If you’re having trouble hearing or singing any of the chord tones in the triad or if you’re having difficulty in the future, use this trick: play the chord for a moment, then immediatley play the chord tone you want to focus on, and then immediatly play the chord again. Focus intently on it, repeating the triad over and over until the 3rd just jumps out at you and you can sing it. After you’ve accomplished this isolation with the root, move to the third. Once you can hone in on the root and hear it clearly, sing it, paying close attention to your pitch just as you did when you matched pitches in the earlier section.Īll the notes are there and you’re aware of them, but the one you’re focused on jumps out at you. Continue to hear the rest of the chord, but isolate the root in your mind. Once you observe that you can control where you place your attention in the triad, hone in your focus on the root of the triad. Notice how you can consciously shift your attention to the various chord tones in the chord? If you don’t notice this, keep playing the triad until you do. The best place to start hearing these colors is on a major triad. You’ll most likely need to spend more time on the lower chord tones (1-3-5-7) than the upper (9-11-13). For many, this color is more difficult to hear because the sound of a major third chord tone is not nearly as unique as a #11. Try playing a C major seventh chord in your left hand (C-E-G-B) and an E (the major 3rd) in your right hand. With the #11 over a major sound it’s easy to hear because the sound is so distinctive. They each have their own color that you can learn to hear. In other words, every chord tone within a given chord sounds a particular way. Notice the distinctive sound of the #11? This characteristic that is very apparent when playing the #11 over a major chord pertains to every chord tone, in every context. In your right hand, play an F# (the #11). In your left hand, play a C major seventh chord (C-E-G-B). To get an idea of these distinct chord tone colors that we wish to hear, go to the piano. That’s the kind of ear we want to develop, where we just automatically hear the differences. You just see that they they are different. It’s like knowing the difference between red and blue. Anyone can learn to discern these differences. In a major seventh chord, there’s definitely a distinct difference between how the major 3rd of the chord sounds and how the major 7th sounds. I could say things like lush or nature, but how closely does that depict the color green? There’s no real tangible way that I could possibly describe to someone what green actually looks like. It’s like trying to describe the color green. The second step in hearing these chord tone colors is to clearly understand what they are. Spend 15 minutes a day for a few weeks at this exercise and no matter how poor your singing, you’ll notice dramatic improvement at hitting the center of a note on your first try. Sing the note, paying close attention that you’re truly right on with the pitch. You want to be absolutely dead center on your first attempt. Your goal is to sing the note perfectly the first time. Get them precisely where they need to be to sing the note. Think about singing that pitch and prepare your vocal chords. Clearly hear the note resonate in your mind. Play a note near middle C, or wherever you can sing comfortably within your range. The first step toward hearing these colors is to hear a sound, repeat it in your minds ear, and accurately reproduce it with your voice on your first try. Take your time and study it carefully… Match piano pitches accurately This crucial ear training is often overlooked or even talked about. Learning to hear these colors brings these sounds to life. This is a really great, useful lesson to improve your Chord Vocabulary for the Dobro®.Every chord tone has its own unique sound, its own unique color. This is a really great, useful lesson to improve your Chord Vocabulary for the Dobro®. I teach you how to use open strings to make crazy chords, and how to take common shapes, but re-think what the Bass Note is so you can turn easy-everyday chord shapes into more complex chords!!! I teach you not only all the Major Chords and Minor Chords, but also Major 7th, Minor 7th, Sus4, Add9, Add11, Add#11, Addb6, Dim7 Chords. All of these chords DO NOT USE SLANTS!!! They are great sounding, LUSH, easy to play chords that often times use Open Strings to give them a unique sound. I have written out (in Tablature), and teach you how to play 119 Chord For The Dobro®. This is my most comprehensive lesson about Chords for The Dobro®. CHORDS FOR THE DOBRO® - 119 Straight Bar Chords - NO SLANTS!ġ Video Lesson, 3 Pages of Tablature with 119 Chords Tabbed Out, Other Useful Handouts including my "Chord, Key, Chord Tone Chart, and Useful Chords Diagram"
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