Songs for beginners

DriftingByTheStorm · July 2012

megatron wrote:

a real easy one is dont be shy. but i have a question for anyone that plays this song.

i learned how to play by watching this vedder video. it looks like G D C/G with a slide down to a D or whatever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LRexwx-VNM

thing is every tab online has A E D
http://giventowail.com/tab/pearl-jam/co ... ont-be-shy

just wondered how you guys play it..?

well every video version i can find is as you describe it.
But the tab is listed for "San Diego '00" and all the videos are from 2003 or later.

A E D is the same chord progression as G D C, just 1 step higher up.
Its possible \ probable that Eddie sang it that way in 2000 but then decided to sing it in a lower key to better suit his "gruffy voice".
:P

If you want to better understand how the two progressions are "the same", try playing the bar chords of both:

A E D as power chords
A and E are here:

and then the D is just slide the E down as shown down to the 5th fret from the 7th.

now do the whole thing over again instead start that "A" chord on the 3rd fret and not the 5th, and you will have a G chord, and then the "E" start at the 5th (instead of 7th) and you have a D, and then down to the 3rd with same chord shape is a C.

See how these are the "same" progression, just "moved" on the fret board?

Yup yup.

[maybe you knew that and were just seeking clarification, but anyways]

LukinFan · July 2012

Berasapj wrote:

I've been playing guitar for 7 months, os I guess I still suck big time I'll listen to chris's version so I can dig the rythm, 'cause in the MLB version I can mainly hear the piano and the vocals

I've been playing for a little over a year now and I still have problems figuring out strumming patterns. It's started to become easier, so you'll get there, but I understand your frustrations.

megatron · July 2012

thanks for the info drifting.

yea i got that it was the same progression but i don't really understand why yet. i'm playing around with that chart you put up now.

EDIT

no i knew why nevermind. ha. so i guess it's all how you sing it

megatron · July 2012

megatron wrote:

thanks for the info drifting.

yea i got that it was the same progression but i don't really understand why yet. i'm playing around with that chart you put up now.

EDIT

that is awesome now i can figure out how to change the key to any song. so simple. thanks again

megatron · July 2012

you may have just lit the biggest light bulb over my head in awhile. been messing around and just realized the end of parting ways is the same as better man. E B A = D A G. i think...
its all starting to make sense

DriftingByTheStorm · July 2012

megatron wrote:

you may have just lit the biggest light bulb over my head in awhile. been messing around and just realized the end of parting ways is the same as better man. E B A = D A G. i think...
its all starting to make sense

One of the greatest realizations on the guitar IS definitely demystifying the fretboard, and there are several different ways\aspects of this that can help you.

Understanding that there are really only 7 fundamental tones, and really only ONE PATTERN that relates them (the major scale) in western music ... the minor scale simply being the major scale started from note 6 and not note 1 is certainly one of them ...

understanding that "changing key" is really just playing the exact same thing in a "different spot" on the fretboard is another (the realization you just had) ...

and another one still is understanding that the B string distorts the entire nature of the fret board and causes confusion, where there probably should be none.

Let me show you:
you know the tuning "trick", right? where you do the following to check that your guitar is in tune, or atleast, in tune relative to the next string down or up?

==A===A=====D===D=====G===G=====B===B=====E===E==
E

0--- <----5
B

0

5

<----5
G

0

4

<

HAS THIS "4" ALWAYS BOTHERED U?
D

0

5

<---5
A

0

5

<---5
E--5

<---5

A FOUR ON THE "G" STRING TO TUNE, AND A FIVE EVERYWHERE ELSE ????

LOOK AT THIS:
AN E CHORD
E----0
B----0
G----1
D----2
A----2
E----0

AN A CHORD
E---0
B---2
G---2
D---2
A---0
E---0

WELL DO THIS:
E---
B

1
G---5
D---
A---
E---
That is "TUNED". just like the others. you play 5 on the G, but you have to hit ONE on the B, not ZERO.
HMMM.

it "SHOULD" be
E---
B

0
G---5
D---
A---
E---

but its NOT.

Instead "they" tuned your guitar like this, as we saw (and for emphasis):
E---
B

1
G---5
D---
A---
E---

DO IT AGAIN
SHOULD be this:
E---
B

0 <---- DROPPED BACK A FRET HERE
G---5
D---
A---
E---

BUT ITS ***THIS***:
E---
B

1 <

"UP" \ FOWARD A FRET, HERE
G---5
D---
A---
E---

LOOK AT THE E CHORD AGAIN:
AN E CHORD
E----0
B----0
G----1
D----2
A----2
E----0

NOW LOOK AT THE A CHORD AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E---0
B---2 <

SHOULD BE DROPPED BACK A FRET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
G---2
D---2
A---0
E---0

LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E---0
B---1 <

THIS IS AN "A" CHORD THE WAY IT "SHOULD" BE
G---2
D---2
A---0
E---0

IT LOOKS *************JUST LIKE************ AN E CHORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But actually that would be A MINOR, because youve "dropped back" the third.
It SHOULD be "A" but because "they" tuned your guitar "BACK" one fret at the B string, its NOT

WEIRD, RIGHT?

*****THAT**** is a MAJOR mystery for most people on guitar.

Hopefully not for YOU anymore

FrankieG · July 2012

DriftingByTheStorm wrote:

megatron wrote:

you may have just lit the biggest light bulb over my head in awhile. been messing around and just realized the end of parting ways is the same as better man. E B A = D A G. i think...
its all starting to make sense

One of the greatest realizations on the guitar IS definitely demystifying the fretboard, and there are several different ways\aspects of this that can help you.

Understanding that there are really only 7 fundamental tones, and really only ONE PATTERN that relates them (the major scale) in western music ... the minor scale simply being the major scale started from note 6 and not note 1 is certainly one of them ...

understanding that "changing key" is really just playing the exact same thing in a "different spot" on the fretboard is another (the realization you just had) ...

and another one still is understanding that the B string distorts the entire nature of the fret board and causes confusion, where there probably should be none.

Let me show you:
you know the tuning "trick", right? where you do the following to check that your guitar is in tune, or atleast, in tune relative to the next string down or up?

==A===A=====D===D=====G===G=====B===B=====E===E==
E
0--- <----5
B
0
5
<----5
G
0
4
<
HAS THIS "4" ALWAYS BOTHERED U?
D
0
5
<---5
A
0
5
<---5
E--5
<---5

A FOUR ON THE "G" STRING TO TUNE, AND A FIVE EVERYWHERE ELSE ????

LOOK AT THIS:
AN E CHORD
E----0
B----0
G----1
D----2
A----2
E----0

AN A CHORD
E---0
B---2
G---2
D---2
A---0
E---0

WELL DO THIS:
E---
B
1
G---5
D---
A---
E---
That is "TUNED". just like the others. you play 5 on the G, but you have to hit ONE on the B, not ZERO.
HMMM.

it "SHOULD" be
E---
B
0
G---5
D---
A---
E---

but its NOT.

Instead "they" tuned your guitar like this, as we saw (and for emphasis):
E---
B
1
G---5
D---
A---
E---

DO IT AGAIN
SHOULD be this:
E---
B
0 <---- DROPPED BACK A FRET HERE
G---5
D---
A---
E---

BUT ITS ***THIS***:
E---
B
1 <
"UP" \ FOWARD A FRET, HERE
G---5
D---
A---
E---

LOOK AT THE E CHORD AGAIN:
AN E CHORD
E----0
B----0
G----1
D----2
A----2
E----0

NOW LOOK AT THE A CHORD AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E---0
B---2 <
SHOULD BE DROPPED BACK A FRET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
G---2
D---2
A---0
E---0

LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E---0
B---1 <
THIS IS AN "A" CHORD THE WAY IT "SHOULD" BE
G---2
D---2
A---0
E---0

IT LOOKS *************JUST LIKE************ AN E CHORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But actually that would be A MINOR, because youve "dropped back" the third.
It SHOULD be "A" but because "they" tuned your guitar "BACK" one fret at the B string, its NOT

WEIRD, RIGHT?

*****THAT**** is a MAJOR mystery for most people on guitar.

Hopefully not for YOU anymore

:wtf: :think:
:shock: :?
I think i need to hold my guitar while trying to understand this instead of reading it at work... :x

megatron · July 2012

i'm confused. i just always took the B string for what it is

DriftingByTheStorm · July 2012

megatron wrote:

i'm confused. i just always took the B string for what it is

The relationship between the G & B string "distorts" the fret board.

It makes chords played through the B\G divide look "different" than chords played above it. The A shape vs. the E shape that i gave above is a good example.

If you yank all the notes back a fret below the G you can see how this ripples through all the high string chords, understanding that the one fret difference going from G to B string spills over on to the E string as well (because if the B string were to get corrected 1 fret, the E string would also get corrected 1 fret)

You would get this.

Instead of THIS being the D chord shape:
e

2
b

3
g

2
d

a

e

you would have this (the same "E" Chord Shape Demonstrated Last Post):
e

2---must also adjust this---1
b

3---pull this back a fret----2
g

2

2
d

a

e

You are correct, Megatron, in that this distinction serves no practical purpose.
The G\B string relationship "is what it is", but understanding the NATURE of that relationship can help demystify the guitar fretboard to the extent that by giving this relationship an examination one can come to an understanding that FUNDAMENTALLY the different chord shapes, like "E", "A" and "D" are really the SAME chord, just "distorted" over a string boundary that is acting like a water line bending light.

Of course if you under stand music theory, you understand that and major chord is 1-3-5 ... but if you are just learning chords on guitar absent this theory, you probably have a tendency to get "confused" regarding the nature of what chord is, and why the different chords are shaped differently. The truth is, they are only shaped that way because of the guitar itself, not because the chords are "different" in fundamental structure.

megatron · July 2012

ok i get what you're saying. well not really but i'm working on it

i've been playing for a few years now and can pretty much play any chords. this whole theory thing is next. and scales

FrankieG · July 2012

DriftingByTheStorm wrote:

megatron wrote:

i'm confused. i just always took the B string for what it is

The relationship between the G & B string "distorts" the fret board.

It makes chords played through the B\G divide look "different" than chords played above it. The A shape vs. the E shape that i gave above is a good example.

If you yank all the notes back a fret below the G you can see how this ripples through all the high string chords, understanding that the one fret difference going from G to B string spills over on to the E string as well (because if the B string were to get corrected 1 fret, the E string would also get corrected 1 fret)

You would get this.

Instead of THIS being the D chord shape:
e
2
b
3
g
2
d
a
e

you would have this (the same "E" Chord Shape Demonstrated Last Post):
e
2---must also adjust this---1
b
3---pull this back a fret----2
g
2
2
d
a
e

You are correct, Megatron, in that this distinction serves no practical purpose.
The G\B string relationship "is what it is", but understanding the NATURE of that relationship can help demystify the guitar fretboard to the extent that by giving this relationship an examination one can come to an understanding that FUNDAMENTALLY the different chord shapes, like "E", "A" and "D" are really the SAME chord, just "distorted" over a string boundary that is acting like a water line bending light.

Of course if you under stand music theory, you understand that and major chord is 1-3-5 ... but if you are just learning chords on guitar absent this theory, you probably have a tendency to get "confused" regarding the nature of what chord is, and why the different chords are shaped differently. The truth is, they are only shaped that way because of the guitar itself, not because the chords are "different" in fundamental structure.

explainig it like this makes sooooo much sense.

DriftingByTheStorm · July 2012

FrankieG wrote:

explainig it like this makes sooooo much sense.

Hey Frankie.
Just FYI, it helps ME too, when i explain this shit.
:P

Also, here IS a direct application of that G\B string effect.

Do this:
e

b

5p3

5p3
g

4

4
d

a

e

Now do THIS:
e

b

g

9p7

9p7
d

9

9
a

e

If you didn't rationalize the "G\B effect" you may tend to inherently assume that you were playing a "different" note pattern. You aren't. They are identical. It's just in the first pattern you have "distorted" the pattern by going over the G\B line. It CAN be helpful. Especially if you are playing solo runs. Really have to internalize this stuff for it to be useful on the fly. It's not like you will sit there and go, "oh yea, thats the G\B effect, it's the same" ... you will just internalize this discrepancy\info and then use it subconsciously to your advantage.

BACK TO SONGS FOR BEGINNERS.

Since we seem to be fucking around with scales and single notes lately ...
JANE'S ADDICTION UP THE BEACH is a great fun way to get in to something other than just 3 chord strumming bullshit, and it's pretty fucking easy.

This songster tab is pretty damn accurate but may be intimidating.

The opening bass riff can be played on guitar:
e

use your pinky to play that 5 on a

b

and use your pointer finger to hammer on the 2 on the d
g

d

0---repeat those a few then

0h2p0

a

5

listen to the rythm it changes---5

5

e

then strum a D chord about a million times in the intro.
At one point i think he strums the top half of an A at 7th before it gets going
e

0----or you could

0
b

0----use this instead

2
g

6

2
d

7

0
a

0

e

then the really simple "gets going" part before what sounds like shredding but isn't that bad is:

some of these (the 7 the 9etc you hit more than once, just listen)
e

b

3
g

2/////7///9////11---11--11\\\9/////12\\\11\\\\\\\\5
d

0----0

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

0----0

0
a

e

THEN "SHRED"
e

//////////////////////////////////////15
b

g

d

a

e

HERE
e

15---14---12
b

15---14----12
g

14--12---11
d

14--12---11
a

14---12--11---12
e

Keep playin that shit up there. USE YOUR SCALE POSITIONS.

This comes in after the first few then back to that above scale shit:
e

b

g

12\\\\\11\\\\\\\\7\\\\\6
d

0

0
a

e

that phrase ends with:
e

b

g

12\\\\\11--12////14
d

0

0---0

0
a

e

then REVERSE IT and go back up
e

12--14--15

17(vibrato)b19r17
b

12--14--15
g

11--13--14
d

11--12---14
a

11--12---14
e

Then you really just go right back down, hammering on and pulling off,
something like this:
e

15h17p15----14h15p14

12h14p12

12
b

15

15---14h15p14---12h14p12

12
g

14

14
d

a

e

cant fit the whole descent on one line, but that first descending riff, its those EXACT notes in that EXACT pattern, you just keep hammering on the note you were last at and re-pulling off, just as above ... if you're still following now, you should be able to get it your self.

And this part is in there agains somewhere a few times:
e

b

g

12\\\\\11\\\\\\\\7\\\\\6
d

0

0
a

e

I'm NOT posting this to be a dick.
It's one of the first janes songs i ever learned, and i DIDN'T KNOW ANY THEORY OR SCALES FOR YEARS when i learned this. Its flat easy, technique wise, just requires a bit of limberness in the hands, and some patience to get it down. And all the droning on the strings with the D and shit is FUN FUN FUN.
Fuckin LOVE up the beach. If this makes no sense (i know the parts are a bit scrambled) just go look at that songster tab i posted the link to. woop wooop

megatron · July 2012

you're not being a dick i appreciate all of the advice/lessons.

i'm getting better from this thread for sure

FrankieG · July 2012

DriftingByTheStorm wrote:

FrankieG wrote:

explainig it like this makes sooooo much sense.

Hey Frankie.
Just FYI, it helps ME too, when i explain this shit.
:P

Also, here IS a direct application of that G\B string effect.

Do this:
e
b
5p3
5p3
5p3
5p3
5p3
5p3
5p3
5p3
g
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
d
a
e

Now do THIS:
e
b
g
9p7
9p7
9p7
9p7
9p7
9p7
9p7
9p7
d
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
a
e

If you didn't rationalize the "G\B effect" you may tend to inherently assume that you were playing a "different" note pattern. You aren't. They are identical. It's just in the first pattern you have "distorted" the pattern by going over the G\B line. It CAN be helpful. Especially if you are playing solo runs. Really have to internalize this stuff for it to be useful on the fly. It's not like you will sit there and go, "oh yea, thats the G\B effect, it's the same" ... you will just internalize this discrepancy\info and then use it subconsciously to your advantage.

...

I'm NOT posting this to be a dick.
It's one of the first janes songs i ever learned, and i DIDN'T KNOW ANY THEORY OR SCALES FOR YEARS when i learned this. Its flat easy, technique wise, just requires a bit of limberness in the hands, and some patience to get it down. And all the droning on the strings with the D and shit is FUN FUN FUN.
Fuckin LOVE up the beach. If this makes no sense (i know the parts are a bit scrambled) just go look at that songster tab i posted the link to. woop wooop

I totally understand how teaching helps. That's why I tutor my classmates with all of my engineering classes

I'll try this tonight when I get home from work.

And you are definitely not being a dick. You are being soo extrememly helpful. I would have to pay alot of money to a private teacher and probably wouldn't get taught all of this!

DriftingByTheStorm · July 2012

yay to not being a dick.

Two More Songs:

Simple Chords, with a good opportunity to work on most efficient fingering:
Substitute - The Who

the acoustic part is tricky if you don't finger it "right"
the D at 7: use your index on the high e, your ring on the b, and your middle on the g
slide down to the D at 2, use your index and bar across the e, b, and g, at 2, and use your ring on 3@b.
slide up to A@5 using your index on b and e, and your middle on the g, same sliding down to g at 3, and back to the aforementioned fingers for D at 2 again. Very little finger movement needed if you do it this way. Very stupid & annoying if you try to move your fingers around more than that.

Jane's Addiction - Whores
A fun, easy little number, to get in to chords AND single notes in one riff.
Also the chorus is a good place to practice a bend, and maybe some improving if you feel like it.

Also check out "Mountain Song" by Jane's ... could not GET any easier.

Berasapj · August 2012

mfc2006 wrote:

LukinFan wrote:

anyone have any good videos for "Wishlist"?

pm me your email address & i'll record one for ya, Roger.

May I have that video too? Please

Berasapj · August 2012

These days by the Foo is an easy song too

LukinFan · September 2012

drewdawgq · November 2012

bump.

LukinFan · November 2012

"Beloved One" by Ben Harper

Beautiful song and uses all easy chords. Jammed out to this one last night with my buddy that plays the keys

Songs for beginners

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