C Chord With Low G Bass Note

[Admin]

In the style of Blind Blake et al when playing fingerstyle, how do you fret the low G bass note? Pinkie or thumb?

[steve]

Neither, I use pinkie on the C and third finger on the G.

[Admin]

That way too!

[dadfad]

Jun 26, 2013 13:38:49 GMT -5 steve said:

Neither, I use pinkie on the C and third finger on the G.

Actually I use the third finger (ring) to hold both the 6-string G-note and the 5-string C-note at the same time (sometimes). However when playing something like country-rag type stuff like Blake, Fuller, Jackson, etc that has a lot of syncopation to it, I'll usually quickly move that ring-finger back and forth between the five and six strings. It seems to help keep the "bounce" in the alternation. John Jackson (kind of my mentor for that style) usually did the same thing and suggested I do it that way. This also leaves the pinky free to fret treble notes on the 1 and 2 strings, or add it to the 3rd-string/3rd-fret for a C7. Very important in Blake-type. (For example "Diddy Wah Diddy" would be virtually impossible to play any other way because of the many treble notes on the 1 and 2 strings. Same thing with the C-F-C-F break in "West Coast." (However for the opening C-chord only in West Coast I do use my pinky on the 6-string G because it's a better hold for back-thumb picking used in that tune and it immediately moves into the E-chord before any higher string treble notes are played.)

I do a similar thing when I move to the F position. (Thumb on the 6-string, but the ring moving between the 4-string and 5-string 3rd-fret (that 5-string whether open or held on the 3rd-fret are both notes of the F-triad. I never hold an F as a barre-chord.)

However when referring to holding C and F chords bluesman Bowling Green John Cephas always said "Johnny, just keep 'em both mashed down at the same time with one finger." (He did the same thing with his E and A chords, just using the middle and index, freeing up another finger for treble notes. So do I.)

It depends on the style. I don't hold a Blind Blake C like I hold a Reverend Gary Davis C.


Different strokes for different folks!

[Admin]

Super answer John

[Admin]

Slash chords can get a little tricky.

Here are a few of the many common slash chords:

D/F# - (pronounced "D over F#") - a standard Dmajor chord with an F# in the bass, usually played by wrapping the thumb around the neck of the guitar, and fretting the second fret of the sixth string.

A/C# - (pronounced "A over C#") - An Amajor chord with a C# in the bass, usually played by barring the second fret of the fourth, third, and second strings with your first finger, and playing the fourth fret of the fifth string (the C#) with either the third finger, or the pinky finger.

C/E - (pronounced "C over E") - A Cmajor chord with an E in the bass, usually played by simply fretting a Cmajor chord, and including the open low E string in the strum.

Amin/G - (pronounced "A minor over G") - An Aminor chord, with a G in the bass, usually played by fretting an Aminor chord, and using the pinky finger play the third fret of the sixth string (the "G").

www.cyberfret.com/chords/slash-chords/page5.php

[steve]

I love the "slash" chords and that one you menioned, the D over F#, is one that I particularly like. Another favourite for me is one I pinched from the band Crowded House (one of my favourites). It is a sort of A minor with an F# bass. I fret the C on the B string , the A on 2nd fret on the G and the F# on the 2nd fet on the E. I used it in a song I wrote after an open C. Going a bit off topic but nontheless, I thougt I'd chip in.