476 Reply by Olly

(15 replies, posted in Song Analysis)

Sorry hope it didn't come across that I was knocking your advice. I was just offering an alternative suggestion. If it's how the chords are constructed then I would agree with you 100%!

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477 Reply by Olly

(15 replies, posted in Song Analysis)

Instructor wrote:

If you can't first understand 3 part harmony, like I described above, 4 won't make any difference.

This is true if you want to understand what you are doing, theory wise, but if you just want to play then it would do no harm to learn some of the extended chords.

I started off by learning A7, E7 and D7  which are all easy shapes based on the ones you most likely already know. Also major and minor 7s can sound nice as well.

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478 Reply by Olly

(10 replies, posted in Your Recordings)

Hey Alun - thanks a lot for listening! It was just a spur of the moment thing, it sounded kinda nice and I am pleased I captured it!

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479 Reply by Olly

(21 replies, posted in Guitar Techniques)

This is a very interesting thread.

Don - just so I understand are you saying that in a I IV V progression (as an example) you are teaching the students that over I play Ionian over the IV play Lydian, over the V play Mixolydian? Even though the whole progression is resolving to the I chord?

Or have I missed your point?...

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480 Reply by Olly

(4 replies, posted in Everything Else)

Instructor wrote:

You're absolutely right.  Its a great discovery, and you should be excited.  They are great to play with!

I second this - nothing to be laughed at about whatsoever.

Enjoy the discovery!

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481 Reply by Olly

(7 replies, posted in Your Recordings)

Like it John - is it me or are you playing more with backing tracks right now?

Is this a backing track you wrote or a downloaded one?

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482 Reply by Olly

(4 replies, posted in Recording / Studio)

Unfortunately I have cannot offer any advice on this as I have never tried doing this. I would certainly be interested in hearing more about how you have got it set up though.

And if you find the answer be sure to post!

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483 Reply by Olly

(4 replies, posted in Guitar Tab Requests)

I actually do really like this song! Well played and well sung!

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484 Reply by Olly

(10 replies, posted in Misc)

jamesd74 wrote:

I will just go to bed at 11.00 as normal on new years day.

In the morning????

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485 Reply by Olly

(10 replies, posted in Misc)

alun wrote:

Happy New Year to you and yours Olly.

Thanks Alun - and to you!

watermelon john wrote:

The wife will make this:  Osechi

Looks good John - is this some traditional new years dish?

mikeyBoab wrote:

I'm going to a big family dinner then home early - no more late nights for me!

Nice to hear from you Mikey - how was little Eric's first Christmas?

bigiain wrote:

were playing a gig on a boat on hogmany on loch lomond  with 5 other blues bands with a big jam at end of the 6    45 minute sets   gony be amazing

This does sound good Iain - see if you can get someone to record it again so you can post it here!

Instructor wrote:

My girlfriend works New Years Eve, otherwise I'd have loved to zip off and rent a hotel in San Antonio, TX.  I got to do that a few years ago and watching the new year from the observation deck of the hotel, was an incredible experience.

As your girlfriend is working, what will your plans be instead?

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486 Reply by Olly

(6 replies, posted in Introduce yourself)

Hi and welcome to the forum. I see you are using oscommerce for your store. how have you found it so far?

What kind of music are you into?

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487 Reply by Olly

(15 replies, posted in Song Analysis)

jamesd74 wrote:

Help what's all these 7s

I would say just get used to your major and minor chords first of all. These chords are extensions that kind of add to the sound of major or minor!

Go to forum: Song Analysis

488 Reply by Olly

(11 replies, posted in Music Theory)

I guess the most important aspect is highlighting the notes that are different from the major scale is most important. As long as it resolves to the droning note, there is no need for the drone, if that makes sense?

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489 Reply by Olly

(11 replies, posted in Music Theory)

Yep you could indeed. Though it would quickly sound tired with one chord repeating over and over.

This is where I get stuck!...

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490 Reply by Olly

(102 replies, posted in Your Recordings)

I like this video a lot. what a unique way of playing. I haven't personally seen the guitar played like this before!

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491 Reply by Olly

(5 replies, posted in Your Recordings)

Great work Alun. 

Will this remain just an improvisation piece or do you have any intention on developing it further? I can definitely see that the structure is there to add lyrics etc?

How do you go about recording your acoustic? I want to try and record some acoustic myself in the near future.

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492 Reply by Olly

(11 replies, posted in Music Theory)

Here is another example. This is using all the modes of C Major.

The difference here is that we are going to be using the same notes each time but the bass will change. This will illustrate how emphasis can change the whole sound and feel of what you are playing.

The notes in C Major are C D E F G A B so you cannot get much simpler. Despite the fact that I am only playing with these notes, you will hear that each mode sounds different where the emphasis of the root note is changing, mainly thanks to the bass.


C Ionian

[mp3]/uploads/69dab60e3dca8120475a057c9481bf6c.mp3[/mp3]


This is the standard C Major scale - C D E F G A B


D Dorian

[mp3]/uploads/2e129eb803acb357d2d9da9dfc559e32.mp3[/mp3]

This is the same notes as C major except starting on D - D E F G A B C.

Notice how this really sounds more minor.


E Phrygian

[mp3]/uploads/1b1941a724e59ab46dc02bd0cf92bb20.mp3[/mp3]

We already had E Phrygian in the previous post. E F G A B C D - same notes as C Major but does it sound like C Major?



F Lydian

[mp3]/uploads/de62220d86e82a667ef6c6d145da196a.mp3[/mp3]

Notes are F G A B C D E. Same notes as C Major but just a different emphasis.



G Mixolydian

[mp3]/uploads/635f6f95341c0711f168420df1bb9429.mp3[/mp3]

Notes are G A B C D E F


A Aeolian

[mp3]/uploads/fea97ee79207774dc919830a09e09c96.mp3[/mp3]

Notes are A B C D E F G



I have not done B Locrian but the principle is the same.

Go to forum: Music Theory

493 Reply by Olly

(17 replies, posted in Introduce yourself)

Hey Boris and welcome. You have some great music. How do you go about composing your music?

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494 Reply by Olly

(15 replies, posted in Song Analysis)

To my knowledge this is a Freddie Mercury song so he would most likely be composing on the Piano.

I have considered using my keyboard to aid my composition then transfer to the guitar. I have heard others use this technique (possibly Brian May but not sure) for composing.

For me, Queen are a real inspiration when it comes to compositions. I was watching the live aid documentary last night where Queen kind of stole the show and to be able to write those sing along anthems that appeal to so many people is something really special!

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495 Reply by Olly

(7 replies, posted in Song Analysis)

hmmm. I am going to ponder on this more. I think the overall song does resolve to E but certainly not the verse which is stumping me a little!

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496 Reply by Olly

(9 replies, posted in Music Theory)

polyal wrote:

ionian= C D E F G A B   
dorian= D E F G A B C  etc etc

This is right but you are quoting C Ionian and D Dorian. If you were quoting C Ionian and C Dorian there would be a difference in notes.

In my examples I have kept it to all one tonic - E in this case.

And it is all about emphasis. Playing D Dorian does not sound like playing C Ionian as long as the emphasis is on the D not the C, This is where the modal tonality shines through - though more so with a backing!

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497 Reply by Olly

(24 replies, posted in Music Theory)

Instructor wrote:

Once you do that, you'll understand why its so hard to just tell someone how to do it, as if it was some sort of set of rules.

I think this hits the nail on the head. This is why it is so hard to tell someone.

Having said that, I think the way that is explained can having a bearing on how quickly someone might start to understand. I ready so many poor books on the subject that did nothing but add to the confusion. This is also true with the internet. Just google "modes for the guitar" and there is loads of confusing and conflicting information!

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498 Reply by Olly

(7 replies, posted in Song Analysis)

Instructor wrote:

Maybe not...  The song may start on A, but is the A an IV in E.  If so, that leaves the odd man out as a G.  Why?

I had considered it as E but to my ear no, it does not resolve to E. Also, Dmaj7 is not in E though thinking as writing am I right in the fact it could be bVII?

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499 Reply by Olly

(15 replies, posted in Song Analysis)

Thanks for this.

The thing that confuses me with the D7 is it almost doesn't need to resolve back to the Gm - it kind of sounds good on it's own.

What is really much more important to me though is how this song most likely was composed . I love this variety of chords and what this does for the melody. It keeps it totally interesting. I guess I would love to know how I could compose songs myself using this variety of chords.

I know there is no real solid answer here but how would you imagine that this song was "born" - I would guess there was the melody and lyrics but do you think that theory was even used here or was it just an open mind to any chord that fitted with the melody?

When I try and write I kind of limit myself to chords that I know will work. I would never ever consider using some of these chords and they, to my ear, are what makes the whole thing exciting, interesting and different.

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500 Reply by Olly

(9 replies, posted in Music Theory)

It is hard thing to write about in a way that people can understand without adding to confusion.

I spent years trying to understand modes in the hope that it would increase my ability to play. And even though there is still a load I don't understand fully, I am really glad that I have done what I have so far.

It is great to lay a basic drone or vamp down and be able to choose what mode to play which really does add flavour to the sound that you would not otherwise get without this semi understanding.

I personally do not want to learn theory to outdo anyone but I sure hope it makes me a better player, or better still, a better composer!

It can be really really confusing and easy to think "what on earth are they going on about"! I certainly see that!

Go to forum: Music Theory