Alternate ways of playing songs

[hobbes22]

Before I found out about this web site I had to figure out dmb songs pretty much on my own. A lot of other sites out there have some terrible transcriptions that will only mess you up when learning a new song. After years and years of fine tuning the way I played the songs, I came across this web site (which would have saved me a lot of time). The notes are for the most part the same, but the fingering I use is different on a lot of them. That's why I'm posting this. I'm not suggesting that my way is better or more accurate, but on some songs, although it may be a little harder, it allows you to mute all of the strings you aren't using and drag the pick across them for a percussion type sound that Dave is known for. What I do different is on several songs where the tab says to use the 1st finger, I use the second. The first finger I will lightly bar behind the first. As a simple example, on Too Much during the main fill on the D string -2-2--2h4- , the tab says to use the 1st finger for the 2. I have my first finger barring all of the strings on the first fret and use my second finger for the 2. I have a video of Dave solo at Farm Aid 02 and it looks like that's what he's doing. When he plays solo he really attacks the strings. This way you can strum them as hard as you want without unwanted noise. More complicated examples of this are Stay and Warehouse. This message is getting a little long so I won't get into the detail of the tab, but you can basically do the same thing. Always bar with the first finger and play the songs with the others. On Stay as played during the solo show in Seattle 02, I can't see how you can do the pick drags effectively using the first and forth fingers for the intro and main section of the song. Of course this can't be done with all of his songs. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

[geekmug]

When I play Stay, I use my 1st and 3rd fingers to fret the notes, and then the wierd part is that I use my 2nd finger to mute the lower strings, and then the lay my fingers across the higher strings to mute those.. if that makes any sense.. I am not sure if that is how dave does it; in fact, I am almost sure it isn't, but it just another example of how things can be done differently

[TOMAMI]

Use fingering that is comfortable for you. The main thing is that you understand Daves playing style and the fact that he mutes alot. Sounds like you have a good grasp on how dave plays guitar so have fun with it.

Geekmug
I used to play Stay with my 2nd finger muting the lower strings B and high E chords but it would mute out the G string when the intro went 88 on the
D and G string.

[firedancer86]

hello and welcome newbie

I think as long as you can relate the feeling of the song, play it however you want...

[mattm]

i pretty much do the same, but i generallyi use my 1st finger (index) to mute all strings below, whenever possible, which is most of the time. i just lay my index gently across all strings while fretting the E or A string. that works well for songs like Billies, where i use only my index and middle to fret the 2xx2, 3xx4, 5xx6, 7xx7. my index is fretting the E string and muting all others, while my middle frets the G string.

it works in warehouse too, though i can't play it well.

but for Stay, i recently started fretting the D string with my index while also using my index to mute the A string (and all strings below). I do this by fretting the D a little higher than normal, so my index also touches the bottom of the A (muting it). i can then strum like crazy without having to mute the A with another finger, or having to avoid strumming the A accidently.(though i do have to avoid strumming the bass E).

and you can also do what was proposed before ...use your index only to mute all strings, and then use your middle finger to fret the D string. and pinky to fret the G. this, however, doesn't tend to work in a lot of situations because you often need your index to do more than just mute.

for me it comes down to what's most natural and efficient. using your middle and ring finger to mute is often unnecessary, and typically more complicated. using your middle or ring finger(s) to mute OVER the top of your index, while your index is fretting a lower string, makes things more difficult. obviously there are certain parts that can only be done the complicated way, but i otherwise eliminate trying to mute individual strings with fingers other than my index. works well for me.

[fatjack]

speaking of stay... i don't don't play it at all like whats on the site. i learned from the sheet music and it uses a lot more strings than the tabs on this site. still sounds the same though...

[mattm]

have you, or canyou, post a tab of the music you have for STAY. i'd love to see it.