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Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
Hi -
I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song, but there is
one part in particular that I am having extreme difficulty with: It's the
chord change on the 3rd measure from the open string Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th
string root, 6th fret). Try as I might, I just can't seem to get my fingers
in position fast enough to nail that major 7th. I've been trying this every
day for a week but still it isn't close to being correct. I'm using a
metronome but can't get past 45bpm (!) before my fingers slip up. Thats a
long way off from the 120bpm or so that the song is played in.
The frustrating thing is that I can easily do a minor 7th rooted on the 5th
string. Of course I've been playing minor 7ths for about 9 months (and
guitar overall for a year), so maybe its just a matter of time and allowing
my brain to process the maj7.
Any tips on how to learn tricky chords and change to them quickly?
Thanks!
Hi -
I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song, but there is
one part in particular that I am having extreme difficulty with: It's the
chord change on the 3rd measure from the open string Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th
string root, 6th fret). Try as I might, I just can't seem to get my fingers
in position fast enough to nail that major 7th. I've been trying this every
day for a week but still it isn't close to being correct. I'm using a
metronome but can't get past 45bpm (!) before my fingers slip up. Thats a
long way off from the 120bpm or so that the song is played in.
The frustrating thing is that I can easily do a minor 7th rooted on the 5th
string. Of course I've been playing minor 7ths for about 9 months (and
guitar overall for a year), so maybe its just a matter of time and allowing
my brain to process the maj7.
Any tips on how to learn tricky chords and change to them quickly?
Thanks!
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
On 27 Mar 2008, "Lothar" <no@no,com > wrote in alt.guitar.beginner:
> I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song, but
> there is one part in particular that I am having extreme
> difficulty with: It's the chord change on the 3rd measure from
> the open string Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th string root, 6th fret). Try
> as I might, I just can't seem to get my fingers in position fast
> enough to nail that major 7th. I've been trying this every day
> for a week but still it isn't close to being correct.
It's quite do-able the way you're trying, it just needs more practice
from you.
In the meantime, or instead, consider playing the Dm some other way
that leads into the Emaj7 more comfortably.
- finger it xx3234 (the bass note there is an F, anyway). Then you can
just slide the same fingering up to the 6th fret, hit the Eb bass note
on the fifth string and Bob's your uncle.
- play the Ebmaj7 like this: xx1333 . Physically close to the open-
position Dm.
- play the Dm at the 5th fret, not in open position.
You have many possibilities. Don't be a slave to a chord chart.
My philosophy is: If it's too hard, you're doing it wrong. Find the
easiest way of accomplishing the goal.
On 27 Mar 2008, "Lothar" <no@no,com > wrote in alt.guitar.beginner:
> I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song, but
> there is one part in particular that I am having extreme
> difficulty with: It's the chord change on the 3rd measure from
> the open string Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th string root, 6th fret). Try
> as I might, I just can't seem to get my fingers in position fast
> enough to nail that major 7th. I've been trying this every day
> for a week but still it isn't close to being correct.
It's quite do-able the way you're trying, it just needs more practice
from you.
In the meantime, or instead, consider playing the Dm some other way
that leads into the Emaj7 more comfortably.
- finger it xx3234 (the bass note there is an F, anyway). Then you can
just slide the same fingering up to the 6th fret, hit the Eb bass note
on the fifth string and Bob's your uncle.
- play the Ebmaj7 like this: xx1333 . Physically close to the open-
position Dm.
- play the Dm at the 5th fret, not in open position.
You have many possibilities. Don't be a slave to a chord chart.
My philosophy is: If it's too hard, you're doing it wrong. Find the
easiest way of accomplishing the goal.
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
Sorry, I made a mistake in the last post. Ignore that one in favor of
this one,..
On 27 Mar 2008, "Lothar" <no@no,com > wrote in alt.guitar.beginner:
> I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song, but
> there is one part in particular that I am having extreme
> difficulty with: It's the chord change on the 3rd measure from
> the open string Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th string root, 6th fret). Try
> as I might, I just can't seem to get my fingers in position fast
> enough to nail that major 7th. I've been trying this every day
> for a week but still it isn't close to being correct.
It's quite do-able the way you're trying, it just needs more practice
from you.
In the meantime, or instead, consider playing the Dm some other way
that leads into the Emaj7 more comfortably.
- finger it xx3231 (the bass note there is an F, anyway). Then you can
just slide the same fingering up to the 6th fret, hit the Eb bass note
on the fifth string and Bob's your uncle.
- play the Ebmaj7 like this: xx1333 . Physically close to the open-
position Dm.
- play the Dm at the 5th fret, not in open position.
You have many possibilities. Don't be a slave to a chord chart.
My philosophy is: If it's too hard, you're doing it wrong. Find the
easiest way of accomplishing the goal.
Sorry, I made a mistake in the last post. Ignore that one in favor of
this one,..
On 27 Mar 2008, "Lothar" <no@no,com > wrote in alt.guitar.beginner:
> I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song, but
> there is one part in particular that I am having extreme
> difficulty with: It's the chord change on the 3rd measure from
> the open string Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th string root, 6th fret). Try
> as I might, I just can't seem to get my fingers in position fast
> enough to nail that major 7th. I've been trying this every day
> for a week but still it isn't close to being correct.
It's quite do-able the way you're trying, it just needs more practice
from you.
In the meantime, or instead, consider playing the Dm some other way
that leads into the Emaj7 more comfortably.
- finger it xx3231 (the bass note there is an F, anyway). Then you can
just slide the same fingering up to the 6th fret, hit the Eb bass note
on the fifth string and Bob's your uncle.
- play the Ebmaj7 like this: xx1333 . Physically close to the open-
position Dm.
- play the Dm at the 5th fret, not in open position.
You have many possibilities. Don't be a slave to a chord chart.
My philosophy is: If it's too hard, you're doing it wrong. Find the
easiest way of accomplishing the goal.
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
This helps tremendously. Thanks again!
"Nil" <rednoise+news@REMOVETHIScomcast,net > wrote in message
news:Xns9A6EF12445223nilch1@216.196.97.136...
> Sorry, I made a mistake in the last post. Ignore that one in favor of
> this one,..
>
> On 27 Mar 2008, "Lothar" <no@no,com > wrote in alt.guitar.beginner:
>
>> I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song, but
>> there is one part in particular that I am having extreme
>> difficulty with: It's the chord change on the 3rd measure from
>> the open string Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th string root, 6th fret). Try
>> as I might, I just can't seem to get my fingers in position fast
>> enough to nail that major 7th. I've been trying this every day
>> for a week but still it isn't close to being correct.
>
> It's quite do-able the way you're trying, it just needs more practice
> from you.
>
> In the meantime, or instead, consider playing the Dm some other way
> that leads into the Emaj7 more comfortably.
>
> - finger it xx3231 (the bass note there is an F, anyway). Then you can
> just slide the same fingering up to the 6th fret, hit the Eb bass note
> on the fifth string and Bob's your uncle.
>
> - play the Ebmaj7 like this: xx1333 . Physically close to the open-
> position Dm.
>
> - play the Dm at the 5th fret, not in open position.
>
> You have many possibilities. Don't be a slave to a chord chart.
>
> My philosophy is: If it's too hard, you're doing it wrong. Find the
> easiest way of accomplishing the goal.
>
This helps tremendously. Thanks again!
"Nil" <rednoise+news@REMOVETHIScomcast,net > wrote in message
news:Xns9A6EF12445223nilch1@216.196.97.136...
> Sorry, I made a mistake in the last post. Ignore that one in favor of
> this one,..
>
> On 27 Mar 2008, "Lothar" <no@no,com > wrote in alt.guitar.beginner:
>
>> I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song, but
>> there is one part in particular that I am having extreme
>> difficulty with: It's the chord change on the 3rd measure from
>> the open string Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th string root, 6th fret). Try
>> as I might, I just can't seem to get my fingers in position fast
>> enough to nail that major 7th. I've been trying this every day
>> for a week but still it isn't close to being correct.
>
> It's quite do-able the way you're trying, it just needs more practice
> from you.
>
> In the meantime, or instead, consider playing the Dm some other way
> that leads into the Emaj7 more comfortably.
>
> - finger it xx3231 (the bass note there is an F, anyway). Then you can
> just slide the same fingering up to the 6th fret, hit the Eb bass note
> on the fifth string and Bob's your uncle.
>
> - play the Ebmaj7 like this: xx1333 . Physically close to the open-
> position Dm.
>
> - play the Dm at the 5th fret, not in open position.
>
> You have many possibilities. Don't be a slave to a chord chart.
>
> My philosophy is: If it's too hard, you're doing it wrong. Find the
> easiest way of accomplishing the goal.
>
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
Usually I would agree with a simpler approach, but part of what make
Police tunes sound like they do is Andy Summer's use of chord
fragments and interesting voicings.
If you change them up too much, they can move away from sounding like
Police tunes, and more vanilla. Just my opinion.
When teaching students to change chords, whether it is open chords on
simple tunes or harder stretch chords on jazz tunes, the method is the
same.
Work back and forth between the chord you are on and the target
chord. Make this move slowly and steady until you can pull it off.
You then add the next chord. What happens is, you begin to see the
same sorts of moves after you have done a number of tunes like this,
and increase your chording ability.
Good luck!
Usually I would agree with a simpler approach, but part of what make
Police tunes sound like they do is Andy Summer's use of chord
fragments and interesting voicings.
If you change them up too much, they can move away from sounding like
Police tunes, and more vanilla. Just my opinion.
When teaching students to change chords, whether it is open chords on
simple tunes or harder stretch chords on jazz tunes, the method is the
same.
Work back and forth between the chord you are on and the target
chord. Make this move slowly and steady until you can pull it off.
You then add the next chord. What happens is, you begin to see the
same sorts of moves after you have done a number of tunes like this,
and increase your chording ability.
Good luck!
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
Derek wrote:
> When teaching students to change chords, whether it is open chords on
> simple tunes or harder stretch chords on jazz tunes, the method is the
> same.
>
> Work back and forth between the chord you are on and the target
> chord. Make this move slowly and steady until you can pull it off.
Ya. Ya. Ya. Ya.
Work the space "between" the chords. That's what you
have to shorten/lengthen/modify to make the
switch from ONE chord to ONE OTHER chord.
Do it TWO chords at a time. Don't do it one song
at a time.
And don't hang on ONE chord forever trying to
vice grip it into perfect sustaining, bell
like tones. That's certainly not happening
in Roxanne and a lot of Andy's comping.
And that's not what gives you (us) trouble
when learning Roxanne.
If you have two seconds to play two chords,
you don't have to play (you can't play) each
chord for 1 second. You have to play the
chords for a shorter duration so that you
can fit the "change" in between them.
Work the "change", not the grip.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com
Derek wrote:
> When teaching students to change chords, whether it is open chords on
> simple tunes or harder stretch chords on jazz tunes, the method is the
> same.
>
> Work back and forth between the chord you are on and the target
> chord. Make this move slowly and steady until you can pull it off.
Ya. Ya. Ya. Ya.
Work the space "between" the chords. That's what you
have to shorten/lengthen/modify to make the
switch from ONE chord to ONE OTHER chord.
Do it TWO chords at a time. Don't do it one song
at a time.
And don't hang on ONE chord forever trying to
vice grip it into perfect sustaining, bell
like tones. That's certainly not happening
in Roxanne and a lot of Andy's comping.
And that's not what gives you (us) trouble
when learning Roxanne.
If you have two seconds to play two chords,
you don't have to play (you can't play) each
chord for 1 second. You have to play the
chords for a shorter duration so that you
can fit the "change" in between them.
Work the "change", not the grip.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
Work the "change", not the grip.
If it moves fast, I only use a partial chord, that way my fingers can jump
faster.
Work the "change", not the grip.
If it moves fast, I only use a partial chord, that way my fingers can jump
faster.
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
Robert Riddle wrote:
[ Work the "change", not the grip ]
> If it moves fast, I only use a partial
> chord, that way my fingers can
> jump faster.
Perfect.
Accuracy of the change is WAY more important
than accuracy of the chord tones.
You could play the "wrong" chord at the right time
and it would sound better than the "right" chord
at the wrong time.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com
Robert Riddle wrote:
[ Work the "change", not the grip ]
> If it moves fast, I only use a partial
> chord, that way my fingers can
> jump faster.
Perfect.
Accuracy of the change is WAY more important
than accuracy of the chord tones.
You could play the "wrong" chord at the right time
and it would sound better than the "right" chord
at the wrong time.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
On 28 Mar 2008, Derek <derek@ycoaoffice,com > wrote in
alt.guitar.beginner:
> Usually I would agree with a simpler approach, but part of what
> make Police tunes sound like they do is Andy Summer's use of chord
> fragments and interesting voicings.
>
> If you change them up too much, they can move away from sounding
> like Police tunes, and more vanilla. Just my opinion.
I think that's true in many of their songs, but in this particular one
not so much. You can vary the voicings quite a bit and it still sounds
like Roxanne.
On 28 Mar 2008, Derek <derek@ycoaoffice,com > wrote in
alt.guitar.beginner:
> Usually I would agree with a simpler approach, but part of what
> make Police tunes sound like they do is Andy Summer's use of chord
> fragments and interesting voicings.
>
> If you change them up too much, they can move away from sounding
> like Police tunes, and more vanilla. Just my opinion.
I think that's true in many of their songs, but in this particular one
not so much. You can vary the voicings quite a bit and it still sounds
like Roxanne.
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
Nil wrote:
> My philosophy is: If it's too hard,
> you're doing it wrong. Find the
> easiest way of accomplishing the goal.
Hey! That sounds like a great philosophy!
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com
Nil wrote:
> My philosophy is: If it's too hard,
> you're doing it wrong. Find the
> easiest way of accomplishing the goal.
Hey! That sounds like a great philosophy!
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
Lothar wrote:
> Hi -
>
> I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song,
> but
> there is one part in particular that I am having extreme
> difficulty
> with: It's the chord change on the 3rd measure from the open
> string
> Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th string root, 6th fret). Try as I might,
> I just
> can't seem to get my fingers in position fast enough to nail
> that
> major 7th. I've been trying this every day for a week but
> still it
> isn't close to being correct. I'm using a metronome but can't
> get
> past 45bpm (!) before my fingers slip up. Thats a long way off
> from
> the 120bpm or so that the song is played in.
> The frustrating thing is that I can easily do a minor 7th
> rooted on
> the 5th string. Of course I've been playing minor 7ths for
> about 9
> months (and guitar overall for a year), so maybe its just a
> matter of
> time and allowing my brain to process the maj7.
>
> Any tips on how to learn tricky chords and change to them
> quickly?
>
> Thanks!
You could play the Ebmaj7 thus: xx1333
Just use your first and 3rd fingers.
Plus, you could play the Dm7 at the 5th fret (root 5) and go to
the other Ebmaj7 a fret higher.
The way you *are* doing it... you could leave your 2nd finger
planted on the 3rd string (as in the Dm) as an anchor and slide
it up and form the Ebmaj7 around it on the 6th fret.
Lothar wrote:
> Hi -
>
> I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song,
> but
> there is one part in particular that I am having extreme
> difficulty
> with: It's the chord change on the 3rd measure from the open
> string
> Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th string root, 6th fret). Try as I might,
> I just
> can't seem to get my fingers in position fast enough to nail
> that
> major 7th. I've been trying this every day for a week but
> still it
> isn't close to being correct. I'm using a metronome but can't
> get
> past 45bpm (!) before my fingers slip up. Thats a long way off
> from
> the 120bpm or so that the song is played in.
> The frustrating thing is that I can easily do a minor 7th
> rooted on
> the 5th string. Of course I've been playing minor 7ths for
> about 9
> months (and guitar overall for a year), so maybe its just a
> matter of
> time and allowing my brain to process the maj7.
>
> Any tips on how to learn tricky chords and change to them
> quickly?
>
> Thanks!
You could play the Ebmaj7 thus: xx1333
Just use your first and 3rd fingers.
Plus, you could play the Dm7 at the 5th fret (root 5) and go to
the other Ebmaj7 a fret higher.
The way you *are* doing it... you could leave your 2nd finger
planted on the 3rd string (as in the Dm) as an anchor and slide
it up and form the Ebmaj7 around it on the 6th fret.
Re: Roxanne and EbMaj7 chord
Lothar wrote:
> Hi -
>
> I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song, but there is
> one part in particular that I am having extreme difficulty with: It's the
> chord change on the 3rd measure from the open string Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th
> string root, 6th fret). Try as I might, I just can't seem to get my fingers
> in position fast enough to nail that major 7th. I've been trying this every
> day for a week but still it isn't close to being correct. I'm using a
> metronome but can't get past 45bpm (!) before my fingers slip up. Thats a
> long way off from the 120bpm or so that the song is played in.
>
> The frustrating thing is that I can easily do a minor 7th rooted on the 5th
> string. Of course I've been playing minor 7ths for about 9 months (and
> guitar overall for a year), so maybe its just a matter of time and allowing
> my brain to process the maj7.
>
> Any tips on how to learn tricky chords and change to them quickly?
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
For me the trick with quick chord changes is getting my hand in the
shape of the new chord while my fingers are still moving from the last.
It helps me to visualise the shape I'm approaching very strongly just
before playing the new chord. With practise muscle memory takes over.
--
Stephen
Ballina, Australia
Lothar wrote:
> Hi -
>
> I'm currently trying to learn Roxanne (Police). A cool song, but there is
> one part in particular that I am having extreme difficulty with: It's the
> chord change on the 3rd measure from the open string Dm to the EbMaj7 (5th
> string root, 6th fret). Try as I might, I just can't seem to get my fingers
> in position fast enough to nail that major 7th. I've been trying this every
> day for a week but still it isn't close to being correct. I'm using a
> metronome but can't get past 45bpm (!) before my fingers slip up. Thats a
> long way off from the 120bpm or so that the song is played in.
>
> The frustrating thing is that I can easily do a minor 7th rooted on the 5th
> string. Of course I've been playing minor 7ths for about 9 months (and
> guitar overall for a year), so maybe its just a matter of time and allowing
> my brain to process the maj7.
>
> Any tips on how to learn tricky chords and change to them quickly?
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
For me the trick with quick chord changes is getting my hand in the
shape of the new chord while my fingers are still moving from the last.
It helps me to visualise the shape I'm approaching very strongly just
before playing the new chord. With practise muscle memory takes over.
--
Stephen
Ballina, Australia
