Dave’s Weird Chord Fingerings

[Xar666]

IMO, dave chords have a deeper and more percussive sound.

I agree, it does sound better. But it is still just an A with muting. My question what was his reasoning? The only reason is the muting? The change is not easier. You could mute the top strings in the open position.

[Davy28]

I like it because if you have a tandem guitar player playing the open chords (as timmy does all the time) on songs like Billies, Grey Street, and Lover lay down, you get a really nice, full sound.

[Xar666]

It's harder to have the mutes/rakes with open chords.

This must be it. I see no other valid reason.

[Xar666]

I like it because if you have a tandem guitar player playing the open chords (as timmy does all the time) on songs like Billies, Grey Street, and Lover lay down, you get a really nice, full sound.

That is true. Again, I too like the sound. I was just wondering if anyone knew the origin/reason.

[fede]

Take for example the #41 intro/jam, if you play it like dave you say "hand hurts", if you play it with "normal" chords, you say "sounds different".

I mean, the BASE of the chords is the same: you have Am, then Bm (i guess) then Em then D.

That's the end of it, it all depends on the SOUND you want to achieve. Try playing the billies opening chord for anything other than billies, try replacing any A chord in ANY other song than billies, you'll feel you are clanking your way into the song.

I guess the sound he wants to ear makes those chords possible.

Fede

[fede]

I like it because if you have a tandem guitar player playing the open chords (as timmy does all the time) on songs like Billies, Grey Street, and Lover lay down, you get a really nice, full sound.

That is true. Again, I too like the sound. I was just wondering if anyone knew the origin/reason.

Maybe it's a sound to be played in a band, or accompanied. Jane likes is open chorded, "ideal" for solo playing. edit: My guess is because he was just beggining (wasn't jane the first song he had the music for???) and he wanted a full sound.

Fede

[dmfollower]

I don't know the reasoning for dave playing.
I hope you don't loose respect for daves playing and style just because his fans don't have a decent(enough) answer for you. I too have pondered the same question once i started learning how the guitar works but dave style is "daves" style and i think everyone strives to be original and his "style" is his and maybe(maybe) he created it to be different, maybe he created it to be unique or maybe he felt more comfertable making the effort to go the extra stretch to make his music "his". I'm drunk and thats my opinion. I dig it though

[briguy945]

I think when he was younger he tried to mimic chord fingerings of one of his idols. His name escapes me. So Dave made a lot of chords based on that. Later he discovered the musician used a different tuning.

[NonSequitur]

[quote="briguy945"]I think when he was younger he tried to mimic chord fingerings of one of his idols. His name escapes me. So Dave made a lot of chords based on that. Later he discovered the musician used a different tuning.[/quote]

[skoal]

Yea I can't speak for Dave personally but they definitely compliment his percussive/chop muting type of playing. Also, his voicings allow for some unorthodox riffs. In the billies verse, try playing that A-Asus2 change with open chords then sliding to the d power chord. Those open strings don't fit in with the song. That stretched A fits in better, plus is easier to mute.


"The finger stretches in that song, especially in the intro, were longer than those to which I had been accustomed. Dave suggested that I continue to practice them because they could open new doors for me to chord progression in these unique configurations. He quickly showed me the chords to Tripping Billes. "

http://bartchucker.com/pages/story.1.html

It's a good read.

[skoal]

I think when he was younger he tried to mimic chord fingerings of one of his idols. His name escapes me. So Dave made a lot of chords based on that. Later he discovered the musician used a different tuning.

Robert Fripp

[JW]

I think he chose to use his own chords b/c they fit his vocals better.

[Mathis]

Yea I can't speak for Dave personally but they definitely compliment his percussive/chop muting type of playing. Also, his voicings allow for some unorthodox riffs. In the billies verse, try playing that A-Asus2 change with open chords then sliding to the d power chord. Those open strings don't fit in with the song. That stretched A fits in better, plus is easier to mute.


"The finger stretches in that song, especially in the intro, were longer than those to which I had been accustomed. Dave suggested that I continue to practice them because they could open new doors for me to chord progression in these unique configurations. He quickly showed me the chords to Tripping Billes. "

http://bartchucker.com/pages/story.1.html

It's a good read.

yeah ... good read man!

[paulaitchison]

this is hard to explane, but dave isnt just intersted in the notes he plays but how they are played.,, by playing the billies A cord, the lengths of the strings are effected, whilst they may play the same notes, diffrent sounds come, the mutes are possible, and the sound (not the musical notes) but the total sound change.
also, this makes a familiar yet diffrent sound, not far from dmb's overall sound

i dont know how to explane, and dont know proper musical terminoloy but get out your guitar and it will make sense.

[skoal]

this is hard to explane, but dave isnt just intersted in the notes he plays but how they are played.,, by playing the billies A cord, the lengths of the strings are effected, whilst they may play the same notes, diffrent sounds come, the mutes are possible, and the sound (not the musical notes) but the total sound change.
also, this makes a familiar yet diffrent sound, not far from dmb's overall sound

i dont know how to explane, and dont know proper musical terminoloy but get out your guitar and it will make sense.

Yea I'm sure that's it . . . . change the string length . . .