Trouble with Ants Marching

[Gombo]

I know the tab here is correct but when I try to play Ants Marching it sounds terrible. When I play the slide on the A string it sounds like I'm just playing individual notes. When Dave plays it sounds more like chords. Should I try to hit more strings when I'm playing the slide part during the verse? I wish there was a video for this one.

Thanks

Gombo

[PilotC150]

if you download VH1 storytellers you can see it. it's on part two of the download from kazaa.

are you talking about the 4/5 slide? I usually just do it as a hammer-on. It's easier to play that way.

[Gombo]

Yes, the 4/5 slide. It just doesn't sound right when I do that. Are you just playing the A string? I have Storytellers and it sounds like Dave is playing more than one string. Maybe it's just my crappy playing.

Gombo

[PilotC150]

you might be hearing Tim's part.

catch me on AIM BigGreyAnt41

[gravedigger]

Yes, the 4/5 slide. It just doesn't sound right when I do that. Are you just playing the A string? I have Storytellers and it sounds like Dave is playing more than one string. Maybe it's just my crappy playing.

Gombo

It took me a long time to get it to sound somewhat like Dave but it will come with practice. see what he does is slide on the A string from 4 to 5 and then strums x-5-4-x-x-x like a chord because he mutes the other strings so that it sounds full like you said.

so its more like this:

e:-2--------x--------x-----3---x---x----x-----x--------2-
b:-3----x---x--------x-----3---x---x----x-----x-------3-
G:-2----x---x--------x-----0---x---x----x-----x-------2-
D:-0----x---4--------4-----0--4h5-5----4h5--5-/7-0-----
A:-----4/5--5--4/5--5--0--2--5----5----5-----5---------
E:-----------x--------x-----3---x----------------

hope this helps. if you listen to L@LC you'll hear he's strumming pretty hard but he's muting, so you only get the two strings ringing out.

[m98ter]

I wouldnt reccomend watching the Storytellers Video to see how he plays it.......it will only confuse you more. It looks like he's sliding the opposite direction from what you should be. But then again, im apparently the only one who thinks hes playing something a little different in that vid.

[dmbjimmy]

try this....


e---2----x---x-----------------------------------3------------------
b---3----x---x-----------------------------------------------------
g---2----x---x-----------------------------------------------------
d--------x---x------------4----------4---x--------------------------
a--------x---x------4/5--x----4/5--x---5------2------same deal different
e--------x---x------x-x--x----x-x--x---x------3----------- notes


mute the low E with your thumb.....

hope that helps

[Gombo]

Yes, the 4/5 slide. It just doesn't sound right when I do that. Are you just playing the A string? I have Storytellers and it sounds like Dave is playing more than one string. Maybe it's just my crappy playing.

Gombo

It took me a long time to get it to sound somewhat like Dave but it will come with practice. see what he does is slide on the A string from 4 to 5 and then strums x-5-4-x-x-x like a chord because he mutes the other strings so that it sounds full like you said.

so its more like this:

e:-2--------x--------x-----3---x---x----x-----x--------2-
b:-3----x---x--------x-----3---x---x----x-----x-------3-
G:-2----x---x--------x-----0---x---x----x-----x-------2-
D:-0----x---4--------4-----0--4h5-5----4h5--5-/7-0-----
A:-----4/5--5--4/5--5--0--2--5----5----5-----5---------
E:-----------x--------x-----3---x----------------

hope this helps. if you listen to L@LC you'll hear he's strumming pretty hard but he's muting, so you only get the two strings ringing out.

Thanks. I played it for about an hour last night while watching Storytellers. If I hammer the D string it sounds much better. I guess I'm not fast enough to acutally play that note. I'm still having problems with the 5/7 slide. It sounds wrong when I do that. I'll keep practicing. Is this the best tab?

Gombo

[gravedigger]

Thanks. I played it for about an hour last night while watching Storytellers. If I hammer the D string it sounds much better. I guess I'm not fast enough to acutally play that note. I'm still having problems with the 5/7 slide. It sounds wrong when I do that. I'll keep practicing. Is this the best tab?

Gombo

yeah keep practicing and it'll keep sounding better. yeah its the best tab.

peace

[PilotC150]

Sometimes it's not so much a 5/7 slide as much as a slide from 5 up to nothing. When u'r playing it so fast that's how it seems sometimes.

[czech]

OK, I don't have the best ear in the world, but when I play ants and do the 4/5 then hit the 4 on the D string, I use my index finger the whole time.
now that i am actually playing guitar and trying to get better it sounds a little sloppier and rushed cause i have to get my hand back to the 4.

So, when playing it with the index and middle finger, do you guys have your fingers in a fixed position. Meaning your index is on 4 and middle finger is on 3, then you just hit the noe on 4, slide to 5 and your middle finger is then in position for the 4 note on the d string?

sorry, I know this is a stupid question, but my hand is so accustomed to playing it the other way it just doesnt feel natural playing it the right way.

[i-am-me]

OK, I don't have the best ear in the world, but when I play ants and do the 4/5 then hit the 4 on the D string, I use my index finger the whole time.
now that i am actually playing guitar and trying to get better it sounds a little sloppier and rushed cause i have to get my hand back to the 4.

So, when playing it with the index and middle finger, do you guys have your fingers in a fixed position. Meaning your index is on 4 and middle finger is on 3, then you just hit the noe on 4, slide to 5 and your middle finger is then in position for the 4 note on the d string?

sorry, I know this is a stupid question, but my hand is so accustomed to playing it the other way it just doesnt feel natural playing it the right way.

do you mean am i holding down the D string wheni play it? no. i put it down when its time to play that note. it just hovers above that spot. sorry, not exactly sure on the question.

[czech]

OK, I don't have the best ear in the world, but when I play ants and do the 4/5 then hit the 4 on the D string, I use my index finger the whole time.
now that i am actually playing guitar and trying to get better it sounds a little sloppier and rushed cause i have to get my hand back to the 4.

So, when playing it with the index and middle finger, do you guys have your fingers in a fixed position. Meaning your index is on 4 and middle finger is on 3, then you just hit the noe on 4, slide to 5 and your middle finger is then in position for the 4 note on the d string?

sorry, I know this is a stupid question, but my hand is so accustomed to playing it the other way it just doesnt feel natural playing it the right way.

do you mean am i holding down the D string wheni play it? no. i put it down when its time to play that note. it just hovers above that spot. sorry, not exactly sure on the question.

you answered exaclty what i was asking. thanks.
oh ya, i just played it how you said and it sound sooo much better.

[i-am-me]

glad i could help

[Jpike005]

i just have a tough time strumming the speed he does and still hitting the a and d seperatly...any suggestions?