To help out the neophyte session DADGAD backup player, I’ve put together a
little summary of the chord patterns I typically use for backup and
posted it, along with some MP3 demonstration files on:
The charts show the basic chord shapes I use for major, dorian, and
mixolydian modes as well as a few “cool tricks” and single finger
stuff for quiet backup of higher keyed tunes (jigs in G or A major,
for example).
I typically use a capo for keys other than D major/minor and B minor,
but of course it is useful to be able to play backup for all keys with
no capo for those tunes that change key or mode between parts.
Note that the charts are shown using I, IV, VI, style chord notation,
and are relative to the current capo position.
Of course, one still has to be able to hear the root key and mode by
ear, and know how the tunes go to anticipate the key and mode changes.
Every session backup player should also be a melody player IHMO.
Enjoy and let me know if its useful to you! So far, it seems to be
working for me and the rest of my session buddies here in San Diego.
I haven’t examined the chords in any detail and don’t play in DADGAD in any case but I think it’s great that you did that. My continual lament about DADGAD chord charts is that they present every chord you imaginable. I have also seen at least one web site which only gives a few. I like the idea that you are presenting a few chords that you find useful. This is the approach that John Doyle takes on his homespun video for dropped D chords.
Only slightly OT here, Eskeroo, but definitely at home in the ITM forum.
If all you stringfellows agree, perhaps the discussion could be continued in the <a href=http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=9339&forum=8&1>parallel thread there, where it’s very definitely on topic. BTW, it’s also of interest to the unfortunate tube blowers that sometimes have to put up with the wrong kind of guitar-bashing, and would like to have a helpful address to direct those who are really interested in learning towards.
Congrats on this excellent initiative.
An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
[ This Message was edited by: Roger O’Keeffe on 2003-01-28 04:58 ]
I noticed in the chord charts that there are no damped or unplayed strings indicated. In the DADGAD charts that I’ve previously seen there are usually one or two, particularly in the chords other than I. Does this mean you play across all strings?
DADGAD tuning works well when playing with other guitarists that are tuned normally. The chord modes will always be different and 2 guitars will harmonize nicely. Guitars playing in unison sound awful.
Thanks for mentioning the capo with DADGAD, too. I totally forgot that I can play in any key using one. (Hey, I’ve only been playing guitar 38 years, okay?)
Lets move the thread over to the Irish Traditional Music board… I’ve given a full explanation of the “why I play in DADGAD at all” question over there.
To answer one question, yes I play all the strings most of the time, but generally heel dampen. If I’m doing some kind of chord scale walk down or bass run, I may only play the bottom 3 or 4 strings, but even if I played all the strings in those cases, it would sound fine (again, check out the other thread)
