The Steel Guitar Forum

<SMALL>Sometimes playing the wrong notes fast as hell can sound "advanced" too</SMALL>

Huh?!?? If you want to work a Nashville session, you better be able to write a number chart on the first pass.

<SMALL>...IT CAN BE A CURSE if your ear is THAT SHARP. It can drive you nuts if you have an ear that can pick out 2 strings that is 2 "cents" off.</SMALL>

And here all along, I thought <u>I</u> was the only one detecting those fleeting "dissonances" on playing by some of the "big names". Yes, I'm a stickler for perfect intonation. Mine's not always perfect...but then again, I don't play music for a living.

You are NOT alone Donny, believe me.

I do not know the following to be facts at all. They are purely my opinion...

Unless Buddy Emmons was to correct me, I believe with ALL my heart that he CAN hear a one or two cents relative "detune" on any guitar he plays. Further, I believe the main reason he ordered two new LeGrande III's is BECAUSE of the above.

If I am wrong, I will have NO hesitation to stand corrected,

carl

I'd imagine there is probably some ear training software available. You would be amazed at what 10-15 minutes a day would do.

If anybody is interested, I think they have some kind of program at the high school like this, I'll find out what it is.

I almost always hear the V-chord first, I hear a major-VI quite easily or a major-II. I like those so my brain or what's left of it seems to keep them in a prefered spot
With a IV I seem to be unsure it could be a V, except at the start of a chorus, but then I remember I do recognize V's positively, so it's got to be a IV . But by then the music as progressed somewhere else... and I'm sweating. I locate keychanges by the future key's V being played at the end of the old key... which is something where I amaze myself everytime as this could be lets say a VI to the old key... but I always seem to recognize it as the V of a future key.
And finally... I have to hear the V before I can tell the I... unless it's a basic country style song.

... J-D.

If someone strummed a d chord on the guitar, no other chord sounds like it .Recognize the sound each chord produces and eventually you can tell a big differance in each chords strummed sound make up.Bar chords will throw you ,This works great best on open ones.

I think it's practice and experience. I've played bass for 25+ years, and when I learn a song , I almost always listen to the bass for changes. That'll give you at least the root of the chord, then, through experience you might be able to hear if it's a major, minor,7th, etc........ Might not be the best technique, but, it's worked for me for years. Although I think if one learn's some basic theory, he's at a great advantage to people like me. I intend to study some theory myself. There's lots here on the forum.
Just my 2 pennies.
Scott

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Carter Starter
Peavey 212 Chorus
Crate Vintage 50
Regal Dobro
Dad's old Mongrel Tele
G+L L1000 Bass
Peavey Bass Rig
Assorted effects,etc.
Suzuki Keyboard

"Crooked River Band"

First of all, I'd like to agree with Jeff Lampert's post about Carl Dixon. I have read every post of Carl's and the abilities that he has shown, is TALENT. What a great asset to the Steel Guitar Forum.

On the question of naming chords. I have been lucky to be able to do this.

Once I was called for a session in Calif. and the night before , I was picked to take the tape of the singers original songs and write out the chords and measures, etc.

Then the next day I gave copies to the Keyboard and other players and we did the session.
To make sure, I put the numbers on top of the chord names.......al

Carl, I'm pretty good at it, it comes from playing with a lot of other musicians wheter live or along with records/tapes/CDs. I listen to the bass. He typically has the note of the chord everyone else is playing.