OPEN CHORDS

Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

Well I guess Im not doing too bad for my 2nd day at practice. I know the C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and C open chords in the C6 tuning. Im told not to use or hit the 3rd string when playing those chords. I also know the minors Am, Bm, Cm, Dm, Em, Fm, Gm, AM and was told not to hit the 4th string using minors. I haven't figured out how to strum the entire major or minor chords wihtout hitting the 3rd or 4th string yet. But after 2 hours today practicing, guess it is time to knock off for awhile and may be go have a drink! Having a problem finger picking the 1st 2nd and 3rd stings clean at times but that is all muscle memory and just needs practice I know. But hanging in there after a couple of days anyway.

I called around Staten Island today just to see if there was any steel guitar instructors and of course not. Even went to a few music/guitar stores and tried to find out if anyone knew of any steel guitar players in the area and of course no one knew of one. New York City is really a country town lololol Its more about rap now adays with the kids not really appreciating good music lololol

I am telling myself to work on the open major and minor chords for the rest of the week, to get them down pat! doubt if I will be able to play the entire chords at one time by the end of the week, because I have no clue how you can play the entire chord wihtout hitting the 3rd on major chords or the 4th on the minor chords. lolol

Well enough of my rambling on tonight!

Dean from Staten Island NY
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Larry Jamieson · From: Walton, NY USA

Hello Dean,
Glad another New Yorker is learning the steel guitar. There is a teacher in Brooklyn, a professional player, Mr. Bob Hoffnar. Contact him at www.bobhoffnar.net. I am about 3 hours north west of NYC, and I teach only E9.

Have you thought about attending the steel guitar show in Norwalk, Conn., Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10th and Nov. 11th. It is a short drive from where you are, and a chance to see some top, professional players up close and personal. There are lots of steel guitar items for sale at the show, including some teaching materials. There is more information on this show at www.psga.org.

Keep on practicing, and have fun. If you get upstate, stop in and see me at my music store in Walton, NY.

Larry Jamieson

Stephen Gregory · Posted 1 Nov 2007 3:49 am

Absolutely not true!!! If your instrument is tuned properly you will not have to avoid any pitches.

Brandon Ordoyne · From: Needville,Texas USA

dont strum the chords for now. use your triad grips (your 3 fingers with the picks) to pick the chords...pick strings in these grips for your open major chords (you will need to avoid the 4th string for the major chords and pluck all three strings at the same time till you get a nice crisp sound):

2-3-5
3-5-6
5-6-7

Do this up and down the neck to get your muscle memory in your right hand, while gaining accuracy with your left hand and the bar.

I am an E9 player and have not messed with my C6 neck that much. Hopefully some of those C6 players will chime in out there to help out.

I believe Jeff Newman has a course for C6 called "The C6 Workshop". I would highly recommend getting this course. go to: www.jeffran.com

I hope this helps.

Brandon
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Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

Thanks for the information. Not clear so asking, you said grips:

2-3-5
3-5-6
5-6-7

I'm assuming and of course making an ass out of myself. But when you say grips. are you talking about picking:

2-3-5 2nd string, 3rd string 5th sting of a particular chord.

3-5-6 3rd string, 5th string 6th sting?

5-6-7 5th string, 6th sting 7th...I only have 6 strings so not sure on this one if I have the right concept

Thanks for the help if I have the concept right. Won't try this until I hear back. As I don't want to get into a bad habit because then for me it is hard to stop...

I have had several heart attacks, but the stroke I had 2 years ago really screwed up my memory. So it takes me awhile to understand a new concept.

Dean From Staten Island NY
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Hank Ruf · From: Little Elm, Texas USA

Guy's this is the C6th tuning. Don't try to make it the E9th tuning by not using certain strings. Who ever told you about the 3 and 4 string is WRONG.The picking sets are:

1st set 2345
2nd set 3456
3rd set 4567
4th set 5678

These sets will give you the C6th sound. If you use 2 finger and a thumb pick, rack these picking sets with the thumb hiting the last 2 string in each set.
One last thing C6th is a FUNNnnnn tuning. Have fun with it.

We plan on making a DVD on C6th next year.

Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

Thanks for giving me Jeff Newman name. I will check him out. I have purchased 2 courses so far 1. George Boards and 2. Rick Alexander course which I have not got yet. Hopefully in the next day or two.

George Boards course is well I would say very good, but leaves a lot to try to figure out on ones own as you get nothing written down its all in a DVD or CD. Of course the action is way to fast to comprehend and to figure out by watching. It clearly is not even though advertised for beginners is not for beginners who have no clue!

I'm waiting for Rick Alexander's course to show up even though it is in different tuning I hope that it is more clear and I do know he at least sends a book with tabs so at least I can look at the tabs and get a clue hopefully.

Already 100 bucks spent on these course's and dvd's and cd's. For any new player I would strongly suggest that before you buy a course, that you be sure that they give written material along with the course before you buy. May be Im just too old and because of the stroke I had Im slow to comprehend! But, I have to admit that George Boards course I have learned the open major and minor chords. So it was a help. when I say know the chords, I know what frets they are on, but having a problem in playing the entire chord at one time. But will start picking the 3 strings once that is understood.

Dean from Staten Island NY
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Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I'm pretty much with Hank and depending what you are using for a first, you may be able to group it too. C6 is very forgiving compared to E9. You have to be more selective on E9.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Dean, are you playing pedal steel or lap steel?

On pedal steel C6th, the 3rd string is C. On lap steel steel C6th, the 3rd string is A. Big difference.
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Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

I kinda thought Dean might be on a lap steel from his post the other day.

Dean there is a "steel without pedals" section of this forum, they are good dudes and will be very helpful.

Check out Brads page too, it has alot of great info for lap steel. heres a link
http://www.well.com/user/wellvis/steel.html

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Dean,
I may be able to help you out on the C neck. I get out to Staten Island pretty often.
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Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

I'm not a C6th player, but I believe Jeff Newman's advice repeated in his E9th lessons is applicable.

He advised students to not feel like you have to play more than a couple of notes in many of those chords. It's too much harmony for most situations, as those notes are also being played by other instruments. If you play the full chords you'll sound like what Jeff called a "bedroom jockey" instead of someone who has learned to play with a band.

I know some steel playing requires full chord sounds, but as Jeff stated, "Less is more".
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Hank Ruf · From: Little Elm, Texas USA

In playing C6th it's not what you CAN'T PLAY but what can I play. C6th takes a differant mental approach than playing E9th. Grab a bunch of strings and go! Most guy's can't play C6th because of this mental approach. C6th is VERY forgiving.

Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

You use the term sets! in another guy use the term GRIPS I still don't know if your talking about the frets or the strings!

If I am playing a C chord at the 12th fret! The steel is down across the 12th fret, to play a C chord what strings do I pluck??? The F chord is played on the 5th fret, which string do I pluck?

may be you can tell me what a grip is compared to a set? I have no clue

Thanks

Dean from staten Island NY
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Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Dean, may I ask if your steel has any pedals?
If not, please see my post above (and bOb's above mine)

Hank Ruf · From: Little Elm, Texas USA

Dean, when I talk about sets, they are string conbinations.

Set 1 is 2345 Strings ( open is C cord )
Set 2 is 3456 Strings ( open is C cord )
Set 3 is 4567 Strings ( open is C cord )
Set 4 is 5678 Strings ( open is C cord )

If you use these set combination they will work on all frets. Example All 4 Set at the 5th fret is F cord and so on up the fret board. Use these at any fret.

If your 1st string is tuned to G you will have another set. Strings 1234 ( open is C cord )

*All these sets are based on a 10 string pedal steel.

Don Brown, Sr. · From: New Jersey

Folks, I think he's getting confused, due to the fact that he said he ONLY has 6 strings. Therefore, as Bob said, if he hits his third string, he won't be making a C Major.

That's probably the reason his teacher told him not to hit the 3rd string.

Dean, As far as grip goes, example only: if playing a Triad (any three strings) as a group. Now say they are numbered: 1, 2, & 3.. Place your Thumb on the Lowest note #3, then place your Pointer finger on the next lowest, which would be #2, and finally get the first string with your Middle finger.

Now practice pulling your two fingers slightly up and back toward you, while at the same time, using your thumb, to push slightly forward and up for sounding the lowest note.

Practice doing that on the different string combinations, that give you a Major, Triad, until you can get all three strings to come off clean. And yes! It will take practice.

Don't get discouraged, and above all else, I'd go to the No Pedals Section here, and I'm quite certain, you'll have more help than you'll know what to do with.

Everyone here was telling you right, but I believe they were thinking you had a 10 string neck.

Hope that little tid bit helps you out.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

Ok, that made it more clear guys, I thought strings but then wasn't sure because of the terms, grip and already forgot the other term you guys used, oh "set"

ok I thought this was for non peddles or or steel guitars in general! being "steel players"

Thanks I will look for the non peddle forumn

Dean from Staten Island NY
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b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

I've moved the topic to the "Steel Without Pedals" section of the forum.
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Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

Ok, guess I was not clear what I am playing, and that why the numbers were confusing. I am playing a 6 string guitar and right at the moment it is tuned to C6, but once I get Rick Alexander's course I will be tuning it differently I think he uses a A6 but cannot remember, but still I only have 6 strings. lolol

Iv'e been working on the chords, and know where each are for the major and minor chords, but of course they are not sounding right because I am not picking the right strings I am assuming.

thanks for the info above and any help in the future!

Dean from Staten Island NY
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Jim Bob Sedgwick · From: Clinton, Missouri USA

Pedal or not.... Learn the notes in chords. Learn what happens when you add notes to the chord. In other words, Learn some music. This instrument can not be played well, only by ear. Once you have mastered basic theory, the instrument will start making sense. As will any other instrument as the same theory applies to all instruments. Theory is the language of music. Without it, you will hit a wall and not be able to advance musically.

George Piburn · From: The Land of Enchantment New Mexico

Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

This morning I received an e-mail from George and he mentioned one of his CD-Roms, entitled Book 1 CD ROM. In going through all the DVD's and CD's I did not find that particular one. I didn't throw the envelope away as I keep all of them. In looking in the envelope there it was. The one that really made a difference in showing the major and minor chords. This CD-Rom made a world of difference even though I kinda had it figured out as I wrote out all the frets with the notes up to the 24th fret. Then looking at notes of each fret. Wish I would have found this particular CD ROM along with the other as it would have saved me a lot of time and effort.

However, mapping out the frets in the C6 tuning will serve me down the road so the time wasn't wasted as it will give me a better understanding of the C6 tuning.

Now having a better understanding of the C6, the chords major and minor! now picking is a key and of course muscle memory and that will come in time.

Thanks again to George for mentioning to me the CD-ROM that I didn't run into and to the comments and help of all those who posted.

But stay tuned because I will be asking other dumb and stupid questions or idiotic statements just a question of time Im sure
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