Remembering chord patterns

[rogera]

After being captivated by hearing "Apache" in the early 60s I took up playing the guitar and have continued until the present day.

For the most part I have played the lead part but do enjoy playing rhythm.

The problem that I have is that whilst I am able to learn the lead lines (albeit for a shorter time these days!) I find that learning
the chords to tunes is difficult and I wondered whether any members find the same. I can hear the tune in my head and that helps
with remembering where the next notes are to be found - however, that doesn't seem to work with chords.

I have no problem if I have a chord chart in front of me and I notice that many rhythm players take that approach, so maybe I
should just carry on in that way.

Perhaps some of you may have some ideas or advice on the matter.

[rjanuarsa]

Hi Roger,

For me I always try to find a root note of a chord, and it's normally played on the bass line or in a lower register. Then try find progression using this root notes for the entire tune, which will normally be in a pattern (e.g. C-A-F/D-G etc). The next step will be to figure out whether the key is in minor or major and go from there.

I will here for now. I 'd like to know if that helps Rog?

Regards,

Robby

[rogera]

Hi Robby - if I understand you correctly your advice on working out chord patterns is perfect and that is the approach that I take, but my problem is remembering them!

[rjanuarsa]

hhhmm…I don't know the answer to that Roger. Will find out

Robby

[Deleted]

Hi Roger.
Have you learned the 3 chords that make up a key, like, A-D-E then back to A. G-C-D-G. Just a thought.

Regards, Duncan.

[glenstephens]

I understand what you're saying, Roger...I think! Basically, you forget the chords to songs? I think primarily it's remembering the keys most people have a problem with.
By and large the same chords will be repeated throughout the song many times: if the song is in D (for example) the chords D,G,A,Bm,F#m and probably E will feature prominently (it's not always the case, but most times it is - particularly 50' and 60's music). So it's really only a case of being familiar with the chords in other keys, and this is where transposing chord sequences comes in. There are probably loads of apps available that can do the job for you, but it's a pretty straightforward thing to do.
In the above-example (the key of D), transposing the chords up a semi-tone would give you Eb,Ab,Bb,Cm and F.

As I say, it's usually the key that people have trouble remembering, because the chances are, whatever key it is, you will have played those chords billions of times before.


Hope that helps.

[jay]

Try this:

Using Apache as an example,make an association between the underlying chords and the tune.

E.g. after the intro, the tune starts with E(pick up note) moves to A,then E-A and then moves to F#.

The underlying chords here are Am and D maj.

This part of the tune is using chord tones((root and fifth of Amin and then the third of Dmaj).

So, when you hear these notes of the tune they are telling you the chord progression as long as
you remember that the F# is the third of D maj. Also, the first 'gallop' is just playing the fifth
and root of Fmaj (C and F).

Do this with all the sections of the tune just a few bars at a time and you should find that
you can play or listen to the tune and the underlying chords will present themselves.

Then play the rhythm parts whilst hearing the tune fragments in your head. When that works
you should be able to play the whole tune whilst listening for the chord changes or play
the rhythm whilst hearing the tune.

Hope this helps!

[gruntfuttock]

Hi Roger.
I'm the opposite of you!! I played Rhythm guitar most of my life and only changed to lead about three years ago. I'm not well versed in music theory, so I would play a few bars at a time until I was able to remember that particular section, and then move on to the next. It's a question of progressing from conscious competence to subconscious competence. I ran an eight piece band in Shanghai, and on some occasions I inwardly panicked when I couldn't remember the next chord, and I usually found that I had already moved to the said chord before the panic had subsided.

What I find with playing lead is that if I don't run through the numbers on a regular basis I forget sections which - is very frustrating!!

Regards
Gruntfuttock

[istvan]

Hi!
You can only remember practicing the chords!
Search a song (for example, Sweet Dreams), and practice until you do not need notes.
Regards

[noelford]

I don't normally play rhythm (although a good knowledge of chords is absolutely fundamental to playing lead well, of course). I do, however, understand Roger's problem which is NOT one of having problems working out chords but one of simply remembering the sequence at the time!

I remember when I played in a dinner dance band, which did involve playing a lot of rhythm in addition to lead. I soon discovered that if I had the chords to new numbers written down, I never learned them and had to keep relying on following the written chords. The only way to learn the chord sequence properly was NOT to write them down and simply commit to memory by repetition.

[pluckit65]

Hi rogera
I hate to sound like your old music teacher but, I'm afraid it Practice, practice, practice. I have had times when I couldn't remember where anything was on the fretboard. For some reason, all of a sudden, it clicked. Putting yourself under pressure to remember is going to do more harm than good. Relax and, if you fluff a few chords,,,,so what. If a particular song is defeating you, leave it and go back to it later.
Is there a little of Teaching My Granny to Suck eggs there? If so, sorry but, whatever you do, DONT STOP PLAYING.

Kind Regards
Roger

[tomlinson]

Hi Roger,

I think it's part of the Ageing process--I hit 70 in a few weeks, and remembering things like guitar Chords and Notes becomes difficult.

Best Wishes

TOMMO

[meladdison]

May 5, 2014 12:47:34 GMT tomlinson said:

Hi Roger,

I think it's part of the Ageing process--I hit 70 in a few weeks, and remembering things like guitar Chords and Notes becomes difficult.

Best Wishes

TOMMO

Hi Tommo,

Know the feeling well!

Regards, Mel

[pluckit65]

Hi Tommo
At the end of the day, does any of it really matter? We are all different ages and, presumably at differing skill levels. But, we all STILL LOVE GUITAR. If I didn't have my old guitars, I think my memory would be even worse. It keeps your brain ticking over, maybe not like a bomb but, ticking over just the same. I say good on all of us for not sitting back and moaning about what we CANT do and, doing what WE CAN to whatever degree of skill.

Regards
Roger

[allclaphands]

author="pluckit65" Hi Tommo
At the end of the day, does any of it really matter? We are all different ages and, presumably at differing skill levels. But, we all STILL LOVE GUITAR. If I didn't have my old guitars, I think my memory would be even worse. It keeps your brain ticking over, maybe not like a bomb but, ticking over just the same. I say good on all of us for not sitting back and moaning about what we CANT do and, doing what WE CAN to whatever degree of skill.

Regards
Roger


Plug in the guitar lead switch on the amp and everything else,pick up the guitar put the strap round the neck
in my case sit down and start playing what ever comes to mind or what your learning.Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow
and the day after and so on,experiment with the sounds try different ways of playing things you can't beat it.


Pete

[pluckit65]

Absolutely Pete. I honestly would not know what to do with myself if I didn't play my guitars. I am home 23 out of 24 hours a day, caring for an elderly relative so, my time to sit and play is so very precious. Sometimes I play and the sounds in my head come out of the guitar, other times, I wonder what the heck I am doing but, I still love every aspect of it.

Regards
Roger