Comments on: Noodling with harmony http://www.dave-keir.com/2008/02/noodling-with-harmony/ Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitar Songs Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:16:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dave http://www.dave-keir.com/2008/02/noodling-with-harmony/comment-page-1/#comment-1075 Dave Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:30:06 +0000 http://www.dave-keir.com/wordpress/a-blog-of-sorts/noodling-with-harmony/#comment-1075 Well, Nathan, I only use a capo (these days) to find the best key to sing my damn' song in, heh, heh! Or if I'm doing a guitar piece by someone else who uses a capo on it. I've never tried these new fangled partial capos - no reason - just never occurred. Maybe I should experiment. My interest in all these chord voicings and keys is partly through curiosity about where it could all lead - I've always had a fascination with harmony. More so than melody, to be honest, although I'm only too aware that sometimes there's nothing better than a simple tune unsullied by stodgy harmonies. It's not so much that I don't like what guitar history has given me as far as "inherent tonality", but I do "hear" where some of my songs want to go, but it's like a strange country when I enter some keys. I mean, If I've got something based in D major and I can hear it going to (say) Eb minor for a spell, then I have to stop and think about chords and fingerings. This is tad frustrating and after a long time fudging the issue, I've decided to make a project of making myself "more at home" in these keys. It's all about increasing my harmonic vocabulary, so to speak. Thank for your interest and contibutions, Nathan, keep in touch! Well, Nathan, I only use a capo (these days) to find the best key to sing my damn’ song in, heh, heh! Or if I’m doing a guitar piece by someone else who uses a capo on it. I’ve never tried these new fangled partial capos – no reason – just never occurred. Maybe I should experiment.

My interest in all these chord voicings and keys is partly through curiosity about where it could all lead – I’ve always had a fascination with harmony. More so than melody, to be honest, although I’m only too aware that sometimes there’s nothing better than a simple tune unsullied by stodgy harmonies.

It’s not so much that I don’t like what guitar history has given me as far as “inherent tonality”, but I do “hear” where some of my songs want to go, but it’s like a strange country when I enter some keys. I mean, If I’ve got something based in D major and I can hear it going to (say) Eb minor for a spell, then I have to stop and think about chords and fingerings. This is tad frustrating and after a long time fudging the issue, I’ve decided to make a project of making myself “more at home” in these keys. It’s all about increasing my harmonic vocabulary, so to speak.

Thank for your interest and contibutions, Nathan, keep in touch!

]]> By: Nathan Kentucky http://www.dave-keir.com/2008/02/noodling-with-harmony/comment-page-1/#comment-1071 Nathan Kentucky Sat, 01 Mar 2008 09:47:13 +0000 http://www.dave-keir.com/wordpress/a-blog-of-sorts/noodling-with-harmony/#comment-1071 Yup, yup, yup, all very true, but there's a couple more fairly easy ways to get new sounds, first, the old tried and true capo, or half or two thirds capo, which is always fun. Or just going for the alternate tunings - if you don't like what guitar history has given you as far as inherent tonality, screw it and try your own way, eh? Or if you're feeling absolutely nuts, you can get some really cool effects with a high partial capo, dropped tuning on the bottom for the drone strings, and singing in the middle - one of my personal new favorite things to do, every since I saw some guy out busking with it on the street the other day. Nathan -- Be sure to check out Berlin's only true Kentucky Bluegrass Picker @ www.nathankentucky.com -- Yup, yup, yup, all very true, but there’s a couple more fairly easy ways to get new sounds, first, the old tried and true capo, or half or two thirds capo, which is always fun. Or just going for the alternate tunings – if you don’t like what guitar history has given you as far as inherent tonality, screw it and try your own way, eh? Or if you’re feeling absolutely nuts, you can get some really cool effects with a high partial capo, dropped tuning on the bottom for the drone strings, and singing in the middle – one of my personal new favorite things to do, every since I saw some guy out busking with it on the street the other day.

Nathan

– Be sure to check out Berlin’s only true Kentucky Bluegrass Picker @ http://www.nathankentucky.com –

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