Guitar Players:  I've got projects !   Meanwhile, here is some nice chords - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2024, 07:28:47 pm
content: Hello there!For your enjoyment and learning, I've snapped a couple pictures, of finger positions to perform a 'Stretch 7th' CHORD:Played in a 'shuffle' style; scooping the guitar pick way up on the neck, (near to your fretboard hand). You have to figure out just the right 'slop', for muting unwanted strings. Not too hard, adjusting fingers a bit.First photo (trys) to show my 3 fingers for the CHORD up at the 12th fret or octave up from tuner end. Each of the 3 active strings are separated by one, dead string.(The 'scooping' pick action of right hand isn't shown.)

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2024, 07:35:41 pm
content: The schetch shows the three main notes, as you 'scoop' the strings for the chord.One advantage is that you could drop the low ROOT note finger, so that the low E will then provide an octave drop. So you can play around with dropping that root down and back up, just by lifting your first finger up, so the low E rings out.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2024, 07:54:22 pm
content: Next; I made the fingering diagram with the major 6th as an alternate note, up one full step which is 2 frets, above that high 5th shown on frets 12 and 14 up there high on the neck.That 6th note is a common bluesy mechanism, and you can always do alternate octave drops along with the lifted high note (6th).That 6th note hit for a short time, is shown also having the green continuity line.(It's formally a 'trill' or some shit.)Experiment, but try to use a 'shuffle' style sound. Try maybe like SRV played his blues shuffles.Next, you want to move the whole CHORD, over by one string, (starting with the A string)and that's the same, stretched 7 chord, but now you have moved it up by a 4th interval, to an 'A' chord, for similar 'shuffle' efforts.I think it's called a 'hammer Off' when you do the lift of finger that's doing the high 5th and 6th so the effort of lifting will actually help the string keep vibrating enough so you 'trill' or 'pull off by picking only once, for the two notes of 6th down to 5th. (It's the 5th that does not get picked by right hand).

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2024, 08:11:48 pm
content: Finally, you could do a three note blues lick that is simply three notes going downward, you need to reposition the fingers, play the 6th, and hammer off (lift) so that the 5th sounds (not picked).After those two notes, then play the '4th' note...that will be on the 12th fret, along with the previous note, so you can just use 1 finger when doing the downward set of 3 notes.That 3 note descending is repeated 2X or 3X or 4X, as you improvise on the slot.So, now you have several forms to just sit and alternate as you please. Many blues licks are repeated, so you get things twice.Do that stuff, first in the positions shown;those are 'E' chords, stretch 7th.Then, do the similar stuff in the 'A' chord, as I've described.Too bad I don't know how to video-ize my lesson for today...video format for posting I'm not sure if...Enjoy, of course. (Repeat).

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2024, 08:43:27 pm
content: It's a straight in-line chord shape, that's a hint of 'dummy' style, one that simply strokes across the guitar, similar to some young child imitating playing.Try LISTEN:Dr. John: Right Place but Wrong Time song as the guitar has that shuffling 'funk' sound. Also uses a very 'click track' style picking, often with fret hand just held against all strings.Also: Tower of Power has some of that 'funky' sound, like 1973 (yucky year tho).Try: Sly StoneShaft, etc etc funk, funk funky (bass players had also, that funky slappy style.)Enjoy for holiday, Rick B.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 12:08:35 am
content: Quote from: RJSV on December 18, 2024, 07:54:22 pmTry a grace note, not a trill. A trill is a continuous, rapid alternation between 2 notes, usually either a minor or major second above the main note.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 05:43:21 am
content: Ah, ok, thanks Analog Kid, a quick Google brings up a short video, on Grace Notes, plus there is also a 'slide into' and I didn't realize that those note embellishments aren't counted in the timing !My mistake, in the above presentation, is that the 3 downward notes in a little quick interlude are actually done as;6th, to 5th, and to a flat or minor 3rd (I had said that last note was a 4th, incorrect.)There's all kinds of subtle variations, which begs the question:My attempts to upload a short video keep resulting in an error message, 'Wrong attachment", (or similar). Is there a simple way, to upload a video for member viewing ?Thanks

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 11:28:24 pm
content: I don't want to necessarily spend too much time, as a topic distant from direct electronics,and moderators deserve consideration (to not get too far astray).I feel that some of the music stuff can be a good motivating component, in various STEM or school classroom motivating tools.Guaranteed, you walk into a classroom with guitar and a big Marshall amplifier you will get some attention.Even better, (I would argue), perhaps some reader here is contemplating starting some personal business as a STEM coordinator or teacher. (That's Science Technology Education M??).Pull your laptop or whatever the materials for the day are, along with that Amp & Guitar, and start your set-up. I bet, you might get hounded right from the start, but you could insist that the youngsters also have to focus on the STEM stuff.So I've suggested a business start-up right there, (assuming you have the skill to actually teach the STEM curriculum.)Anyway, music theory for guitar has many things that are important, for good Engineering background and novice start.As in:1.). Modulo numbering theory2.). Better sense of audio frequency characteristics3.). Idea of practice and study, for making progress4.). Visible (and audible) examples of innovation in electronics, that isn't just distant physics, (like the Moons diameter is such and such).5). Pleasant and non-criminal rewards that can be held out, (motivation).Modulo-12 is the structure of conventional music theory, (as in any piano also).THAT sense of repeating mathematical structures alone has been invaluable for someone like myself, coding in machine language (for-next loops, etc.).Besides audio frequencies, a music student gets exposure to multiple millisecond timings, when gauging other things, like automobile air bag deployment timing.Try announce (classroom) that the students perform well, then they get to borrow that big Marshall amp, for 1 week. Of course that right there could potentially be a hassle to manage.As a STEM contractor you would have, in the history of music, access to a huge array of electronic devices (and software, don't forget software aspects of STEM and needed motivation for new students.With a college degree, in a Technology field, and loads of talent on stage with guitar, you could put together a quite enjoyable career !For example, a tear-down of a CryBaby wish wah pedal (tm), contains some interesting use, of potentiometer, inductor, optics, noise shielding...a very wide and engaging subject...especially if you can also 'wail out' some cool shit, with your Marshall, a guitar, and a bow tie.Still looking for work, out there ?Try crate your own STEM support teaching business. That's also a goal that you could work on, first, before making a commitment.Heck, I can wail out a decent 'Purple Haze', and society these days isn't so down on 'ROCK' performances. Too soft spoken to do classroom instruction, tho...Maybe you could do better ?

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2024, 04:12:25 am
content: A little outfit called, 'CPU TRAINING', was to take on a role promoting a mechanical computer, very flashy and attractive (and 7 ft. tall or 2 meters).Motivation of students is the hurtle to overcome, as students don't care to study, first thing so there is often an 'interest gap' that no amount of pure angst will overcome.That's why I tried to go whole hog, building the first prototype at a 7 foot tall scale, for a 'bit' size of 1/4 inch (approx 1 cm).'CPU TRAINING' was our handle, and that to be a suitable, snobby company name (to placate snobby bank loan examiners).The CPU Training company would provide schools with 7 foot Computer, and operating software, (running at 1/4 hz).The best profit center I could think of would be the Training Manuals, with the $ 200k system leased to the school, for a time.Would have done better by having a good partner doing business and marketing / finance, while I would get to kick back, smoke dope, and do more inventing ! It didn't play out that way though.Looking back now, at that effort, I would have done OK in a business like 'Security Systems Inc.' ...after all that was Hayward, Ca in the decaying downtown area. (Pawn shop territory).Eventually got burglarized a few times, and that finished off myCpu Training inc.(rip)Hell of a story, though, things that happened in that cesspool downtown.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2024, 04:21:21 am
content: So; motivation or interest and attention are the elusive goals, of many STEM course teachers. Some of the class students may think that the technology stuff is only a special niche, for the 'smart ones', but there's the challenge, when you've got 20 or more students with wandering attention.(I think a guitar would be way more cool, than some A. Turing frame full of gears and dials.)Anyway, I've got a couple more guitar chords to cover, soon. Thanks for reading.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2024, 05:39:16 am
content: So, back to the Guitar Chords, I've shown the 'Stretch 7' varieties, up at fret 12, and in a similar way here is another, major chord set, that has an open string 7th note, but, alas; the 'D' string is mostly always muted, tips of my fat fingers...Actually, though, the guitar neck is fairly skinny on this model (Silvertone).Idea on these chords is the 'Ring' of open strings, during the fretted chord. So, the main one being an E major, up past fret 12.A (very) typical 'E' chord shape, but now way up on frets 13 and 14. (The D string is silent here, also).If you strum the 'E7' it sounds without the 7th due to inadvertent muting.That 2 finger chord gets extra 'ringing' sound, due to having both open 'E' strings plus the open 'B'. A very bright and full sound on 5 of the guitar's 6 strings.That shape is good for moving around, up in the high neck areas. Ditto for the 'A' major version, a 2 string fingering that basically is same, but has one slight difference, where the 'B' string fingering is up +1 fret, (just because a B string isn't a perfect fourth up, rather it is tuned up by a third, from G (4 frets up, instead of 5).That 'A' major can also be moved around (the 2 finger shape, that is).I'll be getting a diagram in a bit, thanks.- - - Rick

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2024, 10:02:13 pm
content: In yellow dots, I've shown the alternate, which is a D7 or 2 frets down, from the E7.I like to play the two chords (E and D), as a bingo drum style, or like in Cuban music, with the quick double strike they do, as a little emid ending of each short phrase or lick.You can listen, for that double beat 'cha cha' sound, in Jimi Hendrix's Rainy Day.Fun and easy to play, 2 fingers shape.Doing the E7 and then down to D7, each time sliding the D7 up to get your E7.Right hand strumming thinks it's a bingo drum, and even sounds so !

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 09:00:57 pm
content: Once you've thought about audio and music technology items, you can realize it's such a wide and surprising field that it's perfect for the quicker lesson or demo.In the photo, is a electronic toy trumpet, having a small processor / controller and some LEDs (and a loudspeaker).I've set it up to demonstrate a really nice product, which is the LESLIE (definitely TM).A LESLIE SPEAKER is a mechanical means for Doppler (or frequency) shift, when the sound source moves, relative to listener.Some purely electronic guitar pedal effects do a similar job, at making that signature 'swirling' sound, of the Hammond Organs (tm).A few amp manufacturers took up that mechanical system, likely under licence.For lecture or teaching purposes, you can rig up a temporary demo...(Not meant for sale or extended use). On a twisted string, my toy trumpet has similar action along with the frequency shifted special effect.Of course the volume will fluctuate as well, when you've wound up the spinning device, and released for a few moments of spinning.That kind of teaching aid, (along with your electric guitar in other demos), for getting student's attention.Come to think of it; Any electronic effects pedal won't have the same use,...the electronics hidden from direct observation.Just a few quick minutes, and you've shown the interesting speaker system (with the similar toy demo).The electronic trumpet puts out about 20 seconds of music, and flashes LEDs in time.I've suspended the toy on a simple lanyard (string), and hand-wound a bunch of turns, so it will rotate, freely, for 12 seconds, or so.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 09:02:10 pm
content: Rotating toy shows up blurred.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 09:31:34 pm
content: Since this stuff would be a focus, on education, a STEM oriented teacher could also pull apart that toy, (please see discussion back a page or so), and display the processor board, with the 'trumpet' push buttons, and having a 1 inch speaker.It's all within safe voltages, approx 6 volt DC, so can touch etc. I like to occasionally clip doum leads into that little 1 inch speaker.My 10 inch woofer produces nice, moderate volume sound, on the 1 watt toy output.Highly doubt that there's any problems with overloading the toy's audio output, and the risk is only about $ 9 even if the lower impedance causes more load than the toy usually drives.No black smoke, or electrocution, at 1 watt operating.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2024, 01:12:07 am
content: Hey, Rick, did you realize you can tie a knot in a string that's broken above the nut and it'll work just fine?Stupid me, I overtightened a brand-new string (0.011", E string).Just tie a square knot.Only works on the 1st 3 strings or so.Hey, I'm a cheapskate.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2024, 09:23:10 am
content: Rick, speaking of toys, you oughta know that all the kewl kids are playing the Otomatone:(the high-end ones even have a line-out jack to connect to your amp)

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2024, 08:17:54 pm
content: Well yeah; The physics of mechanically vibrating being 'pinched' or clamped right at the nut would lend well, making the free length of a string the dominant thing determining frequency.But then the questions come, as to any tonal qualities and the imperfect restraint at the nut, which is often nylon, which could be a compliant material, to a degree. Maybe that does let some 'imperfection' into the string's overall tone ?I don't know why a thick string is harder to do a knot, other than the actual forces needed to tie them. If a person strums the strings, above the nut, how much vibration gets through into the pickups, I don't know.Will see later, I can test that for you.- - - RickomaTone 'inventor'. (Not, lol)

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2024, 08:27:33 pm
content: Quote from: RJSV on December 26, 2024, 08:17:54 pmTry theonlything determining frequency. The nut (and saddle) are stationary attachment points or fulcrums; above the nut (or below the saddle) doesn't count at all as the vibrating part of the string.QuoteNope, bone nut here. I hate those plastic nuts! (At least on acoustic instruments; probably doesn't matter much on an electric guitar.)Nothing above the nut affects anything; that's like audiophool nonsense. (Well, so long as you don't hang lead weights there or some such.)

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2024, 09:08:30 pm
content: Ah, bone nut. That saves me some time. BTW, my new ORANGE AMP, turns out to be from the UK !I left out the other determiner, of string vibration frequency, that, obviously, would be the weight or thickness, of any given string.Ultimately, its MASS and length, but there are many imperfect nonlinear characteristics, such as 'attatchment stiffness' being high, for extremely short strings, or for the regions right near the fixed points.The intonation length fine adjustments also give compromise, so as to best interface with the whole run of frets.Ironically, we fret over (no pun intended) perfection in tuning and reproduction electronically, but then along comes JIMI, bending strings, and introducing massive distortion.Technology students should recognize, the whole Jimi Hendrix thing can be viewed as an ultimate Disruptive Technology.(From Hindu viewpoint, this you've seen the heavy use of colors, Yellow, and Red, as representative of a potent force for change).That's not an expert opinion, though, as I'm simply a Yoga and Chi-gung enthusiast.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2024, 09:18:35 pm
content: Quote from: RJSV on December 26, 2024, 09:08:30 pmAh yes, Jimi, AKA God.*If you listen to him you realize that his intonation was dead-on. His musical ear was impeccable.*I actually saw him, at the Chicago Opera House (horrible venue) at the age of 15, ca, 1967.He was my hero back then.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2024, 09:46:39 pm
content: I, actually, liked Vanilla Fudge band (Oakland Collisium, 1968). I had been expecting, a 7 ft. tall JIMI, screaming and busting up every instrument in sight, but, alas, he was a mildly spoken, wirey and slightly effeminate dude, talking calmly to the crowd.Vanilla Fudge was an LSD themed bunch of freaks, waving around like seaweed in the surf...(But they had good vocal arrangements).Anyhow, I've been reading more about FRANTONE circuitry; my first FUZZ box was constructed by putting a toy tape recorder circuit board in the line, before the AMP.The guitar input was routed to the (former) tape head input, which normally is a very low level magnetically generated signal.The 'overloaded' input generated a heavy and pleasant distortion, for playing 'Sunshine of Your Love' including FUZZ chords.That tape recorder circuit generated ongoing noise, when fed with just a bare 'open mike' sitting there, pops and sprackle.Course, (you know), JIMI didn't invent much of that,...witness Beatles Taxman, or other jazzy use of the famed 'E major flat third', as well as FUZZ, or use of whammy bar.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2024, 10:00:43 pm
content: But his use of wah-wah was incredibly groundbreaking. Other guitarists used it as some kind of toy; he made that damn thingtalk. (Listen to "Up From the Skies" on Axis: Bold as Love.)

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2024, 10:09:26 pm
content: ...Since you've woke up my Historian side, I'd say that Hendrix had liked using major chords, especially ballad style, like in 'Rolling Stone'. Seems like, in retrospect, he would have been more like heavy metal, with lots of minor and dissonant chords.Style-wise, Jimi presented total control, of playing volume (intensity), and general excitement levels, up & down. Audience was left in the edge of their seats, waiting for a next, peak in intensity.That, rather than artless volume with no sound pockets or breaks.The Woodstock solo impresses me by the ability to re-focus the band, for resuming a full sound, in that Spanish sounding effort using octave fingering.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2024, 11:27:13 pm
content: As dull as it sounds, some readers might appreciate a couple tips on how to bring out some speaker output, for connection to whatever, like your own speaker.I've gone round and round on the options, such as simply bringing out the two wires, from a music device, speaker output.You would maybe add in a switch, to cut out the internal speaker. Or, a second switch, to optionally cut out the external sound.One option, banana jacks, like the two shown, create a wire-it-yourself situation.Even better, would be with another pair of banana jacks, normally connected by a jumper on each, so normally you can have the extra speaker, but if needed, you can pull off one jumper, to keep the extra speaker silent.That might seem overkill, but I'm thinking in terms of how frustratingly delicate many audio cables are, (especially stereo signals 3 wires on a stereo mini-jack cable.)One pair of banana jacks is the AMP output, and other is to your extra speaker.OR, the second pair is for the internal speaker, if you wish to have yet more ways to use this.But I'd prefer the former, plus having a switch to cut the internal sound.You could either solder the two jumpers, (underneath the little plastic panel, or you could put the two continuity jumpers into the upper screw-down portions, (doubling up with any other wires.)To the right, in the picture, is the nice to use junction block, having four screw terminals, that naturally connect to four outputs.End result is you would have a small flat plastic panel, with maybe a cable clamp, so that you could hook up either a speaker that connects with two wires, or to use a speaker that has an input jack connect style.For that, you would construct a cable that has, say, a 1/4 inch PHONE jack, for the external speaker box connections.It can be hard to decide, unless you want to spend a few hours, soldering and stripping cable wires.The delicate cables really require some manual skill - dexterity.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2024, 12:16:33 am
content: This next part is really, really a challenge, to properly strip a delicate consumer product type cable, like the mono coax cable shown, but also when you have a stereo cable with 3 wires inside the jacket.Photo shows, you need an xacto knife or razor, to do a 'nick' going most ways around but EXTREMELY hard to cut through, but not into the separate wires. Otherwise you compromise the insulation of one or more of the delicate inside wires.In the case shown, you have to, similarly, cut only down in to stop at the coax braid.It's a delicate thing, but with practice you can sense the tiny extra drag, when you've made it through the plastic jacket.That little drag is conveyed through the knife or razor, as it runs against the braid, or against the insulation of an internal wire.Sure is easy to cut too deep, and I usually need up to three tries. So: PATIENCE !#1.) After nicking the outside sheath, you ROLL the whole cable, underneath the knife, hoping to cut all the way around, or most way. I usually stop short of going all the way around.#2.). Secondly, use your thumbnail, to catch into that jacket, and do a preliminary prying, just only to widen the gap you've cut.#3.). Now, go back and cut, just a little more, but this time more confident, and use thumbnail to do the jacket pull-off and discard.Step #4). This is the critical point; inspect and make sure you haven't cut into or affected the wires,...there will be three for a stereo cable, or for a mono coaxial cable there will be the shield braid.#5). Now that you've gotten past steps 1-4, you can push back the braid, and strip the two, (braid and center, that is, push back and cut the braid, and do normal strip, of center wire.In the stereo cable case, you've then got 3 wires separated to strip.I usually strip the jacket about 1 inch, and then take off about 1/4 inch from each of the internal wires.Lots of those cables have a kind of fabric or thread, in with the wires, just trim and ignore that.- - - RICK -JACK

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2024, 12:21:09 am
content: Quote from: RJSV on December 26, 2024, 11:27:13 pmInstead of banana jacks, my preference would be those 5-way binding posts. That way you could either use banana plugs or just bare wires to connect.