-

 

is the best solution.

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

One third in a chord? Never heard that. After all, a C chord has two thirds in it.

 

I guess it's all preference though. The most creative in any field of life is generally one who breaks the rules.

 

Your solution above would be played as a barre chord, yes?

[Laz]

Yes, mate a barre.

 

You could try

 

-10-

-10-

-10-

-9-

-10-

--

 

(I think) with a bar using the little finger.

 

Apparently, multiple thirds make harmonies sound mushy. There were quite a few other rules that I've probably forgotten over the years!

 

And yes you are right about breaking the rules.

[Chubbhead EFM]

Thanks guys! Unfortunately I'm crap at barr chords, although I'm sure I could get it with a bit of practice!

 

Right, I'm off to the guitar shop!

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

I never use barre chords, Chubbster. I think they're crap.

 

The three chords I gave you (E, D & A) are not barre chords.

[Chubbhead EFM]

I know, I meant the G9 thingy that Laz was talking about in his last post.

 

I can't believe I missed Kasabian, I'm gutted!

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

What happened. Did you oversleep??

[Chubbhead EFM]

no, we never even got tickets! People were uming and er-ing over it and by the time I'd convinced them, it was too late. [****!!****]!

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Oh dear. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Guess there'll be other opportunities, though.

 

Any thoughts what type of guitar you'll get? How much are you thinking of spending?

 

I've just bought a guitar myself actually. £50 second-hand acoustic 12-string. Never played one before, so I don't know how well I'll get on with it.

 

Just thought at £50, I couldn't go too far wrong.

 

If it turns out I really like it, I'll probably get myself a decent electro-acoustic one next year sometime.

[Chubbhead EFM]

I'm not sure really, I don't know a lot about guitars.

 

I'd like a semi-acoustic, but I reckon they'd be more expensive plus it'd probably be easier to learn on an acoustic. I wan't something that's quite light and small, as I tried to learn on a bigger guitar and it just didn't work. I need one with the strings quite close to the fret board as well. Just something that gives a nice warm, funky sound really!

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Yeah, I know bugger all about guitars myself really. All these names like Gibson or Fender or whatever have never impressed me.

 

I've always gone for something I feel relatively comfortable with.

 

My favourite guitar is my semi-acoustic. Think I bought it for about £170. The string are really wide apart though, like they'd be on a classical guitar. A lot of my mates have found it difficult to play for that reason.

 

I guess if you're a beginner, probably best to just go for something fairly cheap. If you want a semi-acoustic (which let's face it, are sooo cool!), I reckon you could probably get a new one for around £140.

[Chubbhead EFM]

woah! That's way off my budget! I'm looking for something under £100. I do have one of those spanish style acoustics at home, but I don't like the sound of it. I'm just gonna shop around and see what I can get really.

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Probably best then. Or look on Ebay. There's loads of cheap second-hand ones on there.

[Chubbhead EFM]

good idea! never thought about that!