Comments

Guitar Chords

Guitar Chords

I recently started learning the Guitar and I’m looking for ways to accompany session tunes (mostly Irish fiddle).

Is there a good resource for Irish music tunes 'with' chords, the music listings I’ve seen on this site, whilst very good and usefull don’t seem to have any chords ?

Yes, I want to be able to work out the chords myself. I have seen many articles on it but nothing I try seems to work. I’ve tried it by looking at the music and trying to fit chords to match by note groups, but whenever it’s played it sounds ‘not good’. I’ve tried just the primary chords of the key, and there seems to be so many options I can’t get it to sound right, or it’s just one chord all the way through. I’ve resorted to playing a tune through so many times just to try to get the order of 3 chords right that I’m bored of the tune before I really get to play with it.

Is there a good recourse out there to guide me to finding chords that work ?

I’ve read various posts on this board and have seen the one about giving fish rather than being taught to fish, and good guitarist can work it out etc. etc. I’m just starting out and I just want to play lots of tunes and have fun and over time I’ll get to work it out I expect.

# Posted on October 2nd 2008 by jc15973

Re: Guitar Chords

If you would send me an e-mail. I will e-mail a listing of one line guitar chords for 11 pages of TIM tunes by the lead guitarist and played at May Kelley's Pub in North Conway,NH

# Posted on October 2nd 2008 by Cape Cod Struggler

Re: Guitar Chords

I emailed you too, Parlor. Got a guitarist brand new to the music who is hooked but feeling lost. He'd love something like that.

# Posted on October 2nd 2008 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: Guitar Chords

Hey, drop me a line too Parlor!
This is too good to miss out on.
Could you have it on a website?

# Posted on October 2nd 2008 by Fanning

Re: Guitar Chords

Get the "Smoke in Your Eyes " Tune book...
Over 600 Irish tunes with suggested chords... A good way to get an idea about backup chords....

Comes from Fish House Music
http://kinetic.seattle.wa.us/fish.html

GH

# Posted on October 2nd 2008 by jardineromi

Re: Guitar Chords

Hmmm... The copy of "Smoke in Your Eyes" that I have does not have any chords...

# Posted on October 3rd 2008 by Michael Eskin

Re: Guitar Chords

Michael,

Given your prodigious output, I'm surprised you haven't annotated it yourself and published it on the web...

How do you find the time?

Eno

# Posted on October 3rd 2008 by bc_box_player

Re: Guitar Chords

The new version of "Smoke" has chords - the old one doesn't. And even apart from the chords, Smoke is a great resource, by the way.

You can also look at our session's site for some suggested chords. Everyone (rightly) has their own opinion about what are the best chords, but this should help get you started:

http://home.comcast.net/~saustin98/lark/

Best of luck!

# Posted on October 3rd 2008 by Steve Austin

Re: Guitar Chords

PM'ed you as well parlor, my sister would love something like this!

# Posted on October 3rd 2008 by dee.

Re: Guitar Chords

jc15973

# Posted on October 3rd 2008 by Tony O'Rourke

Re: Guitar Chords

Thanks for the replies.
Now I need to make time to play.

Does anyone know the tune listings for the 'Smoke in Your Eyes' book ?

# Posted on October 3rd 2008 by jc15973

Re: Guitar Chords

The Fiddler's Fakebook has a number of common trad irish tunes, complete with chords. As does the BBC 2 website (recordings, music notation with chords, 50+ tunes). Sorry, I don't have a link to the website.

# Posted on October 4th 2008 by ayedbl

Re: Guitar Chords

It's not just about chords. It's how you play them.

# Posted on October 4th 2008 by DonaldK

Re: Guitar Chords

That's true of everything.

# Posted on October 4th 2008 by Steve L

Re: Guitar Chords

What I mean is "right" chords can sound wrong if the right (strumming/picking) hand is pants.

# Posted on October 4th 2008 by DonaldK

Re: Guitar Chords

Yeah, but even the best strumming/picking is never gonna make the wrong chords sound any good

# Posted on October 4th 2008 by llig leahcim

Re: Guitar Chords

Don't want to be pedantic but "the wrong chords" suggests that there is only one wrong set of chords. I don't believe that there is only one set of "right" chords either.
Good players can make some pretty odd chords sound as if they fit by using harmonically sensible progressions.

# Posted on October 4th 2008 by DonaldK

Re: Guitar Chords

it goes without saying

# Posted on October 4th 2008 by llig leahcim

Re: Guitar Chords

can I recommend you to Chris Smith's book and CD set, Celtic Backup, published by Mel Bay ISBN 0786640650 and a bargain at £16.95?

www.melbay.com/product.asp?ProductID=97205BCD&Heading=Flatpicking+Guitar%3A+Rhythm%2FBackup&category=G78&catID=&head1=&head2=&sub=&sub1=&mode=

# Posted on October 4th 2008 by greg sheils

Re: Guitar Chords

Thanks for the update on "Smoke", my copies are over 10 years old, glad to hear I can still recommend it to my friends!

# Posted on October 5th 2008 by Michael Eskin

Re: Guitar Chords

Dexter Muir has posted a number of Celtic tunes with guitar chords in ABC format on his site: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~dexy/celtic.htm

The tunes are not exclusively Irish but many are included. There a few errors in the ABC code but his choice of chords usually works for me.

# Posted on October 5th 2008 by schriltz

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