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Newbie Asking Curious Questions

Posted by EarthLvr71 on May 1, 2014 at 9:20am in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts

O.k. so I'm completely new at this. I just got my first cbg it's a four string. Any way I have some questions. I saw a chord chart posted but are there tabs in cbg? Or a scale that fits an open G tuning? Or any tuning for that matter? Also does anyone happen to use a capo when playing theirs? Oh and I'm learning my first slide stuff too. Any advice on using a slide? Or any little tricks with it that are easy yet impressive that crowd please? Oh and the songs you personally recommend people start learning with. Oh and warping. Do cbg's have issues with the neck warping like with my guitar? So glad to be here and thanks for any and all advice. ~K

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Replies

  • Muddy Creek Guitars May 6, 2014 at 10:57pm

    Here's some basic chords for a four string guitar with your tuning: GDGB

    Hope this helps!

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  • BUGGY (C) May 4, 2014 at 5:15am

    I mainly play in open d 3, 5, 7 for blues and use a blues scale

    Feel and listen to the mucic you like and think about string expression. pull offs, snap, on bends, slide up etc

    I started with a pick, but recomend thumb and index finger. The thumb thumps a bass beat out of the bass string

    whilst the index pics notes. I use the back of my index as a pick to run down over the strings.

    You can pick 4 notes and with string expressions and feeling it sounds great.

    learn a blues scale to add notes between the typical blues chords frets 3 (or 0) ,5,7 on open tuning.

    and in blues sing to the notes you play.

    Google Alan Lomax archive on youtube and see how simple songs can be, but with some feel sound awesome.

    Borrow some rifs from this..

    Less can be more.

    Blues is a load of your favoiurite riffs string together into a song

    also see Uncle Johns blues song blogg on how to write a song..

    Hope this helps.

    BUG

  • Thumper May 2, 2014 at 11:22am

    Being a 6-stringer myself and looking to the net for help, I've discovered that most stuff is done for a 3 string CBGr not a 4 (which I own). However, if you get info on 3 string CBG's, in what ever tuning you use (I use GDGB), It works quite well and all you have to do is figure out what to do with the "B" string...easy-peasy !!

    • EarthLvr71 > Thumper May 2, 2014 at 11:46am

      I have to admit I'm debating taking the B off :) lol. BUt I have ordered a 3 string custom built just for me and we will see how that goes. I am using the 3 string stuff and just muting the B right now.

      • Bad Finger (Eric) > EarthLvr71 May 2, 2014 at 12:44pm

        Before taking the B off, try tuning it down a half step for Gmin.  Makes some songs rather interesting.  I played Amazing Grace in Gmin and like it fairly well.

        • The Phrygian Kid > Bad Finger (Eric) May 3, 2014 at 5:04pm
          Even better (for a beginner) crank it up to D. It's only three frets worth. If the string breaks replace it with a marginally lighter one.

          I regularly do five string ones tuned gdgdg, it's about the most basic tuning there is and it's great
  • Patrick Curley May 1, 2014 at 6:50pm

    I'm not sure why G is so popular but it certainly seems to be. I prefer open D tuning DF#AD, it's the top 4 strings in Vestapol tuning from the 6 string. You can play the same configuration in in E as EG#BE. Having the toinc note on the top and the bottom is a big advantage and with the 5 and the 1 on the top you have all that cool 3 string stuff as well.

    My new 4 string course will focus on open D. I don't have any sample lessons yet but here's a snippet of me playing the old tin can in open D.

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