What type of chords you like to play ?

music wasn't part of me

When I was still hanging out w my friends, I only knew Barre Chords and open chords...didn't know what a capo was or what it's for, so I just took on all 12 Major Chord formations (Just for fun,i easily gave up when my palm starts going numb and stiff)

after Christ put a singing spirit in me,I began to take music seriously and learned more. today i like to play power chords,open chords with more variations (Dom,Aug,Sus,M7,etc), still using some barre chords especially F#m, G#m, Bm. I use them quite often bec my voice range is between E-G (I hate B Barrechord, never play it again, I just go straight to B5)

I never use inverted chords, I sometimes create my own voicings to fit the original song, sometimes i have to mute one of the string to do it

But I'm still learning,
is there any other type of chords?
I don't jazz, some people say jazz players have their own special chords?
What chords do you love to use when playing your song?

markm2553 · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 4:42 am Post subject:

I'm not a great guitar player, I just play what I have to...

I will use a capo when I need to, I only learned how a few years ago, it has opened the door for so many more songs. Wink

99% of the time I'm the one playing and singing, so anything that can allow me to player "easier" the more effort I can devote to the singing, and I need all the help I can get! Very Happy

Good question, we'll see what everyone else has to say about it. Cool

J Dan Brown · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 5:07 am Post subject:

Mr. Music, I play almost 95% solo and tend to only play in about three or four keys A, G, Em, D (sometimes E for some "witnessing "
Blues that I do) I don't know why but I despise the F chord and to play in C, I will play in A and capo on the third fret. Like you, I barre on Bm and F#m, but seldom on 2nd fret B, unless it fits some blues rhythm, and I use mostly what['s called "open" chords. I tend to use many maj7, min7, sus2 and sus4 but don't always use third chord sevenths, although for some reason I use D7sus4 a lot when playing in G. I use Am7 and whatever the chord is (same fingering on the second fret) [X04030]. I would hope you don't worry so much about technical stuff and rob yourself of the joy of singing to and about the Lord!
Blessed, by the few effective chords I know, Dan

music wasn't part of me · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 5:17 pm Post subject:

J Dan Brown · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:06 pm Post subject:

I would be honored and heaped with Heaven's bounty if my years of singing could bless or teach anyone in any way. As far as 25 years of singing, that's the years of singing for the righteous purpose to which we are all called. I first sang with confidence the year the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan. Through Jr. High with them, the Dave Clark 5, other British groups and then R&B dance music in clubs at 17. I fronted a "Blues Bro" type band in college long before Belushi thought of it, like '69. And then there was "Woodstock" on, the coffee houses and parks, playing in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco in '71 in a cardboard box painted like a jukebox for tips. I could do a good mimic of J. Taylor, N. Young and Greg Allman. My last band, "Duke and the 8-Balls," covered Sothern Rock, "Derek and the Dominoes," "Allman Bro" and some blues around '73. After marrying in '74, I continued to Coffee House with some friends off and on, but didn't really play much between '77 and '80, until I first heard Keith Green and my Guitar sort-a got slain through prayer (long story) all about the same time .

I have extremely rarely played, sang a song, or even intentionally listened to a song not Christian unless a friends recording maybe. Singing meaningful songs that make sense is easier than singing about trite worldly sorrows. Believing with love in that about which you sing reduces stress and relaxes your voice, and nothing honors me more than hearing "You know, you sing like you really mean it!" I wouldn't trade one of those comments for 10 "You have a really good voice!" ones. Being noticed for singing from the heart means so much more to me than being noticed as a great performer, and even more valuble than any acknowledgement for Dan, is that the Father perhaps was glorified and maybe even pleased?

Sometimes people try too hard when singing, but casual and relaxed goes much further than being super-judgemental of one's self. Guitar is the same way. With the reasons I play, I would rather play for more people imperfectly than a few, perfectly. I know God wan't us to do our best, but not self-brow-beaten into the fear of sharing.

Blessed, as a ham with God given confidence in a calling, Dan

George E · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:01 am Post subject:

I play whatever chords the composer of the song put into the song, except when the changes or fingering are beyond my abilities. Then I fake it as best as I can. For example, yesterday the praise band I just joined was doing a song that called for a three note descending pattern on top of a Bm7 chord. I couldn't manage the three notes, but the keyboard player was also playing them, so I left them out.

I'm not afraid to change voicing. For example, the beginning of "Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord" is usually played with heavy strumming on the lower strings. I flat pick on the treble strings for the intro, and switch to power chords for the middle section.

That's pretty much how I approach everything in life. I do the best I can within the limits of my gifts. I also work to improve my gifts, but don't let any shortcomings in that regard stand in the way of doing what I need to do.

markm2553 · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:11 am Post subject:

Music, I’m not sure I’m the guy that can help much. My music is just a tool I use in the ministry, I am afraid I don’t work on it like I should.
As soon as I started playing the guitar and changing chords I have been singing with it. I’m pretty sure that is how I keep time, it seems like it’s the words that are running in my head, not the music, I can’t seem to “see” the chord changing coming in the music, I “see” them in the songs words. I don’t know if that makes any sense, or if it’s that same for everyone else?
When I play for my wife, she may be doing all the singing, but I’m still mouthing the words to myself to keep the time right.
I do use chord charts on all my songs, but I don’t read music, most call that playing by ear, if I have not heard a song before, I can’t play it. I do know people that really play by ear, they hear a song a few times, and they can play it without anything written down; God has really blessed some.

I really enjoy playing and singing and having a good time with it. But I know I am not musically gifted, I know people who are, and I’m just not, I think He knows I would be too temped to use it for my will and not His. God has allowed me to use music in my ministry, but mine is not a ministry of music, I’m just blessed to be allowed to do something I love to spread the light of His Word!

I admire Dan’s commitment to play only Christian music; you see many that started their music in the Church but then fell into the trappings of the world, it is good to see it can go both ways!

I really like what George had to say:

That's pretty much how I approach everything in life. I do the best I can within the limits of my gifts. I also work to improve my gifts, but don't let any shortcomings in that regard stand in the way of doing what I need to do.

That's a good way to live.

music wasn't part of me · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:46 am Post subject:

J Dan Brown · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:23 am Post subject:

Dan's comittment to play only Christian music and why he can't help it... where to start? Let's see if I can do the short version, which is never easy for Dan. It was around '82 and my wife had been back going to church for about 2 years when we moved to the rural area of Elm Grove. I hadn't been in church I guess since high school, although I think I was truly saved about age 13.

My wife started going to this little "full Gospel" church, in this same neighborhood that we now live. Through bad choices, I had acquired 5 acres of land and bought a mobile home, with dreams of raising tropical fish. Not long after, the bottom fell out of constuction around here, and I had lost everything and was very angry at God. I had been listening to a bit of Christian music, 'cause my wife listened and then Keith Green was killed with most of his kids and this drove me even further from the Father and His son. I had discovered Cannabis around '69 and it was still a crutch I needed every day.

I wasn't working as an electrician, when this little church added a fellowship hall, and asked me if I would help them wire it. I agreed and wired some plugs and lights for them. They planned a dedication service when this addition was complete and my beloved, Sheila, asked me if I would play guitar for her to sing a song during this celebration.

I was floored, as my wife had never sang in my presence, and was very shy, but I barely agreed. I had sold my D-35 Martin (total lemon) and bought the Guild before we had moved from the city, but was playing little. She chose a song by Randy Stonehill called "Hymn." "In this land of the walking wounded, in this desert of constant sorrow, I will cling to His hand today and fear not for tomorrow."

We practiced for about 3 weeks and the big day came. I put on a tie and here we went! There was a brief service and then there was to be a singing celebration. I had set my guitar up before all this a gotten a sound check and was on a stand, on the podium where the pulpit was. I had also helped them wire their new sound system. At the end of the dedication service and before we started the singing, the senior pastor for this group of about 3 churches and a Bible college in Shreveport prayed for the new addition to be blessed and for the new (used) Grand piano and all the musical instruments to be blessed and committed to God's purposes. I thought to myself "Yeah, right!" It went well. Sheila did well on her song and the other guiatrists there was hypnotized by my fingerpicking.

From that point on, I was never able to play the music of the world without getting sick at my stomach and losing all sense of timing and my fingers locking up. I could go play with old friends, who I was scaring badly, and I was totally helpless. I took me a while before I figured out what was going on, but eventually I was called into the music ministry. I continued to smoke pot for quite a while, but I returned to church and started reading the bible that I received foir my help with their constuction and after the pianist left, ended up the praise and worship leader on guitar. I eventually quit smoking grass "cold turkey" and grew more and more committed to this and lost many friends who couldn't exactly grasp what had happened. It's been about 25 years now and though I haven't tried for a long time, I remain committed with God's help.

I don't fault anyone for needing the music of the world, especially for making a living and I think I am probably a rare case, but I was chosen for something and God has revealed to me over these years what music's true pupose is and what a deceptive fake and counterfiet it is to abuse this gift from Him. For me anyway. I had nothing to do with any of this, and it is in God's strength I get up every day, and I am amazed every week how God provides so many miracles for His ministry provided for me at the VAMC and my present church. That was not short, was it?
Blessed, but just can't hush, Dan

markm2553 · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:46 am Post subject:

Thanks Dan, what a wonderful testimony.

His power + our weakness = His Glory

George E · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:09 pm Post subject:

I guess my story is quite different. God accepted me when I was an infant. I've grown up as a Christian who lives in the world, in the presence of many who are not Christians. I take the instruction to spread the Good News to "every nation" to include the nation where I live. I find that performing secular music in secular venues provides an excellent opportunity to witness, even if sometimes that witness is subtle.

When the Holy Spirit filled the Apostles on Pentecost, and they were able to speak in languages that they didn't previously know, they were able to communicate the Good News clearly to people who didn't speak Aramaic. I think it's important in 2007 to communicate the Good News to people who don't speak the "praise-jargon" that many Christians seem to think is a requirement for being a Christian.

I draw the line at singing songs with evil messages. But I have no problem singing secular songs to audiences in secular venues. I also have no problem with listening to secular music. Improving my playing skills is something I need to do in order to improve my ability to play worship music. I see no problem in polishing those skills on secular songs.

I also cook secular food when preparing meals for the local homeless shelter.

markm2553 · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:48 am Post subject:

George, that’s a great testimony too. Every Changed heart is a great story to be used for God’s glory.
I think about what more I could have done, had I accepted Christ earlier in life…

George, I pray you have even more opportunities to share the Good News with a fallen world in 2008!

Can you believe it’s going to be 2008 already? It seems like Y2K was just…