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Questions from a New Member & Very "Green" CBG Player from Ohio........

Posted by Brian M Nusser on October 31, 2015 at 8:28pm in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts
Hello CBNation!, I'm 53, a lifelong Ohioan, and an avid music fan since the age of 4. I enjoy music of various genres, but have never really "mastered" the ability to play an instrument over the years! The instrument that I "favor" most is the Guitar, (and a bit of Mandolin), but I possess very rudimentary, very basic, very "green" skills, (i.e. BASIC scales, several basic chords, some bar chords, etc.). Then,.....I found the CBG!! I love the sound, the history, the unique, homemade, primitive, "nature" of it all!! Absolutely amazing!! I recently acquired my first CBG, and have also purchased a CBG kit, to attempt to build one, as well. I have also recently joined this site as well, and am in need of some assistance from its members! The questions that I have are as follows: 1) What form of CBG instruction would you, the players/performers, recommend? Online video instruction, Instructional DVDs, etc....?? What "format" seemed to provide the MOST success for you? What tips can you give to a true novice CBG player? 2) I have noticed that when attempting to bar the strings on a fretless 3-string CBG with your index finger, it is somewhat difficult to make all the strings sound out very clearly, (which seemed rather odd to me, given the narrower neck and lower number of strings!!). I realize that, with the lack of frets to "assist" you, and that the fretless CBG is truly geared more toward slide playing, (which I am attempting to learn), but if one wanted to bar the strings, are there any tips from anyone? Thanks for any assistance that anyone can provide me with concerning my questions, and I look forward to learning as much as possible from the far more experienced, more skilled, more talented CBG players and performers that this website/forum possesses and welcome any assistance that said members are willing to provide! Looking forward to the journey!! Thanks again!!! -Brian Lancaster, Ohio

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  • Road Rash Roy November 1, 2015 at 12:12am

    Hello Brian and welcome aboard.  

    1) Start with the Google search "how to play 3 string CBG" to get a feel for what's possible with your instrument.  Then, watch lots and lots of videos and listen to lots and lots of music to figure out WHAT you want to play.  You wanna sound like Robert Johnson, or Keith Richards, or Muddy Waters, or Elmore James, or RL Burnside, or Memphis Minnie, or...gasp...something else?  Once you figure that out, I highly recommend Keni Lee Burgess' instructional dvd's for whatever you decide on.  Keni Lee is the master of alternate tunings, from 6 string guitar to 4 or 3 string CBG.  

    2) Well, unless you're an experienced violinist, cellist or upright bassist, I don't think there are any shortcuts or tips for fretting a fretless guitar.  Fretting definitely works best with frets.  I'm being a smartass about it because I learned this the hard way with my first few builds.  I didn't want to buy a $40 fretboard and I surely didn't know how to make one from scratch.  Mileage may vary, but if you want to form chords or simply 'fret' some notes, buy or make a fretboard.  Frustration is the only alternative.

    Good luck to you.  I look forward to seeing some pictures and videos showing your progress.

    Cheers.

    Road Rash Roy

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