How I Figure Out Chords...

Johnny Robbo · May 16, 2016, 05:51:03 AM

Hello chaps,

Don't know if this is of interest to anyone, but I thought it might come in useful to anybody frustrated with bad internet TABS

https://jrobsonguitar.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/how-to-figure-out-what-chords-are-in-a-song/

Cheers,

John.

Mike_S · May 16, 2016, 06:21:30 AM

Great stuff Johnny...

Yes i have had many countless hours in years gone by playing tab and especially in lead parts i used to come across notes that just sounded strange within the context of the song. And persevered with the wrong note!!

The problem with learning from tab is sometimes its right and sometimes its wrong and it can be hard to know which it is, as sometimes in certain pieces of music there actually are strange notes and chords that don't immediately sound right but after a minute you realise they are right, so its a difficult one.

I think people should as soon as they are ready, move away from tab (depending on the piece of course) as much as possible as it can actually slow down your progress and it has to be good for your playing to train your ear to trying to just go for it along with the track and figure it out like that.

I think these little lessons should be stored away in a special section of the forums - a Tuition Section maybe - for members to browse at their leisure when they need a little help...

Cheers

Mike

Farrell Jackson · May 16, 2016, 07:46:35 AM

A very informative explanation Johnny! I've found a lot of tabs lacking. I never thought about using Audacity to isolate and loop a chord or chord sections to figure them out. I usually just do it by ear or by watching a live youtube performance to see where it's played on the neck...thanks for the post, it's very helpful!

Farrell

bruno · May 16, 2016, 12:46:03 PM

I spend hours with the rewind button on a tape deck in the past - driving the family to despair. Modern technology is a great thing - enjoyed reading your blog on this. I like many have used online tabs, and thought, no way!

B