Four #Keyboard #Chords / 4/4 and 6/8 #Drums

Jam Session 106k with Bm A E (Guitar, Drums)

Here are some show/lesson/jam session notes for Jam Session 106k:

• Both Jon and Ryan play guitar;
• The Pro Tools plug-in Digidesign Strike provides the drum beat;
• The only program that uses Strike is Pro Tools, but it comes in many flavors, such as HD, LE, and M-Powered.
• Pro tools HD is really expensive.
• Ryan uses an EBow near the end of the jam session.
  
• In any case, the chords are Bm A E, in 6/8 time (one two three, four two three):

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Jam Session 105l with Em D A (Guitar, Drums)

Here are some show/lesson/jam session notes for Jam Session 105l:

• We're playing these chords in 6/8 time (one two three, four two three...):
  

    Em                     D       A

e |-0-------------------|--2-------0---------|---------------------|
B |-0-------------------|--3-------2---------|---------------------|
G |-0-------------------|--2-------2---------|---------------------|
D |-2-------------------|--0-------2---------|---------------------|
A |-2-------------------|----------0---------|---------------------|
E |-0-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

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Backtrack 103l in D

This week's giveaway is a re-recording of Jam Session 103l, without your Jam Session hosts talking over the music. We've also added drums to the mix.



Like yesterday's Jam Session 103l, the guitar and bass are in Dropped-D tuning, and the chords of this Backtrack are Dm F5 A5:  Strum along, create melodies (and/or solo licks) over the chords, and learn more by playing more!

Tweet to us @DeRamosMusic!

Podcast subscribers: If these jam session notes look jumbled, please visit http://www.chorddujour.com and look up Backtrack 103l (that's an 'L') - Thanks!

Jam Session 103l with Dm F5 A5

Here are some show/lesson/jam session notes for Jam Session 103l:

• Like yesterday, we're in Dropped-D tuning for both guitar (D A D G B E) and bass (D A D G).
• We've added effects to the bass, to give it some heavy fuzz-like distortion.
• We actually used a distortion, followed by auto-wah/envelope filter (with the treble up) to approximate the fuzz.
• We played with the 6/8 fast-waltz mentality (one two three FOUR two three), but 12/8 slow-blues swing could also work in this case.
  

Here's the bass groove tabbed out in 6/8:

    Dm 

G |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A |-5--5--5--8--5-------|-5--5--5--8--5------|-5--5--5--8--5-------|
D |----------------0----|----------------0---|----------------0----|

    F5       A5 

G |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D |-3--3--3--7--7--7----|--------------------|---------------------|

12/8 (twelve eighth notes per measure) would also work:

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Jam Session 103i with D Dmaj7 A G

Here are some show/lesson/jam session notes for Jam Session 103i:

• This is another guitar and bass combo.  Check out our Chord du Jour Backtracks, which usually feature a full band (guitar, bass, drums, etc).
  
• This is a fast waltz number (6/8) - one two three, FOUR two three... would be the count.
• Ryan plays a Jazz Bass.
  

Here are some of the chords used (and then some?):

Guitar:

    D                     Dmaj7                A

e |-2-------------------|-2------------------|-0-------------------|
B |-3-------------------|-2------------------|-2-------------------|
G |-2-------------------|-2------------------|-2-------------------|
D |-0-------------------|-0------------------|-2-------------------|
A |---------------------|--------------------|-0-------------------|
E |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

    G
e |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
B |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
G |-0-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D |-0-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A |-2-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
E |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Bass (not what was played in the jam session, but this is just an idea of how notes from the chords can be incorporated):

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Jam Session 102i with G D C

Here are some show/lesson/jam session notes for Jam Session 102i:

Ryan plays a distorted guitar; Jon adds a flanger.  They play in 6/8 time (a count of "one two three, four two three").

    G        D            C
e |-3-----3--2-----2----|-0-----0--0-----0---|---------------------|
B |-3-----3--3-----3----|-1-----1--1-----1---|---------------------|
G |-0-----0--2--2-------|-0--0--0--0--0--0---|---------------------|
D |-0--0-----0--0-------|-2--2-----2--2------|---------------------|
A |-2--2----------------|-3--3-----3--3------|---------------------|
E |-3--3----------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Mix and match the G major scale over the chord progression:

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Bb Groove in Standard Tuning, 6/8

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

We're going to play a similar progression like yesterday's lesson, but in standard tuning (from low to high: E A D G B E), no capo. This one is more or less in 6/8 time:

     Bbsus4
e|---------------------|---------------6--6--|
B|---------------------|---------------6--6--|
G|------------8--------|------------8--8--8--|
D|-6/8--8--8--8--8--8--|-6/8--8--8--8--8--8--|
A|-6/8--8--8--8--8--8--|-6/8--8--8--8--8--8--|
E|-4/6--6--6--6--6--6--|-4/6--6--6--6--6--6--|

     F     Fsus4 F         Eb   Ebsus2 Eb
e|------------8--8--8--|------------6--6--6--|
B|------10-10-11-10-10-|------8--8--6--8--8--|
G|-8/10-10-10-10-10-10-|--(8)-8--8--8--8--8--|
D|-8/10-10-10-10-10-10-|-8(8)-8--8--8--8--8--|
A|-6/8--8--8--8--8--8--|-5/6--6--6--6--6--6--|
E|---------------------|---------------------|

A Groove in Bb with Capo, 6/8

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

We're going to play a similar progression like yesterday's lesson, but in standard tuning (from low to high: E A D G B E, with a capo on the first fret (F Bb Eb Ab C F). The tab numbers are relative to the capo. This one is more or less in 6/8 time:

      Bbsus4
f |------------0--0--0--|------------0--0--0--|
C |------------3--3--3--|------------3--3--3--|
Ab|-0h2--2--2--2--2--2--|-0h2--2--2--2--2--2--|
Eb|---2--2--2--2--2--2--|---2--2--2--2--2--2--|
Bb|---0--0--0--0--0--0--|---0--0--0--0--0--0--|
F |---------------------|---------------------|

      Fsus4       F         Ebsus2    Eb
f |------------0--0--0--|---0--0--0-h2--2--2--|
C |------------0--0--0--|---3--3--3--3--3--3--|
Ab|------------2--1--1--|-1/2--2--2--2--2--2--|
Eb|-0h2--2--2--2--2--2--|---0--0--0--0--0--0--|
Bb|---2--2--2--2--2--2--|---------------------|
F |---0--0--0--0--0--0--|---------------------|

B Groove in Bb, Half-Step Down Tuning, 6/8

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

We're back to the same (from low to high) Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb from last week's set of lessons. We're just going to get you started with a B-flat groove, which is usually B in standard tuning. Then take this little thread and make it a song (or at least a freeform jam), if you so choose. Tomorrow, we're probably going to try something else. This one is more or less in 6/8 time:

     Bbsus4
eb|------------0-----0--|------------0-----0--|
Bb|------------0--0--0--|------------0--0--0--|
Gb|---4--------4--4--4--|---4--------4--4--4--|
Db|---4--4--4--4--4--4--|---4--4--4--4--4--4--|
Ab|-0h2--2--2--2--2--2--|-0h2--2--2--2--2--2--|
Eb|---------------------|---------------------|

    F7add4                Eb
eb|------------0-----0--|------------0-----0--|
Bb|------------0--0--0--|------------0--0--0--|
Gb|------------3--3--3--|------------1--1--1--|
Db|---4--4--4--4--4--4--|---2--2--2--2--2--2--|
Ab|---4--4--4--4--4--4--|-0h2--2--2--2--2--2--|
Eb|-0h2--2--2--2--2--2--|-0----0--0--0--0--0--|

Changing up the Rhythm Guitar in C#, 6/8

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

We're going to arpeggiate the the thinnest strings of every chord to change up the Wednesday's rhythm guitar part. Remember, the time signature counts something like 1-2-3-4-2-3:

   C#m       C#m7        A        Aadd9
e|--------4--------0--|--------5--------0--|
B|-----5--------0-----|-----5--------0-----|
G|--6--------6--------|--6--------6--------|
D|--------------------|--------------------|
A|--------------------|--------------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|

    E        E5          B        Badd11
e|--------7--------0--|--------7--------0--|
B|-----9--------0-----|-----7--------0-----|
G|--9--------9--------|--8--------8--------|
D|--------------------|--------------------|
A|--------------------|--------------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------|

Finishing the Second Guitar Part in C#, 6/8

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

We're going to try for a minimalist second guitar part to complement yesterday's strumming. To finish the part, we'll incorporate major 3rds, suspended 4ths, lowered 5ths, and octaves for the last two chords. Remember, the time signature counts something like 1-2-3-4-2-3:

   C#m       C#m7        A        Aadd9
e|--------------------|--------------------|
B|--------------------|--------------------|
G|--------------------|--------------------|
D|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
A|--4--4--4--X--X--X--|--X--X--X--X--X--X--|
E|-----------4--4--4--|--5--5--5--0--0--0--|

    E        E5          B        Badd11
e|--------------------|--------------------|
B|--------------------|--------------------|
G|--------------------|--------------------|
D|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--------------------|
A|--X--X--X--X--X--X--|--6--6--6--7--7--7--|
E|--0--0--0--7--7--7--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|

Building a Second Guitar Part in C#, 6/8

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

We're going to try for a minimalist second guitar part to complement yesterday's strumming. We'll incorporate power chords, lowered 5ths, and octaves for the first two chords. Then we'll come back tomorrow for the last two chords. Remember, the time signature counts something like 1-2-3-4-2-3:

   C#m       C#m7        A        Aadd9
e|--------------------|--------------------|
B|--------------------|--------------------|
G|--------------------|--------------------|
D|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
A|--4--4--4--X--X--X--|--X--X--X--X--X--X--|
E|-----------4--4--4--|--5--5--5--0--0--0--|

    E        E5          B        Badd11
e|--7--7--7--0--0--0--|--7--7--7--0--0--0--|
B|--9--9--9--0--0--0--|--7--7--7--0--0--0--|
G|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|--8--8--8--8--8--8--|
D|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|
A|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|
E|--------------------|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|

Thin Strings Ring in C#, 6/8

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

We're going to let the two thinnest strings ring at the "4-2-3" count at the end of the measure. Remember, the time signature counts something like 1-2-3-4-2-3:

   C#m       C#m7        A        Aadd9
e|--4--4--4--0--0--0--|--5--5--5--0--0--0--|
B|--5--5--5--0--0--0--|--5--5--5--0--0--0--|
G|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|
D|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
A|--4--4--4--4--4--4--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
E|--------------------|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|

    E        E5          B        Badd11
e|--7--7--7--0--0--0--|--7--7--7--0--0--0--|
B|--9--9--9--0--0--0--|--7--7--7--0--0--0--|
G|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|--8--8--8--8--8--8--|
D|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|
A|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|
E|--------------------|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|

Making It Four Chords (and the Truth) in C#, 6/8

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

Let's add the E and B chords to the C# minor progression. Remember, the time signature counts something like 1-2-3-4-2-3:

   C#m                   A
e|--4--4--4--4--4--4--|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|
B|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|
G|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|
D|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
A|--4--4--4--4--4--4--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
E|--------------------|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|

    E                    B
e|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
B|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
G|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|--8--8--8--8--8--8--|
D|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|
A|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|--9--9--9--9--9--9--|
E|--------------------|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|

Adding an A Chord to the C# 6/8 Groove

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

Let's add an A chord to the C#m chord. Remember, the time signature counts something like 1-2-3-4-2-3:

   C#m                   A
e|--4--4--4--4--4--4--|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|
B|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|
G|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|
D|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
A|--4--4--4--4--4--4--|--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
E|--------------------|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|

C# Chord Progression in 6/8 Time

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

Like last week, we'll use a weeklong example to write a piece of a song. This time it's a nice 6/8 chord progression starting with a C#m chord. Remember, the time signature counts something like 1-2-3-4-2-3:

   C#m
e|--4--4--4--4--4--4--|-----
B|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|-----
G|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|-----
D|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|-----
A|--4--4--4--4--4--4--|-----
E|--------------------|-----

Lesson #35: Time Signatures in B, for Example (Guitar, Intermediate)

You already know common time (4/4):

1 2 3 4...
or
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

You already know waltz time (3/4)

1 2 3...
or
one TWO THREE...

You already know 6/8:

1 2 3 FOUR 2 3...

You already have the feel to swing that 4/4:

1 and a 2 and a 3 and a 4 and a...

Now check out 5/4. It's basically five quarter notes per measure:

1 2 3 4 5...
or
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and...

And it just might liven up a tired riff or chord progression.

B 2 3 E 5
F 2 3 4 5

B and 2 and F# and G#m and E and

5/4 is quite odd, but in the right hands (pun...haha), it works!

Lesson #26: Waltz Time in E (Guitar, Beginner)

Unlike common time, where four quarter notes make a full measure, in waltz time, three quarter notes make one bar (a measure and a bar are synonymous):

1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3...and so on...

That's known as 3/4 time. A faster waltz, 6/8 time, is six eighth notes per bar:

1 2 3 4 2 3, 1 2 3 4 2 3, 1 2 3 4 2 3, 1 2 3 4 2 3, and so on...

Let's try it on some chord progressions and imagine people dancing the waltz to your music:

E 2 3, E 2 3, C#m 2 3, C#m 2 3, A 2 3, A 2 3, B 2 3, B 2 3...and repeat...

Now try the same progression in 6/8 time, and you'll probably notice it has more urgency and more jangle in the strum:

E 2 3 B 2 3, A 2 3 4 2 3,
E 2 3 B 2 3, A 2 3 4 2 3,
C#m 2 3 4 2 3, E 2 3 4 2 3,
C#m 2 3 4 2 3, A 2 3 4 2 3...and so on...

Lesson #17: Waltz Time in D (Guitar, Beginner)

Unlike common time, where four quarter notes make a full measure, in waltz time, three quarter notes make one bar (a measure and a bar are synonymous):

1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3...and so on...

That's known as 3/4 time. A faster waltz, 6/8 time, is six eighth notes per bar:

1 2 3 4 2 3, 1 2 3 4 2 3, 1 2 3 4 2 3, 1 2 3 4 2 3, and so on...

Let's try it on some chord progressions and imagine people dancing the waltz to your music:

D 2 3, D 2 3, Bm 2 3, Bm 2 3, G 2 3, G 2 3, A 2 3, A 2 3...and repeat...

Now try the same progression in 6/8 time, and you'll probably notice it has more urgency and more jangle in the strum:

D 2 3 A 2 3, G 2 3 4 2 3,
D 2 3 A 2 3, G 2 3 4 2 3,
Bm 2 3 4 2 3, D 2 3 4 2 3,
Bm 2 3 4 2 3, G 2 3 4 2 3...and so on...