Patrick1962 - Posted - 08/30/2024:  20:15:08

I know there are quite a few of you who also play BG rhythm guitar and so I wanted to get some advice. My goal is to just get the basics down so that I can play and sing some of my fav BG songs as well as some Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson songs (those are my boys, my crew). Im not planning on trying to get real fancy with it just be able to do the basic root/strum, 5th/strum and maybe eventually a few nice simple walkups. So, I am focusing on the following chords: G, C, D, A, E, F, Am, and Em. Are there any other essential chords you all could recommend?

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 08/30/2024:  21:54:47

Maybe B7 for playing in E. Depending on where your vocal range is.

chuckv97 - Posted - 08/30/2024:  21:58:13

Some songs in C have a Dm. Bm is common in the keys of G and D And A. If you don’t barre chord then work on the 4 finger formation. Happy rhythm playing!

Patrick1962 - Posted - 08/31/2024:  16:42:01

Thanks guys! Been quite a while since I picked up a guitar, only learned to play simple things and wasnt all that good at it...but..I had totally forgotten what a pain in the A$$ that damn F chord is!!

chuckv97 - Posted - 08/31/2024:  18:18:19

Try going up & down the neck just barring the 2 strings,, when strong enough you can add the other 2 fingers,, one at a time if need be. And barring is easier if your thumb is right behind the neck.

Edited by - chuckv97 on 08/31/2024 18:19:41

Patrick1962 - Posted - 08/31/2024:  20:06:42

Chuck..ok, cool..will give that a try! its either that or take a sledge hammer to my fingers and tape them into the right position..LOL

Patrick1962 - Posted - 09/06/2024:  20:11:20

So, when doing the basic root-strum-5th-strum are each of those 1/4 notes or 8th notes? So is one full root-strum-5th-strum 4 quarter notes or 4 8th notes?

chuckv97 - Posted - 09/06/2024:  20:57:07

In 4/4 time they’d be quarter notes

250gibson - Posted - 09/07/2024:  11:48:21

quote:

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Originally posted by Patrick1962

So, when doing the basic root-strum-5th-strum are each of those 1/4 notes or 8th notes? So is one full root-strum-5th-strum 4 quarter notes or 4 8th notes?

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The picked note is on the down beat and the strum is on the off beat (same beat as the mandolin chop)  in 4/4 it would be 8th notes with the root on the strong beats of 1 and 3.  You would count 1&2&3&4& with the & being the strum.  In 2/2 it is exactly the same, but it would be it written as quarter notes, but sound and counted like 8th notes, 1&2&, 1&2&