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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Scherf on May 17, 2013, 09:17:39 PM

Title: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Scherf on May 17, 2013, 09:17:39 PM
As part of my ongoing mid-life crisis, I'm trying to take up the guitar.

Assuming the statement is correct, which three chords do I need to be able to rawk?

 :rock :old: :rock
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Golfer on May 17, 2013, 11:19:42 PM
Depends on your mood.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: ozrocker on May 17, 2013, 11:29:31 PM
A free - printable chord chart.

http://www.guitar-skill-builder.com/free-printable-guitar-chord-chart.html



                                                                                                                                                    :cheers: Oz
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Banshee7 on May 18, 2013, 02:57:29 AM
G, C, and D.  Throw in an Em, A, F and a capo and you can play several songs.   :aok

#S#



Josh
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Scherf on May 18, 2013, 05:31:38 AM
Cheers gents.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Skuzzy on May 18, 2013, 06:15:40 AM
G, C, and D.  Throw in an Em, A, F and a capo and you can play several songs.   :aok

#S#
Josh

Don't forget E, B flat, and Am!

But if it is only three, then I concur, G, C, and D would be it.  You could probably cover a good number of C&W songs with those three chords.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: gyrene81 on May 18, 2013, 06:27:24 AM
what chords if you have fat stiff uncoordinated fingers?
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: ozrocker on May 18, 2013, 06:36:28 AM
Asus A




                                                                                                                                                       :cheers: Oz
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: mike8318 on May 18, 2013, 07:58:40 AM
Learn the number system.Basically just the number of the notes of the scale of a particualr key you are playing in.. You'll find a lot of Rock,country,are built around a 1,4,5 pattern,or sight variations. 1,minor 3rd,4(Smoke on the Water)which would be G,B flat,and C,etc.. Country,especially modern country will sometimes add a 6th in the mix somewhere. Wouldn't worry about slash chords yet. Learn the basics and go from there.After a while you will here similar patterns,just played in a different place on the neck. Listen to any Steely Dan album for example of more complex chord structures. Aja' is highly recommended.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: bozon on May 18, 2013, 08:56:15 AM
with a bit more effort you can learn 4 chords and then you can play pretty much every pop hit song in the last 30 years:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ

Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Motherland on May 18, 2013, 11:22:19 AM
G C D with a capo gives you access to like 30% of contemporary music and like 75%+ of blues and early rock and roll
Add Am and Em in the same key and you've got like 80% of music since the decline of jazz
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: jeep00 on May 18, 2013, 11:33:29 AM
what chords if you have fat stiff uncoordinated fingers?

(http://newdrumset.com/New%20Drum%20Set%20Photos/drum%20set%20blue%20black%20red%20silver%20green%20pink%20yellow.jpg)

 :aok
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Banshee7 on May 18, 2013, 12:23:01 PM
Don't forget E, B flat, and Am!

But if it is only three, then I concur, G, C, and D would be it.  You could probably cover a good number of C&W songs with those three chords.


Skuzzy agreed with me  :O  :D

Yeah can't forget those chords either.  But like you said, G, C, and D will take you a long way (especially with a capo).  I've heard  lot of "real" guitarists talk bad about using capos, but let me tell you, they can be a life saver for new guitarists, especially if you're playing a singing.  I've only been playing for about three year, so I'm not great, but I know a little bit :)

#S#



Josh
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: eddiie on May 18, 2013, 02:46:38 PM
or you could pick up rocksmith. makes it much easier to get started
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: xbrit on May 18, 2013, 06:00:14 PM
You could try this.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=106324836241564
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: ToeTag on May 18, 2013, 06:23:19 PM
what chords if you have fat stiff uncoordinated fingers?

any one just sing them.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: icepac on May 18, 2013, 09:21:38 PM
You can play "TNT" by "AC/DC" with one finger except for the guitar solo.

Whatever you do, don't use the crutch that is "drop-d" tuning otherwise known as the "smelly cat chord" pioneered by shred mistres Phoebe.........until she learned how to fret a proper chord in later episodes.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: kilo2 on May 18, 2013, 10:38:46 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RmO6fc-FdE
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Plawranc on May 19, 2013, 08:58:44 AM
C, G, Am, F

^^^

with these chords you can play any song on earth
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: ink on May 19, 2013, 11:11:22 AM
You can play "TNT" by "AC/DC" with one finger except for the guitar solo.

Whatever you do, don't use the crutch that is "drop-d" tuning otherwise known as the "smelly cat chord" pioneered by shred mistres Phoebe.........until she learned how to fret a proper chord in later episodes.

cant you play pretty much every ACDC song with one finger...... :rofl


Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Reschke on May 19, 2013, 03:30:51 PM
Ask Nickelhack....they sound like roosters and only know three chords.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: phatzo on May 19, 2013, 07:25:49 PM
Learn minor and major bar chords and the world is your oyster. Its a lot of fun too, a past AH player once wrote a song for me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33APM05_k1M

so I wrote him one back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPLT62gw8eo
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Curval on May 20, 2013, 07:00:21 AM
"I'm so bloody rich...HAHAHAHA

I own apartment buildings and shopping centers..HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

And I only know three chords...BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH AAH"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSuHVYv_dh4
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: bj229r on May 20, 2013, 08:00:33 AM
"I'm so bloody rich...HAHAHAHA

I own apartment buildings and shopping centers..HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

And I only know three chords...BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH AAH"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSuHVYv_dh4
I had the 45 of that song!

(that aside, watch any Ramones or AC/DC video, most bands use very few)
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: katanaso on May 20, 2013, 09:01:30 AM
what chords if you have fat stiff uncoordinated fingers?

An open tuning, then just move one fat, stiff finger up and down the fretboard as needed.   :D
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: icepac on May 20, 2013, 10:12:00 AM
That's the smelly cat tuning.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: katanaso on May 20, 2013, 10:33:00 AM
That's the smelly cat tuning.

Which?  The Dropped D, or open?

I've always thought of open tunings as Keith Richards' tunings. :)

Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: phatzo on May 20, 2013, 09:27:51 PM
Which?  The Dropped D, or open?

I've always thought of open tunings as Keith Richards' tunings. :)


Yeah I had a Tele copy that I kept in open G with the low E string taken of that I called Keef.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: FiLtH on May 20, 2013, 09:34:27 PM
what chords if you have fat stiff uncoordinated fingers?


Bass
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: icepac on May 21, 2013, 07:48:33 PM
Which?  The Dropped D, or open?

I've always thought of open tunings as Keith Richards' tunings. :)



Hate the users, not the tunings.

I'm referencing the talentless hacks from the hard rock radio stations who you see in guitar player fretting with a single finger.

"phoebe" from "friends" originally played "smelly cat" that way but quickly learned how fret proper chords in later episodes.

She has my gratitude.

I went through an entire issue last year and only one picture in the entire magazine had someone fretting a proper chord........and it was a doug marks advertisement.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: katanaso on May 21, 2013, 09:21:37 PM
Hate the users, not the tunings.

I'm referencing the talentless hacks from the hard rock radio stations who you see in guitar player fretting with a single finger.

"phoebe" from "friends" originally played "smelly cat" that way but quickly learned how fret proper chords in later episodes.

She has my gratitude.

I went through an entire issue last year and only one picture in the entire magazine had someone fretting a proper chord........and it was a doug marks advertisement.

No argument from me on the lack of chops and musicianship that abounds today.

It's sad that people are shocked when they hear somebody can read music rather than just tabs...
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Motherland on May 21, 2013, 09:32:09 PM
The problem is that a lot of/most people who can play very well would rather sit and fellate themselves over jazz progression backing tracks than do anything interesting that pushes artistic boundaries
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: FiLtH on May 21, 2013, 10:19:11 PM
      What Ive found to be the hardest thing is finding 3 other musicians that can get along, share the passion, control their egos, are disciplined to practice as a band, willing to try new music they havent played comfortably the past 20 years, and are also talented. Usually you get 1-2 of those from each player, and rarely even those are the same.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: katanaso on May 22, 2013, 06:26:16 AM
      What Ive found to be the hardest thing is finding 3 other musicians that can get along, share the passion, control their egos, are disciplined to practice as a band, willing to try new music they havent played comfortably the past 20 years, and are also talented. Usually you get 1-2 of those from each player, and rarely even those are the same.

When I would jam with friends and friend's bands, back around 1990 or so, the ego was the biggest issue.

Now it's like you say, except there aren't the chops to back up that ego.  For the most part.  It's still out there, but it seems what used to be the norm in bands/music is the rarity now.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: branch37 on May 22, 2013, 07:11:39 AM
Just play G, D, Em, F, C, D over and over again for 10 minutes and supresto you have the rhythm section of Free Bird.  :rock
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: shiv on May 22, 2013, 08:34:46 AM
As part of my ongoing mid-life crisis, I'm trying to take up the guitar.

Assuming the statement is correct, which three chords do I need to be able to rawk?

 :rock :old: :rock

While you're learning the actual chords it can be a lot of fun to fool around with power chords on the top two strings. Power chords are really just the top two otes of barre chords and can be moved up and down the neck just like barre chords. Much easier to learn than regular chords, and can keep you having fun as you learn. Especially if you have an electric guitar.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Bizman on May 22, 2013, 12:26:04 PM
Open tuning and some idea of intervals combined with naive lyrics might even get you a recording contract: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD7Fyev-h7U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD7Fyev-h7U)
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Rob52240 on May 22, 2013, 12:46:34 PM
You can do a lot with 2 turn tables and a microphone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndjdG0yXz8A

(http://l3.kottonmouthkings.com/sites/default/files/media-youtube/ndjdG0yXz8A.jpg)
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Murdr on May 26, 2013, 03:24:34 PM
I suggest you go with 4 chords  ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: ozrocker on May 27, 2013, 11:39:03 AM
I suggest you go with 4 chords  ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ

D, A, Bm, G?


I looked at some of the comments. Seems quite a few people are different on opinion.

                                                                                                                                        :cheers: Oz
                                                                                                           
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Murdr on May 27, 2013, 02:57:29 PM
D, A, Bm, G?                                                                                              
Yea, that's the 4 from the video
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Murdr on May 27, 2013, 03:59:24 PM
I'm referencing the talentless hacks from the hard rock radio stations who you see in guitar player fretting with a single finger.
Some "talentless hacks"
Sinister Gates http://youtu.be/94bGzWyHbu0
Brian May http://youtu.be/VMnjF1O4eH0
Eddie Van Halen http://youtu.be/xx86CxKYtg0
Robbie Krieger http://youtu.be/e9TmQQQGddQ
Bullet for my Valentine http://youtu.be/9sTQ0QdkN3Q
Black Veil Brides http://youtu.be/f0EQlIzPowM
System of a Down http://youtu.be/CSvFpBOe8eY
Shinedown http://youtu.be/OoHGZFyMCHU
...I could do this all day.  The idea that the 2nd most common tuning is primarily used for some kind of cheat based on an actress in a long gone sitcom is utterly absurd.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: shiv on May 28, 2013, 07:42:14 PM
Hate the users, not the tunings.

I'm referencing the talentless hacks from the hard rock radio stations who you see in guitar player fretting with a single finger.

"phoebe" from "friends" originally played "smelly cat" that way but quickly learned how fret proper chords in later episodes.

She has my gratitude.

I went through an entire issue last year and only one picture in the entire magazine had someone fretting a proper chord........and it was a doug marks advertisement.

I don't see why you would think that's it's the left hand makes any difference.  For me it's the strumming and picking that's the mark of a good guitarist. 

Heck, chords are just a couple weeks practice. And once you learn a D chord your fingers will never forget it.

But right hand technique is rhythm and taste and a musical sense. And if you don't play for a while it comes back a lot slower than how to fret a chord.

I can play all types of chords but I can't make a simple A chord or even a one-finger dropped D chord sound even a tenth as good as any of the guys Murdr listed.

Yes, practice helps a lot with rhythm, but for my money it's still a hell of a lot harder to learn than making the chord shapes.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: RngFndr on May 28, 2013, 08:22:53 PM
Only know three chords??? THEN PLAY EM LOUDER!  :rock
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Murdr on May 30, 2013, 02:03:41 PM
I write primarily in drop C# because it's a good anchor for my singers range, but we also have composed songs in C# standard, and D# standard.  A lot of modern rock bands write in dropped and dropped baritone tunings for the low bottom notes (breaking ben drop A#) or because it suites their vocalist (drowning pool drop C).  Here's a couple I composed, and there isn't much going on in the way of dropped bar chords http://www.reverbnation.com/baddseed/song/15980393-wide-open
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Volron on May 30, 2013, 07:05:17 PM
What would you guys think of these?

Song name: Slinger's Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mDWzu5yxLg

Song name: In Case of Trouble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jU9EFTMhbY


And who here could play them?
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: FiLtH on May 30, 2013, 09:53:06 PM
    I believe I could. Sounds like Firefly music to me. Theres always alot of stuff going on in songs, picking out the part you wish to play can be a challenge. Sometimes the part you want to play has pieces of another's part.
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Murdr on May 31, 2013, 03:13:13 AM
Sounds like Firefly music to me.

That 2nd one really does, don't it?
Title: Re: "We only know three chords"
Post by: Debrody on May 31, 2013, 04:05:07 AM
Try this chord line, just a D-minor brainfart what came across my mind - this cicle with a few modifications can fit on a couple folk songs i play.
Dm G C (G) C7 C7 F D7 Gm E7 A A7 Dm

Actually, most songs are much more simple. Here is the most basic I IV V I (with the parallel minor)
C F G C (A-minor D E Am)
B C F B (G-minor C D Gm)
F B A F (D-minor G A Dm)
depending on the tune the song is played