¿Am I Cheating?

[Keith Erickson]

I've been pretty much self taught from the beginning. Presently, my learning is mostly by way of you good folks here at the cafe.

However as I was browsing the homepage and checking out the chords section, I've noticed that I might not be playing cords totally correct.

Example, Since I first started on the guitar, for the most part, I take the cords and transpose them ( upside down ) for the mandolin. ( With much success ).

As of now, I pretty much play chords like Eb and A# in some sort of bar cord variation. I've also found that the C Chord can easily be an Am7 ( this is where some might cringe ) since they are basically the same notes.

If I'm going to get constructive criticism, I might as well get it hear.

Much oblidged to you All http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[John Flynn]

A chord is "right" if it has the right notes. C and Am7 are close, but not the same. C Major is C-E-G, whereas Am7 is A-C-E-G. These notes do not have to be in order and are often not in order on fretted instruments. Often mandolin players "abbreviate" chords and leave a note out. For instance, playing C-E-G would work for both chords, especially if someone else in the ensemble is playing an A in the bass for the Am7.

The other factor, though, is the sound you are going for. There are many different ways you can play each chord. Each is "right" but it has its own sound. Bluegrass players tend to use particular chord configurations that lend themselves to the "chop" effect. Old-time players use configurations that has a sweeter, more open, sustained sound.

I recommend learning as many of the variations and deciding what works for you in the kind of music you want to play.

[Eugene]

I have to reiterate Mando Johnny's sentiments. "Right" chords have the proper notes present and often undergo horrific inversions on stringed instruments that pianists would never consider as necessitated by the tuning intervals of your instrument of choice. For richer chords (like 9s and 13s) where voice omission is necessary to render them playable, the 5th usually will be the first considered for omission as it can be considered rather "gauche" and obvious. The 3rd defines the chord as major or minor so it (or some octave of it) should not ordinarily be omitted. Omitting the 3rd will result in a suspension.

[Keith Erickson]

Johny & Eugene,

Thank you both for your assistance. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Actually, I guess I was a little nervous learning new cord variations since the Guitar is my first instrument. Now that I'm playing Mandolin Full Time, I probably need to figure out something new.

This morning after reading your post, I tried a varation of Am7. I'm playing it like a C Chord and adding the A on the E String 5th fret. That should work.

Thank you both for not sticking me with pins like a vodoo doll http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Ted Eschliman]

Thank you both for not sticking me with pins like a vodoo doll #
Keith, that is pretty rare. Unless you reflect in text upon Gibson's new pricing structure or Chris Thile's hair, people will not only stay out of your face, but be very supportive and encouraging!

[Harrmob]

[QUOTE]For richer chords (like 9s and 13s) where voice omission is necessary to render them playable, the 5th usually will be the first considered for omission

I had trouble looking up the A9 chord and it is not listed in the chord section of the cafe. #So can I assume that an A9 is and A7+2? Which for me I was playing it on the frets (bottom to top) 2223 (or AEBG), which omits the 3 note instead of the 5 note. #Am I playing this wrong? How do most people play an A9?

[WillPick4Beer]

instead of taking guitar chords and putting them upside down, or looking up chords here, why not examine what notes make up a chord on your guitar, and find them on the mandolin, and make the chord every concievable way that youir hands will let you. my switch from guitar to mando greatly improved my guitar playing, because it made me really examine music more closely. now i play guitar bass mandolin violin viola mandola cello tenor banjo all with equal proficency, because they have all become the same to me. cant wait till some one gives me a 5 string though, im sure its gonna blow my mind.

[mad dawg]

(mandohack @ Jan. 10 2005, 09:13)
Keith, that is pretty rare. Unless you reflect in text upon Gibson's new pricing structure or Chris Thile's hair, people will not only stay out of your face, but be very supportive and encouraging!
You might also want to steer clear from suggesting that Nickel Creek plays bluegrass, or announcing that you like the Dixie Chicks. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[mandroid]

I passed a cheap garage-sale mando along, over to a friend, a guitar player.
He restrung it lefthanded, and plays it righthanded , treble E on the top, talk about cheating - http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[WillPick4Beer]

I passed a cheap garage-sale mando along, over to a friend, a guitar player.
He restrung it lefthanded, and plays it righthanded , treble E on the top, talk about cheating #- http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
hey he's not in asheville is he. i was fixing my bus there once and the kid who gave me a space played like that.

[JimD]

I had trouble looking up the A9 chord and it is not listed in the chord section of the cafe. #So can I assume that an A9 is and A7+2? Which for me I was playing it on the frets (bottom to top) 2223 (or AEBG), which omits the 3 note instead of the 5 note. #Am I playing this wrong? How do most people play an A9?

I often play 9th chords without the root (someone else -- usually the bass player--can handle that.)

In that case you can play A9 like this:

6577 -- 3rd, 7th, 5th, 9th
or
6520 -- 3rd, 7th, 9th, 5th

Easy to conceptualize -- the 9th is 2 frets higher than the root.

or to follow Eugene's suggestion (a better choice. When playing solo -- root trumps 5th, so to speak):

2547 -- root, 7th, 3rd, 9th

or

4545 -- 9th, 7th, 3rd, root -- if you like the sound of the 9th at bottom.

(For fun: try these last two back to back...)

To replace the 3rd with the 9th would result in what would more properly be called an A7sus2:

2223 root, 5th, 2nd, 7th

9th+2nd

a similar chord in some ways to be sure but lacking the third-- it loses some essential color.

A good rule of thumb is to keep the 3rd and the 7th since they determine the color of the chord. The root is expendable if someone else is playing it (or if you can artistically justify its absence...)

[Harrmob]

Thanks JimD, I am going to go home and work on my 9ths, and 13ths for that matter:)

[Baron Collins-Hill]

how did you get that upside down questionmark?

[Keith Erickson]

To do this "¿", you have to hold down "Alt" and type on the number pad 168. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[atetone]

¿ Ok, #so I have to know,,, how did you discover that?? but more importantly,, WHY??
Sorry, but I am about as computer unsavvy as you can get and just haven't been bitten by the bug that makes these things so intriguing. My kids think I am a dinosoaur. They get a kick out of these types of things and cannot understand why I do not.
It must be a subcultural type of #thing that is way above my head. Maybe I just don't care; maybe I am just getting old and unadventurous, (or cynical).
Maybe I just don't get it. Yeah, that's it,, I just don't get it.
Anyway, gotta go, I have a T-Rex to club to into submission. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Keith Erickson]

Atetone,

Sure, I can field that question.

About 10 years ago, my previous job went south of the border to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Well as they say, when in Rome.....

Since then I've learned to speak, read and write in Spanish. When asking a question in Spanish, you always have to indicate this at the beginning of your question Like this: "¿Como está tu mandolina?"

I've also learned the accents as well " á,é,í,ó" I forgot the letter "u" for now.

Sorry to digress. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Tim]

And the more generic answer is that all characters have a code and if you need one that doesn't appear on your keyboard you just hold alt and type the code. #You can find these codes numerous places, this site (http://www.asciitable.com/) is one source. #Of course, some of these don't work in some contexts (the box drawing characters won't work in a post to a webpage message board for example).

Also, if the "t" on you keyboard quits working you can aways use the code 84 and 116. # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[atetone]

OK, thanks guys. They say you learn something new everyday. My work for today is now done. I have been enlightened.
Much appreciated.