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[jeph]

Learn "Blackwater Park" or "Ghost of Perdition" (which is supposedly in DADGAD, but sounds to me like standard drop-D) by Opeth if you're looking for drop-D songs that won't make you feel "lazy."

Or hell, anything by Hum. That bridge riff in "Stars" is super-fun to play.

[AlexAttack]

whats wrong with drop d?  when you play an instrument if you can find a way of doing something that makes things easier, without fucking up your technique, then do it. its not lazy its helpful. also it sounds cool in certain styles of music.

[jeph]

I don't think drop-D is really any "easier." The only things it really makes any simpler than standard tuning are low 5th chords, sus-chords, and drone melodies in D. And if you can't finger a standard barre chord easily in STANDARD, I posit that you have plenty of practicing to do REGARDLESS of what tuning you prefer.

What it DOES give you is a slightly wider tonal reach and access to some neat new chords. My favorite drop-d fingering of all time is:

Code: [Select]

----4----
----5----
----6----
----7----
----4----
----4----

It's basically impossible to finger that chord in standard, and it sounds REALLY cool. Slide that fingering up and down the fretboard and you'll find lots of neat progressions in a hurry. I use it in practically every song I've ever written.

[Mikendher]

a major seventh kind of, I'll have to try it

A#maj7 with F# in the bass, interesting...

[Johnny C]

Actually it is just a regular Amaj7 with said F# in the bass.

I came up with a neat chord progression for acoustic guitar. Capo 5:

Code: [Select]

--2--0--0--
--2--3--3--
--2--0--0--
--0--2--0--
--x--2--2--
--x--0--3--

Simple but effective. Play it kinda tropically and see how it sounds! FUN.

[Jimmy the Squid]

I don't think drop-D is really any "easier." The only things it really makes any simpler than standard tuning are low 5th chords, sus-chords, and drone melodies in D. And if you can't finger a standard barre chord easily in STANDARD, I posit that you have plenty of practicing to do REGARDLESS of what tuning you prefer.

What it DOES give you is a slightly wider tonal reach and access to some neat new chords. My favorite drop-d fingering of all time is:

Code: [Select]

----4----
----5----
----6----
----7----
----4----
----4----

It's basically impossible to finger that chord in standard, and it sounds REALLY cool. Slide that fingering up and down the fretboard and you'll find lots of neat progressions in a hurry. I use it in practically every song I've ever written.

Umm if it's impossible to do that fingering in standard doesn't that mean that Drop-D makes it easier?

[timehat]

a major seventh kind of, I'll have to try it

A#maj7 with F# in the bass, interesting...

Actually, I think the chord could be more properly called an F#min9, and the maj7 chord embedded in it is not A# but regular old A.

[Thrillho]

Actually it is just a regular Amaj7 with said F# in the bass.

I came up with a neat chord progression for acoustic guitar. Capo 5:

Code: [Select]

--2--0--0--
--2--3--3--
--2--0--0--
--0--2--0--
--x--2--2--
--x--0--3--

Simple but effective. Play it kinda tropically and see how it sounds! FUN.

I'm the only person I know who uses a capo to make my guitar sound pretty rather than to knock a song up for my voice. I mean, I do both, but most of my songs start out with me whipping out the capo because it makes the guitar sound more chiming and bright.

[timehat]

Umm if it's impossible to do that fingering in standard doesn't that mean that Drop-D makes it easier?

For that example, yes, but in general, no. He's just saying that it gives you different possibilities. For example, in standard tuning, you can play this maj7 chord shape:

-x-
-x-
-3-
-4-
-6-
-7-

But in drop D, it would look like this:

-x-
-x-
-3-
-4-
-6-
-9-

Ouch, someone call Allan Holdsworth!

[Thrillho]

Alternate tunings make some things easier and some things harder. That chord is much easier to do in Drop D, but good luck getting a comfortable fingering for a bog-standard open G.

They're not 'easier' tunings. Just different. Saying drop D is a shit tuning is like saying anything except E-standard is a shit tuning, including other standards like C-standard or D-standard.

[Johnny C]

The Weakerthans also frequently use capos to make simple, easy-to-do-uncapo'd chord progressions sound nicer. DK, did you give my progression a shot?

[valley_parade]

Learn "Blackwater Park" or "Ghost of Perdition" (which is supposedly in DADGAD, but sounds to me like standard drop-D) by Opeth if you're looking for drop-D songs that won't make you feel "lazy."

Or hell, anything by Hum. That bridge riff in "Stars" is super-fun to play.

Will do.

[Anna Banana]

unfortunately, i am pretty much shite at all music, although i do have a dream to one day learn to play the bass like flea, who is god.

[strawberry_gashes]

unfortunately, i am pretty much shite at all music, although i do have a dream to one day learn to play the bass like flea, who is god.

Pretty much every bassist I have spoken to shares your same aspiration...  Good luck!

I am a drummer. 

[timehat]

The Weakerthans also frequently use capos to make simple, easy-to-do-uncapo'd chord progressions sound nicer. DK, did you give my progression a shot?

I did, sans-capo. I can see the "tropical" connection; it could make a nice piece of a bossa nova or something. I love bossa nova.

[stretchicus]

um, bass, guitar, used to play drums and keyboards, kinda half learning the ukelele at the mo too, when I can be bothered

[Scytale]

Learn "Blackwater Park" or "Ghost of Perdition" (which is supposedly in DADGAD, but sounds to me like standard drop-D) by Opeth if you're looking for drop-D songs that won't make you feel "lazy."

Or hell, anything by Hum. That bridge riff in "Stars" is super-fun to play.

Will do.

"To Bid you Farewell" is a pretty cool Opeth song to play, one of their only songs I manage not to screw up, like I said, I'm pretty bad a guitar. It's in standard tuning though.

[Misereatur]

unfortunately, i am pretty much shite at all music, although i do have a dream to one day learn to play the bass like flea, who is god.

Pretty much every bassist I have spoken to shares your same aspiration...?

And those bass players stop playing after six months or so. Flea is a good bass player, but largely overrated.

Personally, I try to be Charlie Haden and Jaco Pastorius at the same time. Insane and impossible, I know, but it gives me somthing to work hard for.

[AlexAttack]

my bass heros would be jaco, pattituci, stanley clarke, gary peacock and bootsy. bass players that wanna be like flea are really selling themselves short. he's really nothing special. sorry but misereatur was being too diplomatic.

[Thrillho]

DynamiteKid's alternate tuning of the week - Open D minor, capoed at the third fret to make Open F minor.

[qtownstegy]

Used to drum quite a bit, but, alas, I am out of practice now.

[Der Golem]

I play the guitar, more comfartable with an acoustic. I took also took up bass this summer, have gotten to a pretty ok point, but have yet to master a bunch of techniques. I can also drum a little bit, and learnt to play flutes a few weeks ago.

[TrueNeutral]

my bass heros would be jaco, pattituci, stanley clarke, gary peacock and bootsy. bass players that wanna be like flea are really selling themselves short. he's really nothing special. sorry but misereatur was being too diplomatic.

No Les Claypool?

[onewheelwizzard]

I've been fiddling with bass for a couple years now, it's coming along slowly.

I don't need to turn into Jaco or Vic Wooten (as cool as that would be) ... all I want to be able to do is play like Scott Reeder.

[Misereatur]

No Les Claypool?

Whoa. That is way too much to ask from me. I'm taking it one step at a time.

[JMoney2001]

Mandolin, Guitar, and drums. I like to dabble in a little of everything!

[AlexAttack]

No Les Claypool?

i used to really like primus a lot but i learnt most of his stuff and now i'm kind of over it y'know? not putting shit on him, he's very creative but i'm just not all WOW when i hear it because i can do it. i like to have goals y'know? that and i'm getting more into like hard funk stuff. i'm working on making one or two notes sexy and evil at the same time ya dig? its all about timing for me right now, not slapping and popping and tapping at a million miles an hour anymore. though its still fun to bust it out every now and again

[Merkava]

I can play guitar and percussion (snare drum, mallet instruments, piano). My thing is, I can play by ear and improvise, but I'm horrible at reading music and remembering note names/locations. Basically, the first 80% of this page might as well have been in arabic. I can remember some chords, but not many.

[Johnny C]

"You already submitted this post, please try again!"? FUCK YOU FORUM.

Anyways. I took pictures of everything in my house that I play except the upright piano! Blurry, shitty pictures I may fix later!


THE ELECTRIC GUITAR! (click for decal close-up!)




THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR! (click for capo detail!)

[url=http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k157/jcsunshine/instruments/instruments002.jpg]


THE DRUM KIT!




ALL THE OTHER CRAP!

[Splunkle]

Sir, your electric guitar appears to have but two strings.  Is this deliberate?

[Gridgm]

love the rockstar guitar

[EdithKeelerMustDie]

Am I the only flautist? For a little over five years now, but I'm not amazing at it yet. Wishes I had more time to practice....

[Thrillho]

Sir, your electric guitar appears to have but two strings.? Is this deliberate?

Unless you refer to the Rockstar pad, his electric in fact has four strings on it.

[camelpimp]

<---------- World's greatest cowbell player

Damn it, I was going to make a cowbell joke!

...except, I can't really play cowbell. 

[Charming Liar]

I play the harmonica. I'm not terribly good at it, but there is a story as to why I took it up. Many years back my grandfather bought a run-down old building  with the intention of fixing it up into a dance club. I was invited to help out by pulling up old carpeting, along with other minor functions. Why ask me to help? I was cheap labor. Only cost him twenty bucks and a hug. While wandering around backstage I came across a busted up old harmonica on the floor, and without thinking much about it I picked it up. I showed it to my grandfather and he was totally cool with me keeping it, so, I did. After thoroughly washing the blasted thing, I eagerly put it to my lips... and out flowed the craziest amateur polka you've ever heard. I thought it was hilarious for some reason, so I continued to play. I never learned how to read music, or to manage any actual songs... but I had a lot of fun.

The club was dubbed "Headliners" and became a huge success. My grandfather eventually sold it though, I think.

I can also sing with a certain measure of talent. There isn't a weird origin story behind it though. I was simply cursed with a boyband voice, and I sang in the shower for so many years that I inevitably became quite good at it.