Posted by mudbug on Monday, August 23, 2010
I decided that I really needed to learn my fiddle chords, so this morning in my practice, I worked on all the double stops in first position for the G, C and D chords. There's about 10 separate ones for each chord, so it's going to take me awhile to get them cemented into my brain. I worked on memorizing for awhile, playing G-C-D combos on each pair of strings, then put on songs in the key of G (Bluegrass, so the chord structure is predictable), and just played chordally through the songs. Getting the first 3 nailed down is probably the toughest, because it's memorising 3 at once. After that, I'll just have to work on one new one at a time. For the key of D, I'll already know D and G, so I'll just have to memorise A. Then the key of A, I'll only have to memorise E. Eventually, I'll get to all the major chords ( well, most of 'em anyways, I'm in no hurry to learn chords for Ab Maj.) Then I guess it's on to minor chords. I'm in awe of fiddlers who are able to play chordally. Reminds me of jazz musicians who seem to know their instrument so well.
Probably the reason i haven't concentrated on them before now, is that they sounded horrible. The more they sounded horrible, the more I avoided them, so they continued to sound horrible. As Wynton Marsalis wrote, ( and I'm para-phrasing ) a musician who's really practicing, has to be willing to sound bad, or you're not working on what you should be working on. Human nature being what it is, we all want to sound good, so we avoid the things that we need to work on to grow.
It'll all pay off when I'm able to slide into those sweet double-stops......but this may take awhile.
11 comments on “Learning chords”
bj Says:
Monday, August 23, 2010 @4:19:23 PM
Oh, geez, that's funny! I just wrote my blogpost before reading yours, and I essentially said the same thing about giving yourself permission to sound bad in order to get to the point where you sound good! Great minds think alike, LOL!
Tommys dad Says:
Monday, August 23, 2010 @5:21:16 PM
I've only learned to play a few double stops nicely the others sound sort of like a freight train squealing to a stop. Where did you find a resource with all the double stop chord positions? I like to have something printed to work into my practice.
Andah1andah2 Says:
Monday, August 23, 2010 @5:50:26 PM
That's great Steve. I bet chords are really helpful if you want to play in a bluegrass jam too. They are fun. If I could learn G, C, and D in the key of G, I'd be all set there. That got me by with the banjo. I'm also wondering if you're learning these off a chart that is easily referenced.
I 'm used to sounding bad during my practice. Keep it up!
mudbug Says:
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 @12:13:33 AM
BJ- "great minds" might be debatable, but yeah, we're thinking along the same path. LOL
Tommy's Dad- I'm working off a mandolin chord chart. And, yeah, I'm trying to get out of "freight train" mode myself.
Stu- Yeah, I'd love to be able to show up at a BG jam and at least be able to chop the changes.
Swing Says:
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 @4:14:41 AM
Mudbug, double stops are a series of patterns that can be used up and down the neck, sounding bad helps to identify where you don't want to be. The interesting part is when you start using the patterns without thinking about them...
Play Happy
Humbled by this instrument Says:
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 @6:00:37 AM
When Mark O' Connor was jamming at the local 5th String Music Shoppe, I was told he said, "What's the definition of genius? Recognizing patterns." So once again, Swing, you nailed it.
carlb Says:
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 @9:52:21 AM
Steve,
There are some hard finger position chords, at least for me. One is E on the D string and C# on the A string. I keep working at getting the intonation right but it's still difficult. Voicing is the reason why I want that particular double stop. Yeh, "voicing" is the reason I choose certain double stops over ones that may be easier to play. Don't forget all those pinky ones, e.g. for a G chord, B on the E string and D on the A string (move over a string and their chords in different keys); and in reverse for an A chord. A on the E string and E on the A string. Good luck.
Carl
mudbug Says:
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 @4:15:18 PM
Yeah, Swing, I know what you mean about the pattern aspect.
Humbled, I'm far from being a genius, but I AM starting to recognise the patterns
Carl, I do like the pinky ones, actually, for someone new to chords on fiddle, I like 'em ALL. Especially when I can get 'em to ring.
sugrstky Says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 @9:26:01 AM
I'm also working on my chords as well. I have played rhythm guitar my whole life, so I'm looking at it from that angle. It's so similar yet completely different (the whole no frets thing) but I am looking forward to when I can play along with others in more of a backup role. I would also like to play more chords in waltzes. I look forward to hearing your progress! Good luck.
tsaimichael Says:
Friday, August 27, 2010 @6:18:47 PM
Great post. I am always on the lookout for a new method to my madness. Lot's of good ideas that will help me with my fiddling.
mudbug Says:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 @1:10:34 AM
Hey, Mary Alice! Yeah, you're right. It's similar to playing rhythm guitar. And they do sound so good in a waltz.
Thankyou, Michael. It's always interesting to approach an instrument from a different angle. That's what keeps us at it.
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