Fun Chord Excercise On Anglo

[Mikefule]

I am a fairly new player with a G/D anglo.

 

The Em chord on the push is like this:

 

xExEx Bonus row ("accidental" sounds so negative!)

xxGBx G row

xxxxx D row

 

The equivalent on the C/G would be Am

 

This is quite a tricky chord to "finger" because all your fingers get bunched up. Practising a chord in isolation isn't that much use because you need to learn to find it as part of a sequence. And if you can't find it, then fitting it into a tune you already know can be frustrating.

 

Finally, as I was doodling yesterday (off work ill!) I found this sequence which is fun, and has moved my playing on quite a lot in a couple of hours.

 

G push 1 bar (on a C/G that would be C)

Em Push 1 bar (on a C/G that would be Am)

C pull 1 bar (on C/G that would be F)

D pull (half bar) D7 pull (half bar) (On a C/G, that's G, G7)

 

Play this in a lazy 4/4 rhythm and you get that corny but fun sound of about 1,000 bubblegum doo wop songs from the late 1950s, early 60s. You can easily improvise a melody line using the first four buttons in the G row (C row) on the right hand.

 

(For extra authenticity, sing the words, "Sincerely" or "Darling" or just "Oo-oo-oooh" at appropriate moments.)

 

Playing in a lazy 4/4 rhythm gives you various options for each chord, playing the bass note first, then filling in the chord one or more fingers at a time on the later beats of the bar.

 

This gives a context for practising that tricky chord shape, and makes a nice change for me from playing Morris and folk melodies. Seriously, it has helped me a lot, so I thought I'd share it.

 

For extra excitement, every so often add:

 

G push 1 bar ©

C pull 1 bar (F)

G push 1 bar ©

D pull 1 bar (G)

 

Now, just off to buy a 57 Chevrolet...

[Ken_Coles]

Doesn't Levy present a version of this in his tutorial book? I can't recall the details...

 

Ken

[Mikefule]

Doesn't Levy present a version of this in his tutorial book? I can't recall the details...

 

Ken

 

I have no idea. I know I haven't invented it from scratch as it's so corny, but I did stumble over it and find it both fun and helpful. I'm not sure my neighbours would agree.

 

The C pull can alternate with Am pull if you play the A on the right hand. For that darker doo wop sound.

[Robin Harrison]

Mike,I too was doodling recently ........on my ADG melodeon.........but working on basses before trying them on the anglo and by pure chance I came up with this sequence.

D A Bm F#m

G D G A

 

Try it and see what you think...................needs a name of course

Robin

[Mikefule]

Mike,I too was doodling recently ........on my ADG melodeon.........but working on basses before trying them on the anglo and by pure chance I came up with this sequence.

D A Bm F#m

G D G A

 

Try it and see what you think...................needs a name of course

Robin

The famous Tinkerbell's Blunderbuss.