The Steel Guitar Forum

Is it possible to go from a one to a four or five chord in the open G position? If so, is playing in the open position pretty common?

Wayne Baker

I don't understand the question...

-Travis

P.S. You could bar a 'G' string at the second fret for a V... reverse slant to also get the 'B' string at the first fret for a V7... bar the 'B' string for a IV or forward slant to also get the 'D' string at the second fret... is this the kind of thing you mean?

Or do you just mean barring the fifth and seventh frets for a IV and V chord?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Travis Bernhardt on 31 August 2003 at 07:05 PM.]</p></FONT>

Travis, thanks for the reply. I was wondering about getting IV and V chords in open positions also. Bars slants, sounds good. I'll give it a try.

Thanks foe the help,
Wayne Baker

If you're slanting the bar, you're not in an open position.

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Steel crazy after all these years.
Emmons Lashley Legrande 111 S-10, Nashville 1000, Peavey Stereo chorus 212, Peavey Classic 50/410, Lexicon MPX 100, Crafters of Tennessee Virginian reso.

I guess I'm still not exactly sure what you're asking... If by "open position" in G tuning you simply mean "playing in the key of G," then the IV and the V chords are easily found at the fifth and seventh frets. You'll also find the vi chord at the ninth fret, just remember to only bar strings three through six (and don't play string five in high G tuning). The iii chord is at the fourth fret, with the same provisos.

In case you're interested, you can also get incomplete seventh or ninth chords (two strings only, but they work if someone else is playing rhythm) by playing: a) three frets up on the first and second strings for a seventh (so a G7 at the third fret, strings one and two, D7 at the tenth fret etc.), and b) two frets back on the second and third strings for a ninth chord (tenth fret for a G9, fifth fret for a D9). These can sound pretty good when playing backup, and you can jump to these positions when soloing too. Hope this is helping.

-Travis

P.S. A nice bluesy thing to try is six frets up from your open G chord on the second and third strings, then walk down (straight bar) on those strings hitting the fifth fret, third fret, and finally the open strings. This sounds good in a lot of places in blues songs.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Travis Bernhardt on 03 September 2003 at 12:30 PM.]</p></FONT>