Hello:
I am a beginner with a guitar and I am learning from some
training CDs. I find the CD lessons to be very good, but a
disadvantage of recorded lessons to the exclusion of interactive
sessions with an instructor, is that one cannot ask questions. I have
a number of music theory questions related to the guitar which I am
hoping that someone will answer. I should also state that I have no
formal music training, a fact which will no doubt be apparent from
my questions.
Some of my questions have to do with music theory
and some have more to do with terminology and usage. For example,
on my CD's they refer to the 5 string chord that one gets
by holding string 2 at the first fret, strings 3 and 4 at the second
fret, and then strumming strings 1 through 5, as an A minor cord.
I am wondering if it is also sometimes refered to as an A flat cord.
If not, is there a difference between A minor and A flat? I noticed
in another book that some of the chords are referred to as flat chords
rather than as minor cords, and so I am wondering if the two terms
are used interchangeably by musicians in that context.
Another question that I have is related to the key of a guitar
and whether one can tell from the chord sequence of a song the key of
the song. I have some CD's from the Play It Now Tunes" which teach
one
how to play specific songs. One of the songs I have is "Ain't No
Sun****ne."
It is probably one of the very easiest songs for a beginner to learn.
It starts with an A minor chord for two beats, followed by E minor and
then G for the first bar, and then A minor for four beats for the
second bar.
Then those two bars are repeated. Bar 5 is an E minor chord for four
beats, followed by a D minor cohrd for four beats. Should I be able to
tell
the key of the song from that chord sequence?
A third question is related to capos. I have a capo and I also have
two Johnny Cash songs from the Play It Now tunes collection
that call for a capo at the first fret. My question is, by how much
does moving the capo by one fret down the fret board change the key?
For example, suppose a song would normally be in the key of
C without a capo. Would placing the capo at the second fret change it
to the key of D?
I also have a number of other questions related to timing and tempo.
I bought a set of CDs that comprise a sort of talking metronome.
I like them, but I do not understand a couple features.
There are 4 CDs, One of them is obviously for 3/4 time in
a variety of tempos and another is obviously 4/4 time in a variety
of tempos. There is also one that goes: 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2, etc.,
and another that goes 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6, etc. I am wondering
how a musician would characterize those timings. Also, the first
several tracks of each CD start with counting that sounds like:
1 ih le 2 ih le 3 ih le 4 ih le 1 ih le 2 ih le 3 ih le 4 ih le, etc.
I would like to know what is the significance of that type
of counting.
Finally, I would be interested to know if there are any good
music theory texts that might shed light on these kinds of questions.
Please send replies to:
grday@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
in advance,
Gary R. Day
|
