Posted by Toothless in Kentucky on Tuesday, May 24, 2022
I figured that now I finally have a brand new banjo that I might go back and try to learn to play one. I was never one to follow a book, I always skip ahead... and I have missed a lot. It's back to the online books for me, I need to learn basic chord progression, and get my scales nailed down. For some reason chord progression is rather difficult for me, I'm often hitting just 1 or 2 out of 3 chords it seems.
A pet project for now is an attempt at Man of Constant Sorrow - It's still a bit of a mystery for me. Please wish me luck.
6 comments on “BACK TO BASICS”
Texasbanjo Says:
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 @4:51:04 AM
Good luck!!
Are there any jams in your area? If so, go to them, sit where you can see a rhythm guitar picker and watch as he/she changes chords. You'll eventually feel a chord change coming up, although you may not be sure what it is and then you'll know one is coming up and get it right most of the time. It takes time, lots of jammin', listening and practice, practice, practice.
Don't play guitar? Get a guitar picker to show you basic chord: G,C, D, A, E.
If you're trying to learn/hear bluegrass type song chords, be aware that a lot of songs only have 3 chords: the I, IV and V (in G that would be G, C, D). If you have an "off" chord, it will usually be ii, vi, iii or V7 in that order.
Toothless in Kentucky Says:
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 @2:52:29 PM
Thanks, Texasbanjo. That helps. 1 chord... 4 chord and 5th chord. I suspect this has been one of my big issues, I almost have to be forced to go from a C chord to a D chord, it's never natural for me... Sometimes the simple stuff proves the most difficult.
Texasbanjo Says:
Thursday, May 26, 2022 @4:46:50 AM
When playing down the neck and going from a C to a D, have you tried going from C to a D7? It's easier to make and still sound good in 99% of songs. Try it, might help.
Toothless in Kentucky Says:
Monday, June 13, 2022 @12:56:29 PM
Thanks again Texas banjo. Thanks to you I can now find the chords in B flat. My chords in G used to go G C F instead of : G C D. Also I managed to find the chords up the neck for the first time. I have spun my wheels for years playing a screwed up chord progression. I feel like a light bulb just went off above my head! Thank you TexasBanjo!
Toothless in Kentucky Says:
Saturday, June 18, 2022 @6:01:27 PM
I'm still practicing the chords starting with G,C,D and suddenly the next up chords are falling into place. I could never grasp this simple concept before. It's getting easier now to NOT play G,C,F each and every time. This lesson has greatly helped me.
Toothless in Kentucky Says:
Monday, July 11, 2022 @9:52:40 AM
Finnaly a light bulb went off for me on basic chord progresion. Im practicing making chords from open G on up the neck. I simply did not understand how to do this properly for most of my life. Wow it seems kind of easy now.
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