From: owner-wanderer-digest@smoe.org (wanderer-digest) To: wanderer-digest@smoe.org Subject: wanderer-digest V1 #45 Reply-To: wanderer@smoe.org Sender: owner-wanderer-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-wanderer-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk wanderer-digest Tuesday, December 11 2001 Volume 01 : Number 045 Today's Subjects: ----------------- RE: wanderer-digest V1 #42 [M.Russell@iaea.org] RE: Amelia [M.Russell@iaea.org] Re: Amelia [James Leahy ] Re: Amelia [RoseMJoy@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 08:41:32 +0100 From: M.Russell@iaea.org Subject: RE: wanderer-digest V1 #42 Interesting! I wish I could find a copy of the NRH songbook. I want to have a complete collection of JOni's songbooks, and that's the only one I haven't been able to find anywhere. If anybody sees one, please let me know! I will pay $ for cost + shipping to Europe and maybe throw in a little bit of my favorite European chocolate as a special treat! Marian On 10 December 2001 02:11, James Leahy [SMTP:jamesl@total.net] wrote: > Hi Marian: > > Yes, the pattern for NRH is C77235 (CGDEGC); as is Passion Play, > Cherokee Louise, Crazy Cries of Love, and God Must Be a Boogie Man. > > The NRH songbook gives the tuning as CGDFGC. Could've been a typo, > except some of the printed LH chord shapes don't work with CGDEGC. > > Jim ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 10:21:02 +0100 From: M.Russell@iaea.org Subject: RE: Amelia Joni has very large hands and is able to use her thumb to press down the bass string. I think she makes some of her barred chords using her thumb that way instead of her index finger across the whole fret. What kind of guitar do you have, Jim? Maybe the action needs to be adjusted so that the strings are closer to the fretboard and you don't have to press down so hard. Sometimes the barre on 777777 can be played 777700 and the barre on 555555 can be played 555500 - whenever you don't have to use the chord that is hammered on/pulled off (i.e. 7 7h9 7 7h8 77 7 9p7 7 8p7 77). I know you probably play a whole lot better than me (I will always appreciate you for putting together the first definitive list of Joni's tunings and getting me started playing my guitar again after too many years!), but you might like to take a look at my Amelia transcription if it's not clear what I'm talking about here. I have a small hand and also find barred chords very tiring so I always try to find and use other alternatives when I can. Another thing to try is lighter gauge strings. Regards, Marian On 09 December 2001 03:03, James Leahy [SMTP:jamesl@total.net] wrote: > I've been playing Amelia for several years now, but I still have trouble > maintaining my left-hand stamina as it goes through all those myriad > chord changes, many of them full barre chords. I still haven't been able > to make it through the whole song -- my left hand always cramps up. > > Does anyone else have this problem on this song? Despite her claims to > having a weak left hand, I think Joni has the constitution of an ox! > > Jim ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 09:07:26 -0500 From: James Leahy Subject: Re: Amelia Thanks for the tips, Marian. I have a Guild guitar, which was quite pricey and the nicest-sounding of the guitars I tried (that I could afford!). I started studying classical guitar in my 20s, so I lacked the technique that you get when you start an instrument as a child (bred in the bones, so to speak), but probably more technique than the average folk guitarist. I made quick progress and eventually discovered Renaissance lute and vihuela music. I even owned a lute at one time (six courses of double strings, each pair tuned an octave apart, as I recall). To me, Joni's music (especially the first album) reminds me of Renaissance lute music--the delicacy of the harmonies and the swooning suspensions. I stopped playing for several years, but every time I started up again, I found my technique came back eventually. However, steel string acoustic guitars have a narrower neck and I guess my fingers must be awfully thick because I can never completely avoid buzzing strings and I sometimes miss the mark by failing to depress the string in the centre of the fret, resulting in a muffled note. I'm actually starting to analyze my finger movements in order to land on the string at the right position. You're right about electric guitars--somehow I feel like I need to play on an electric in order to get the sound I want. And I bet they're a lot more forgiving of those little errors of fingering. Thanks again for all of your hints. Jim ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 09:44:45 EST From: RoseMJoy@aol.com Subject: Re: Amelia In a message dated 12/10/01 9:08:51 AM Eastern Standard Time, jamesl@total.net writes: > . However, steel string > acoustic guitars have a narrower neck and I guess my fingers must be > awfully thick because I can never completely avoid buzzing strings and I > sometimes miss the mark by failing to depress the string in the centre > of the fret, resulting in a muffled note. > I have the same problem. I found this guy Jamey's guitar principals site to be extremely helpful. I haven't bought any of his books or videos, but I've subscribed to his newsletter and enjoy reading it. http://www.guitarprinciples.com/index.html As a newbie guitarist, I have a tendency to press down hard when there's really no need, thereby creating a lot of tension in the shoulder and neck ------------------------------ End of wanderer-digest V1 #45 *****************************