Latest attempt at Apache

[ernie1958]

Hi Rosemary,

I guess you know by now that playing Shadows tunes isn't that easy as most people seem to think..
I know because when I started out with Apache I misjudged it by thinking "piece of cake"...haha!
Well..as far as chords it's easy enough but the part that needs some attention is playing it in the right positions to get the sound we hear on the record,
being it the original version or the later versions.
Anyway...I found out quick enough and considering my playing technique to be adequate into mastering the tune it didn't take
me that long to get it right.
Adding a little of my own "sauce" to it I'm totally satisfied with the results and our audience, when playing it with the band, seems to
appreciate it as well..
Keep practicing Rosemary...not only Shads stuff but try other tunes as well to explore what you can achieve to improve your own playing style..
It will make it so much easier when eventually you should explore more of the Shads tunes and how to play them..

Btw Rosemary,I would recommend bending the string with your fingers instead of using the trem bar in that first bit of Apache.

Cheers,
Ernie

[Rosemary]

Hi Hugh and Ernie
Hugh: I can't get the camera angle right then because there's not much space in the room.

Ernie: Thanks for listening. None of it is easy for me because I'm still very much the beginner - almost a year now though (a year on the acoustic and about 8 months on the Strat as well).
I (try to) play mainly Shads tunes but then also try to learn a few chords as well e.g. Beatles, Dylan songs - that sort of thing but my chord playing is pretty awful and I don't know that many chords yet and most in the first positions (if that's the correct term). Thanks for the tip for the beginning but I can only get remotely close by using both the trem bar and bending (if I remember). There are lots of parts I've been struggling with for months and the beginning and ending are very slow to improve though getting a bit better. If I can just play a few notes or a phrase or something more easily next time I'm happy though and get pretty excited about that.

All the best
Rosemary

[noelford]

Rosemary, I think you are coming along really well with your lead playing, and after such a short time, too.

But, PLEASE do not neglect your chords. They are a REALLY important part of learning your fretboard and the relationship of notes. Also, if you don't bother with chords, you will miss a most enjoyable and satisfying aspect of playing the guitar.

Cheers

Noel

[Rosemary]

Hi Noel
Thanks and I know you're very right about that. I need to learn a few more chords and progressions every week as I really only know a handful and don't even play them very well yet. They are a lot harder to play (especially on the acoustic anyway which I practise mainly at night) and some I try out I'm not even sure if I can reach but maybe my fingers will learn to stretch more with practice. Actually I'll start practising tonight
best wishes
Rosemary

[Bluesnote]

Chords are a strange thing Rosemary. You are totally convinced that you will never ever be able to stretch to reach the notes, then one day you pick up the guitar and suddenly discover that you are playing them without even thinking about them. Its all to do with muscle memory and your fingers adapting to the strings, with certain chords they grow some extra callus too to help you cover the strings. Dont try too hard to do them though at first as this will only serve to cramp up your hand and possibly do some muscle damage. Most folk have problems with the bar chords, I have hands like shovels so this was never a problem, but you really need to learn them to progress.
Another thing that is a big help is to learn the run to each chord you are playing, this will pay off in the long run.
Play the chord do the run and it will really help with ear training and the learning of the fingerboard and can be a lot of fun too.
I still do the chord then do the run in every postion on the neck most days. I do the major, minor,and seventh chords and runs, I find it makes improvisation a lot easier, and also learning new songs. A metronome is a great idea too for making you play in time and it will also pay off in the long run.
Dont feel to dis-heartended with all this info you are getting. Just do in it small chunks at a time and you will see massive improvement in the future.
Its a great feeling once you know the instrument back to front and dont have to think about every single thing you are doing
Hugh.

[noelford]

When I was a kid, I won a cheap plastic ukulele on a Bingo stall at a seaside resort (Rhyl) amusement park. I tuned it up, carefully following the instructions, placed on finger on a string, also as shown in the instructions, and strummed my first chord. It was my 'conversion-on-the-road-to-Damascus' moment. I still remember the stunning sound of that chord and it was that moment that set me on the road to playing guitar.

And, yes (getting back to the here-and-now) everyone, at first, thinks their fingers will never stretch far enough but, after only a little practice, they always do.

Cheers

Noel

[Rosemary]

Hi Hugh and Noel
Thanks for the tips.

Hugh: Actually I just did a little test and I can play an almost good E flat major now that I couldn't last year although I can't do it in the usual way and have to barre some of the notes but it's the same notes.

What really puts me off are chords like D6 where according to the book there are three frets to stretch past - but if I can 'almost' play E flat without really struggling like I used to, it's a good sign so I'll use a bit of discipline and learn some more chords every day.

Noel: I had a wooden ukelele when very young but never remember it having 4 strings. It only had one string so I missed that experience but used to play a few tunes on the one string I used to have a toy electric guitar too but it had such heavy strings I couldn't do anything with it and it didn't have an amp or anything.

When I started on the acoustic I used to play more chords but only a few at a time and then I think once I bought the Strat I concentrated too much on learning the melody lines so my chord knowledge has been left a bit behind - although I can switch between those I know a lot more smoothly now.

Thanks again
Rosemary

[Bluesnote]

Rosemary. Dont worry about not doing the chord exactly the way the book says. Many guitarists adapt to doing the same chord a different way due to the size and shape of their hands, some quite often use the thumb curled round the top of the neck to catch a string or two. Guitarists like Martin Taylor or Larry Carlton use this techique all the time although it is frowned upon by some of the over-serious classical players But as long as you hit the right notes its fine.
I used to think that c's e's f's g's etc were difficult at first then I purchased the Mickey Baker jazz guitar book and all these chords were the easiest in the world by comparison to what he wanted my hands to stretch to. But after much suffering and frustration, even these are easy peasy now. Then I got the Joe Pass book and even worse, The Ted Greene book..............
Believe me, you dont want to go there
Hugh.

[Rosemary]

Thanks Hugh
I'll avoid Ted Greene .
I think if I learn and practise a few new chords for a short time every day (along with the lead tunes and the old chords) it should help and shouldn't damage my hand too much if I have to learn to stretch and/or use a lot of pressure. Chords seem a lot easier to play on the Strat with its lighter strings. I was learning some double stops on the acoustic and then tried them out on the Strat today and they sounded a lot better than I expected simply because of not needing to press as hard.
All the best
Rosemary