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vlmagee · 10-28-2002, 04:06 PM

Oma,

A little more clarification on some of your questions. First if you are curious about the capo - and specifically which Gord uses and recommends - you can visit the Shubb web site here: www.shubb.com . Gord uses the Shubb deluxe (pictured in the upper left hand corner). If you are going to learn to play his music, get a capo and preferably a Shubb.

On going out of tune, Gord is talking about the strings going out of tune, not about the relationship to the band. He will move the capo exactly once - from the 2nd fret to the 3rd fret. He does this at the end of almost every show, and uses one of the songs that is capoed on the 3rd fret as his last 6 string song. He doesn't move the capo on the 12 string, and actually uses two different guitars, one in each set. With twice as many strings, you can expect at least twice as many potential problems in moving the capo, so Gord simply doesn't. How well the guitar strings stay in tune is also a characteristic of the capo itself. Some capos (from other manufacturers) are much more likely to throw your guitar out of tune. You normally tune before you put the capo on. With some capos, you find you are fighting with the guitar to get it sound right.

What you see pictured above the staff is the chord diagram and not tablature. The chord diagram shows you the fingering on the fretting hand; that is, where you press the strings to get the note you want for each one of them. Tablature gives you that information (in a different way, via a number), but it also tells you which string or strings you play (with your other hand) for each beat within each measure. What it doesn't give you is the timing, so you have to know that in order to play the song properly. Ideally, you should have both, of course. Most songbooks have chord diagrams, but do not have tablature, which takes a lot more space as each beat of the measure is shown. It is normally shown below the staff for each "line" of music, and books with tab show only the treble clef (at least the ones I have seen). Books without tab show the full piano music and the chord diagrams.

Two years ago I knew none of this! If only my fingers learned as quickly as my head does.

------------------
Valerie Magee

Visit my GL web site at gordonlightfoot.com

10-28-2002, 04:06 PM	#21
vlmagee Senior Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Ballston Spa, NY Posts: 724	Oma, A little more clarification on some of your questions. First if you are curious about the capo - and specifically which Gord uses and recommends - you can visit the Shubb web site here: www.shubb.com . Gord uses the Shubb deluxe (pictured in the upper left hand corner). If you are going to learn to play his music, get a capo and preferably a Shubb. On going out of tune, Gord is talking about the strings going out of tune, not about the relationship to the band. He will move the capo exactly once - from the 2nd fret to the 3rd fret. He does this at the end of almost every show, and uses one of the songs that is capoed on the 3rd fret as his last 6 string song. He doesn't move the capo on the 12 string, and actually uses two different guitars, one in each set. With twice as many strings, you can expect at least twice as many potential problems in moving the capo, so Gord simply doesn't. How well the guitar strings stay in tune is also a characteristic of the capo itself. Some capos (from other manufacturers) are much more likely to throw your guitar out of tune. You normally tune before you put the capo on. With some capos, you find you are fighting with the guitar to get it sound right. What you see pictured above the staff is the chord diagram and not tablature. The chord diagram shows you the fingering on the fretting hand; that is, where you press the strings to get the note you want for each one of them. Tablature gives you that information (in a different way, via a number), but it also tells you which string or strings you play (with your other hand) for each beat within each measure. What it doesn't give you is the timing, so you have to know that in order to play the song properly. Ideally, you should have both, of course. Most songbooks have chord diagrams, but do not have tablature, which takes a lot more space as each beat of the measure is shown. It is normally shown below the staff for each "line" of music, and books with tab show only the treble clef (at least the ones I have seen). Books without tab show the full piano music and the chord diagrams. Two years ago I knew none of this! If only my fingers learned as quickly as my head does. ------------------ Valerie Magee Visit my GL web site at gordonlightfoot.com