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| Acoustic Chord Theory |
Playing acoustically can really expand your musical horizons, even if you're still just playing Metallica songs.
I've expanded my practice set-list to include acoustic songs, and distorted songs arranged for acoustic. If you're a hard-core metal head and you don't care about what I'm saying now, then just skip this tutorial!
Playing acoustically is nothing more than playing chords. One problem, however, is that power chords, which is what most of Metallica's music is composed of, doesn't sound very full played clean. To get around this little problem, you have to play 4, 5 , or 6 string chords for what would normally only be a power chord.
This may sound like nonsense to you, but when you get good at it, you feel like you've really accomplished something!
Chord Theory
Power chords are called 5ths. That simply means when you see this: E5, G5, A5, you play this:
E5 G5 A5 D--2------5------7 A--2------5------7 E--0------3------5The challenge is that you absolutly must learn what frets are what notes. Without this knowledge, you will not be able to communicate with other guitarists or read/name chords without the help of tab. There is an advantage to not using tab, which we'll look at later.
Now, to play E5, G5, and A5 acoustically, it sounds OK, but not as full as it can sound. Here is how to play these chords as Barre Chords:
E G A e--0------3------5 B--0------3------5 G--1------4------6 D--2------5------7 A--2------5------7 E--0------3------5To barre a chord, lay your index finger across the fretboard and place your free fingers in position. For example, to barre the G chord above, lay your index finger hard and flat against all of the strings in the third fret position. Move your third and pinky fingers into the "5" positions, and your middle at the "4" position.
This barre figure is moveable across the fretboard. Most open chords can be played as barre chords, just think of your barring finger as the nut on the fretboard, and move your fingers into place where they would be for the open position.
Am Em D Am
New blood joins this earth and quickly he's sub-dued.
Em D Am
Through constant pain disgrace, the young boy learns their rules.
Em D Am
With time the child draws in this whipping boy done wrong.
Em D Am
Deprived of all his thoughts, the young man struggles on and on.
C G C G
He knows, oo, a vow unto his own that never from this day
C G E
his will they'll take a - way.
CHORUS:
Am C G Em Am
What I've felt, what I've known never shined through in what I've shown.
Am C G E Am
Never be. Never see. Won't see what might have been.
Am C G Em Am
What I've felt, what I've known, never shined through in what I've shown.
Am C G E Am
Never free. Never me. So I dub thee unforgiven.
Am Em D Am
They dedicate their lives to running all of his
Em D Am
He tries to please them all, this bitter man he is
Em D Am
Throughout the life the same, he's battled constantly
Em D Am
This fight he cannot win. A tired man they see no longer cares.
C G C G
The old man then prepares to die regretfully
C G E
That old man here is me.
Here's the tab to correspond to the chords:
Am Em D Am C G Em E e--0-----0-----2-------0-----0-----3-----0------0 B--1-----0-----3-------1-----1-----0-----0------0 G--2-----0-----2-------2-----0-----0-----0------1 D--2-----2-----0-------2-----2-----0-----2------2 A--0-----2-------------0-----3-----2-----2------2 E--------0-------------------------3-----0------0
Notice how it hits the same notes as the distorted version. The only thing it doesn't account for is the C5 and two palm muted E's.
A5 (C5) E5 D5
G--------------------2-2-2-2----
D--2-2-2-5-----------0-0-0-0-2-2
A--0-0-0-3--2-2--------------0-0
E-----------0-0--0-0------------
...
e----------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------5-5-5-5-3----------------
G--2-4-5--5--5-5-4---4----2-4-2---2-4-5-----------4-4-0-1-1/2-4-2
D--0---------------5---2--2-------2------------------------------
A-------------------------------0--------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------
Strum the chorus chords along with the lead above, listen for the note changes.
This example also shows us why it is essential to know the names of the chords. With tab, you could not show where the chord changes occur accurately. We can do this by putting the chord name above the lyric on which it changes.
A--B-C--D--E-F--G--A Note Name 0 2 3 5 7 8 10 12 Fret No. E-F--G--A--B-C--D--E Note Name 0 1 3 5 7 8 10 12 Fret No.
These are the notes for the low E and A strings on the guitar. Most chords are named after the lowest fretted (or open) string that is hit. Remember these note positions! Also, check out the Open Chords tutorial for more chords and names.
| Acoustic Chord Theory |