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Topic: Fender 400 - A6 tuning, finding minor chords. |
Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2005 8:09 pm |
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Help for the theory-deficient.
I got my dream Fender 400 a couple days ago, and it is THE guitar for me - somehow I think this was meant to happen a long time ago. What a wonderful machine.
A question, though - I'm a theory idiot, admittedly. A 100% ear player for 40 years. I set this one up using the standard Fender by-the-book changes for the stock A6 tuning and pedals 1-6. No problem finding major chords and figuring basic runs/licks...but I'm having a heck of a time locating minors, since my only method is hit-or-miss. So far it's all miss. If I could get basically from a G to an Em and G to Am I could figure the rest out.
Anyone know of any sources for tab/instructional materials, or am I pretty well stuck with "just keep banging away"?? Or anyone know the secret formula with this setup? When I read the copedent chart the massive plethora of 13ths, 14ths. 9ths, b5, and such just confuse me. I'm looking for "put the bar on fret x, mash pedal(s) (insert numbers here) and play strings (insert another set of numbers).
I have to think there's a software program out there for windows or mac that can do this stuff, but I can't locate one. Sure would be handy, probably for a lot of players.
Thanks -
Jim |
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Tom Jordan
From:
Wichita, KS
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Posted 31 Jul 2005 9:13 pm
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Jim,
It's right there withought the pedals...C6 = Am, G6 = Em, etc. Try different inversions to get the sound you want. If you tune (low to high) 6,1,3,5,6,1,3,5 a nice minor sound is the 5,6,1 grip...plus you can try the other inversions.
Also, without pedals (I don't know your setup) the minor scale position falls 2 frets below the 6th chord that you are playing and the extensions are two frets below that.
Denny Turner is the guy to thank for that...he has a great theory course (free!!) on his web site that is my favorite source for where to play what and why it works. Search for him over in no-pedalers.
Have fun with that 400. They're too cool.
Tom Jordan |
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Jay Fagerlie
From:
Lotus, California, USA
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Bryan Bradfield
From:
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
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Posted 1 Aug 2005 10:44 am
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I use this one to create chord charts. I play an 8 string steel. I identify strings 9 and 10 as the same note as string 8. Cut and paste the desired chord charts into a word document, and delete the rows for strings 9 and 10. You can use the knee lever columns for extra pedals. Relabel the column headers as pedals 1 through 6 after copying into the word document.
http://www.skobrien.com/ChordFinder/ChordFinder.asp |
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Ian Finlay
From:
Kenton, UK
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Posted 1 Aug 2005 1:26 pm
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I have a 1000 with the factory setup. Use pedal 4, which drops string 6 from a C# to a C (i.e. from the 3rd to minor 3rd), play strings 6/5/3 for a minor. Or, move up 3 frets from your "root" position and play strings 2/3/4 with no pedals.
For fun, use pedals 1/3/4 together and go up 4 strings for a 13th chord with the root on the 1st string (don't play string  and you have something very like the 13th chord used by Speedy on Blackberry Boogie!
And, pedals 2/3 and strings 2/3/4/5 for a nice diminished (or pedals 4/5 and strings 3/4/5/6 for the same dim but a semitone up)
Ian |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 2 Aug 2005 8:51 am
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Thanks guys -
Tom - very helpful stuff!
Jay - I'll get to one of the kids' PC's at home tonite and try it (mine's a Mac).
Bryan - I ran few tests - a little labor intensive, but I like being able to print permanent copies.
Ian - Whaich neck are you on? My stock Fender A6 tuning doesn't match up at all with what you posted. And like I said, whaen you mention 13ths and such I might as well be reading Chinese. I also wouldn't know Blackberry Boogie from Bud's Bounce - that's not my style of stuff.
But I did work out Pipeline and the intro to Long Distance Runaround last night... |
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Tom Jordan
From:
Wichita, KS
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Posted 2 Aug 2005 9:23 am
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Jim!
If'n you like surf, try "walk, don't run" tabbed out in E6. Just play the middle 6 strings on your guitar and transpose it later. Fun arrangement to get you thinking that way and you can experiment with pedal changes after learning it with out...I think Roy Thompson tabbed it?
http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/walkdontrun.html
Tom Jordan[This message was edited by Tom Jordan on 02 August 2005 at 10:26 AM.] |
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John Bresler R.I.P.
From:
Thornton, Colorado
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Posted 2 Aug 2005 3:12 pm
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Jim:
I have an old Ernie Ball A6th Pedal Book that may be of interest to you. Email me your mailing address and I'll send it to you. I played A6th years ago, but switched to a D-10 and haven't used A6 in over 30 years. This is the standard 8 string 6 pedal A6th book (#7) that Ernie published in 1964.
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 2 Aug 2005 6:35 pm
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Tom - that's a great one - thanks!
John - email incoming. Wow...I'm amazed. I have searched like crazy (even before I got the steel) and drew nothing but blanks. Thanks ever so much. |
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Ian Finlay
From:
Kenton, UK
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 12:10 am
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I'm on the A6 neck with the factory tuning/pedals 1-6. My other pedals are on the E7 neck.
Could you post your pedal setup and I can check it against mine?
Ian |
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Roy Ayres
From:
Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 5:29 am
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Jim,
Here's a simple answer.
This assumes you have the A6 tuning with the E note on the first string.
No pedals down:
3rd fret, C major triad is strings 1, 2, 3
3rd fret, A minor triad is strings 2, 3, 4
6th tret, C minor triad is strings 2, 3, 4
The minor is always 3 frets up from the major, but on strings 2, 3, 4.
This is not the only place to find the minor, but it's the simplest.
------------------
Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book.
[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 03 August 2005 at 06:35 AM.] |
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John Bresler R.I.P.
From:
Thornton, Colorado
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 7:45 am
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Jim:
I also found book #6 which is called Pedal Prep and I'll send it also. It covers minor chords like Roy mentions above. Also covered is using a 3rd finger pick.
Ernie Ball had a whole series of books (1 - 7) that were written for the A6th tuning (F# A C# E F# A C# E). What I liked about the series was that you could play standard notation without worrying about the harmony notes. Ernie covered somne pretty standard picking methods and made it easy. At one time I could actually read and play notes, and then I switched to E9th and C6th and forgot practically everything Ernie Ball taught me.
[This message was edited by John Bresler on 04 August 2005 at 08:19 AM.] |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 7:59 pm
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I'm a little baffled how that's an A6 tuning when mine's:
F# A C# E F# A C# E
????
Just did a little "googling", and:
"Ernie Ball had a whole series of books (1 - 7) that were written for the A6th tuning (GECAGECA)"
...is a C6 tuning, not and A6 tuning, unless I'm looking things up wrong. So now I'm completely baffled. Will the Ball books help, or are they meant for something completely different?[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 03 August 2005 at 09:43 PM.] |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 3 Aug 2005 10:14 pm
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| Quote: |
| If I could get basically from a G to an Em and G to Am I could figure the rest out. |
On your open tuning:
G maj fret 10 strings 765(or 321) to Em strings 876 (or 432)
Am at fret 3 strings 876 and 432
This is a cool site that might help:
http://www.skobrien.com/ChordFinder/ChordFinder.asp
I would suggest a couple lessons with a bit of chord theory. Once you get your head around a couple simple ideas you will never have a problem playing minors on any tuning.
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Bob
My Website
[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 04 August 2005 at 01:14 AM.] |
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John Bresler R.I.P.
From:
Thornton, Colorado
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Posted 4 Aug 2005 7:23 am
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Jim:
Sorry, I was thinking A6 but writing C6. The Ernie Ball books are really A6th tuned F# A C# E F# A C# E. I corrected my post above. You should get the books in a couple of days. I sent them yesterday.
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