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Topic: Anybody have a way to memorize OPEN STRING NOTES? |
Jeff Metz Jr.
From:
York, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2013 11:36 pm |
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I'm looking for an easy way to remember what the strings are on an E9 guitar. For a six string guitar there is Easter Bunny Gets Drunk At Easter. I'm having a hard time makinf something up due to the shharps and flats. Any help is greatly appreciates@
Jeff
_________________
Mullen G2 SD10 , Lil Izzy Buffer, Goodrich 120 volume pedal, Boss DD-7, Peterson Strobo flip, Peavey Nashville 112 |
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Chris Gabriel
From:
Oregon, USA
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 3:33 am
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Jeff, back when I started, I found it bewildering to keep track of notes directly, since every time you moved, they changed!!
I found, and still find, it easier to think of them by scale degrees based on which form you have active at the time (open: 5,b7,1,2,3,5,1,3,7,2 and AB 3,4,5,6,1,3,5,1,#4/b5,6 AF: 1,b2,3,4,5,1,3,5,2,4 and with Es lowered: 1,b3,3,5,6,1,3,6,3,5).
To this day, if someone asks me which note is THAT one I just played, I can tell them instantly the degree. If they need the note's name, I have to mentally look up "umm, key of D, the b5 is Ab, but people prefer sticking with sharps in D so I'll call it G#" or "Key of B, 3 is D#".
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
Last edited by Lane Gray on 18 Nov 2013 5:24 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Sean Borton
From:
Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 5:53 am
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
| I found, and still find, it easier to think of them by scale degrees based on which form you have active at the time (open: 5,b7,1,2,3,4,5,1,3,7,2 and AB 3,4,5,6,1,3,5,#4/b5,6 AF: 1,b2,3,#4/b5,5,1,3,5,2,#4/b5 and with Es lowered: 1,b3,3,5,6,1,3,6,3,5) |
This is a great tip! Although it appears you use an 11 string in the open position and 9 string in the AB position 
Just to clarify, should that not read:
Open: 5,b7,1,2,3,5,1,3,7,2
AB: 3,4,5,6,1,3,5,1,#4/b5,6
or did I miss something you were trying to point out? |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 6:35 am
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Oops. I'll fix that. Sharp eye, Mr. Borton!
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 8:26 am
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I don't think a memory aide is going to work well when there's so many "sharps" in the string sequence.
I think its just a matter of breaking and changing strings enough that eventually the sequence is learned. Haha! |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 9:57 am
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Anything can be memorized as long as you put the time in. Remember in school when you had to memorize something. You just read it over many times until it is memorized. That is something every musician does when learning songs, licks or just the notes or scale degrees of the chord. In time it will happen. Just keep naming the notes for the open strings. Soon you will be able to name them in your sleep.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 10:08 am
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| i know where the e's are. i'm pretty happy with that. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 10:13 am
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Chris. What happens if you play in a different key than E? 
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 10:20 am
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Oh, come on guys! We can make up some doozies for him to choose among. Okay, I'll start (from highest to lowest, but you'll have to remember which ones are #s):
Fred
Doesn't
Get
Everybody
Birthday
Gifts
For
Every
Damn
Birthday
Okay, who's next?
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com
Last edited by Jim Cohen on 14 Nov 2013 10:35 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 10:33 am
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Oh Jimbeaux, you have 2 B's in the middle.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Chris Gabriel
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 12:06 pm My turn
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When I learned Pedal Steel in grade school, our pedal steel teacher had us memorize the following sentence, to help us find our notes:
Forward
Day
Go
Every
But
Go
Forward
Even
During
Boredom
It's a re-entrant sentence. Just kidding, btw, we didn't have the funding for PSG class in our state back then 
_________________
MSA Classic 1973
BMI D-10
chrisgabriel.com
chrisgabrielpdx |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 12:51 pm
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| Jim Cohen wrote: |
| Right, Richard, thanks. Fixed it now. Every body knows that Everybody is only one word! |
It could be 2 words. take the following statements:
Every body in the morgue is dead.
Everybody in the morgue is dead.
Now I'm really confused.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Fred Thompson
From:
Zephyrhills, FL
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 1:45 pm
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Thank you, Jim Cohen!
Fred
_________________
The difference between a musician and a savings bond is eventually the bond will mature and earn money. |
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Chuck Walker
From:
Cody, Wyoming, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 4:09 pm
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My mnemonic for six string going from low to high is:
Eat
At
Denny's
Go
Before
Eight
I like Jim Cohen's for the E9 tuning. I've had a tough time with this one as well. |
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Chuck Walker
From:
Cody, Wyoming, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 4:29 pm
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| Hey, Jim, how about one for the C6th tuning with the D on top. |
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Posted 14 Nov 2013 5:16 pm
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When I was just starting out I used GECA GECA F'C (hard C's) to remember the C6th neck, back when there was a G on top, but I don't remember having trouble with the E9th neck.
In 2nd grade music theory they taught Every Good Boy Does Fine and FACE for the lines and spaces in the treble clef.
_________________
C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville |
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Ollin Landers
From:
Willow Springs, NC
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 6:55 am
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Scale degrees for me is the way to go. I highly recommend thinking in scale degrees rather than notes. Unless you're tuning of course.
I made an Excel chart that showed every open string and what changes based on my copedent. It's a great way to learn what your guitar does and when you want to work out a specific chord or better yet a melody.
Making the chart is what helps it to sink in.
I play a U12 so you would need to adapt it for S-10 or whatever. This is for open position. I have yet to do a chart with the AB pedals down position.
Third column is the scale degree and fourth column is what changes when specific pedals or knees are used. i.e. string one goes from the 2nd to a b3 when I engage my G lever.
String two has a half stop so D lever takes it from the 7th scale tone to a b7 then to the 6th.
It really was mind opening for me to sit down and work this all out based on scale tones rather than thinking chords.
The grips give me the major triad inversions.
_________________
Zum SD-12 Black, Zum SD-12 Burly Elm Several B-Bender Tele's and a lot of other gear I can't play.
I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol and wild women. The other half I wasted. W.C. Fields |
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Gary Cooper
From:
Atmore, Alabama
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 10:11 am Memory Aid
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This is read from the 10th string to the first, bottom up.
Fine
Doing
Guitar
Emmons
Buddy
Great
Find
E9
Discussing
Beginners |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 12:39 pm
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| Chuck Walker wrote: |
| Hey, Jim, how about one for the C6th tuning with the D on top. |
Day?
Every
Cheating
After
Gifts
Exceptional
Cathy's
Accept
Frank
Could
or, if you prefer:
Day
Every
Circles
Around
Going
Exciting
Cars
All
Find
Clowns
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Chuck Walker
From:
Cody, Wyoming, USA
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 2:27 pm
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Thanks, Jim. Your suggestions got me playing with the puzzle and I came up with this possibility as well:
Does
Everyone
Chasing
Around
Get
Excited
Catching
A
Female
Coed? |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 5:20 pm
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I agree with Lane & Ollie, and think in terms of scale degrees rather than named notes. One thing you could do is simplify the way you think of the open E9th tuning.
First off, there are two sets of E triads (second inversion): G #, E, and B. The first one is at on strings 3,4 and 5 and the second one is at strings 6, 8 and 10
Strings 1 and 7 are both F #
Strings 2 and 9 are both D's (of a sort). String 2 is actually a D # while string 9 is a D |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Hans Penner
From:
Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 17 Nov 2013 5:32 pm
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Lane, I hate to be a stick in the mud but I must stir it up.
Are your scale tones for AF correct?
According to what I've been taught its 1,b2/9,3, Â 4/11 Â ,5,1,3,5,2/9, Â Â 4/11
Not ___________________________________ #4/b5___________#4/b5
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At long last, July 14, 2011 and I have a musical instrument I CAN play.
Stage One, Nashville 112, Hilton pedal, Black Box |
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