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Instant Chord Recycling
I think we all agree that the Dobro is one of the coolest
instruments around. It has an almost vocal quality
to the sound and the many tones and timbres that it
is capable of sounding is nothing short of astounding.
Because we are moving the steel bar around, we are essentially
playing a guitar with one finger. Because of that, the Dobro can also
be one of the most limiting and at times frustrating instruments!
Let's take chords for example. Plain old major chords are simple
on the Dobro. Dominant seventh chords are for the most part not
too difficult. Then we come to minor chords. This is where you get
to be creative.
I have an entire chapter devoted to playing chords in my best selling
course Teach
Yourself To Play Dobro.
One of the easiest ways to play minor chords on the Dobro
is to play a Major chord three frets higher than the root or tonic
you want.
For example: The open G major chord on the Dobro is spelled
G, B, D on the top three strings. To play a G minor chord, move
the bar up to the third fret and play the same top three strings.
Technically you are playing a Bb major chord but the notes
Bb and D are also found in the G minor chord. WaLa! Instant
minor chord!
You can also add the F found on the first string if you want
a G7 chord but that's a subject for another time.
I like to call it chord recycling when using this technique
of borrowing from another chord to play the one I need.
Keep in mind that you don't have to always play big three
note chords. Most times you only need 2 notes to get the
'flavor' of the chord you want because many times there
is another instrument covering the other notes anyway.
For more on this subject and some minor chord fingerings,
order one of the only books that shows you how:
Go here
right Now!
Copyright © 2005-2006 Joe Stoebenau Music. All rights reserved.