What Is The Kelley Blue Book For Guitarist

I was recently checking the stats for favorite searches here at Guitar Answers, and the "Kelley Blue Book" of guitars(electrics and acoustics) was the most popular.So here is some info on what the writer offers concerning this.To begin with,the whole Kelley word is a bit confusing!Because if you go to the site it is Blue Book Publications.And i guess the whole thing actually started with cars.In addition there is info and prices for guns along with another publication for electric guitars,one for acoustic guitars and another for amps.And in addition there are four other publications,one for the Gibson Flying V guitar and another for Martin guitars and one for Gibson guitar and another for PRS guitars.So...there are actually,who knows(each time i visit the site,a NEW publication pops up) books for guitarist to purchase!Below is the actual site address for the "Blue Book Publications"....
Here are descriptions of the three main books...
Electric Guitars...The guitar industry’s most comprehensive publication on electric guitar information and pricing has been dramatically increased and improved! The new 11th Edition Blue Book of Electric Guitars™ is now over 1,150 pages, and features hundreds of new images.
Acoustic Guitars...The guitar industry’s most comprehensive publication on acoustic guitar information and pricing has been dramatically improved! The new 11th Edition Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars™ is now over 700 pages, and features hundreds of new images.
Guitar Amps...The only comprehensive and up-to-date guitar amplifier pricing book is now available! Finally, you can get the detailed information you’ve been looking for on such famous trademarks as Fender, Marshall, Vox, Mesa-Boogie, Ampeg, and others.
... https://store.bluebookinc.com/Guitars/Default.aspx

New Fender Strat Kenny Wayne Shepherd Model

Here is a look at the new Kenny Wayne Shepherd model Strat.It has three custom-voiced Kenny Wayne Shepherd pickups an alder-body, maple neck with 12"-radius rosewood fingerboard and 21 jumbo frets, vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge with Graph Tech® saddles and Fender vintage-style tuning machines. The guitar comes in three polyester finishes — a Black model with a three-ply black-white-black pickguard and racing stripe body graphic, and Three-color Sunburst and Arctic White models that each have a three-ply mint green pickguard (with cross graphic on the Arctic White model).
... Harmony Central article... http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/2008/Fender-Kenny-Wayne-Shepherd-Stratocaster.html

Chord Progressions Derived From Harmonized Scale

If you are reading this post...great,but,please read my earlier post on the Major scale harmonized,which is below.This post will be showing some chord progressions taken from chords in the harmonized Major scale,no big deal!It really just sounds complicated!If you get a grasp on the Major scale,then,harmonizing it,or,for each note of the Major scale(do-re-me),turning the note into a chord,you got it down!One of the more basic chord progressions is the I-IV-V,or the 1-4-5.Using the key of C and the C Major scale notes...C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C,we can see that a I-IV-V,in the key of C are the notes C-F-and G.And...knowing the chord of each note in the C Major scale,we will know the chords will be C Major-F Major and G Major.Now,if we played a I-VI-IV-V or 1-6-4-5 chord progression,the chords would be C Major,A minor,F Major and G Major.If you look at the earlier post,you will see that the 6 note harmonized is a minor chord.Now,lets say we have a II-V-I chord progression,the changes would be D minor-G Major and C Major.So if you look at the Major scale,then harmonize it and then think up a chord progression,you will know what chord type to play!Last example,lets say the progression is IV-V-VII-I,the chords would be F Major-G Major-B diminished and C Major....patience and don't beat yourself up either :-).

Harmonizing The Major Scale

This post will be talking about harmonizing the Major scale.This fits in with the earlier post on chord progressions.We talked about the I-IV-V chord progression and the chords were C Major-F Major and G Major.And we talked about a I-VI-IV-V chord progression or C-A minor-F and G.Now why are the chords C,F and G Major,but the A chord is minor?It is because there is a formula,it is the Major scale harmonized.The formula is below....

Harmonizing the Major Scale
The Basics:

Most chord progressions that you will come across are based on a formula. That formula is the harmonized major scale, or what I call the CHORD SCALE. There are exceptions to this statement, but usually, those exceptions can be traced back to the harmonized major scale as well.



If we take the major scale:



C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C



And we build a triad off of each note of the scale using only notes found within the scale, we get this:


I

C-E-G(notes of triad)-chord
1-3-5
Cmaj(the 1 is Major)
ii

D-F-A
1-b3-5
Dmin(the 2 is minor)
iii

E-G-B
1-b3-5
Emin(the 3 is minor)
IV

F-A-C
1-3-5
Fmaj(the 4 is major)
V

G-B-D
1-3-5
Gmaj(the 5 is major)
vi

A-C-E
1-b3-5
Amin(the 6 is minor)
vii

B-D-F
1-b3-b5
Bdim(the 7 is diminshed)
VIII

C-E-G
1-3-5
Cmaj(and Major again)
I-IV-V-I means to play the chord built off of the first degree (note) of the scale followed by the chord built from the 4th degree, the chord built off of the 5th degree and back to the chord built off of the 1st degree. In the key of C, that would be C-F-G-C.
If the chord progression was a I-VI-IV-V,the chords would be C-Am.F-G.A being a minor because the 6th(VI)tone of the major scale harmonized is a minor.Now if the chord progression was a,say,I-II-VII-I(1,2,7,1),the chords would be C-Dm-B diminished-C.So apply the harmonized major scale along with the chord progression,in determining if the chord will be a Major,a minor,or a diminished!
Now a B diminished chord chart...

...the fingering is...4th string-1st finger
3rd string-3rd finger
2nd string-2nd finger
1st string-4th finger
***strings 5 and 6 are not played in this shape
Now,in addition,the previous post on the Major and minor Bar chords can apply to the above.Simply use the bar chords instead of using "open" chord shapes for the harmonized Major scale and chord progressions.

Links for further studies... www.musiciansfriend.com
... www.guitarchordsmagic.com
Thanks to Musicians Friend and Guitar Chords Magic

Dave Matthews Band Sax Player LeRoi Moore Passes

I did not know of the accident LeRoi Moore had.But i am sure he will be missed by Dave Matthews and the other band members.I have always likes the Dave Matthews band and the material that was written and performed.It is unique and hard to label,a real winner in my book!And to mention...Dave's vocals have improved through the years!But,getting back to LeRoi,he was a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band,so i am sure he will be missed.A band becomes like a family,and any changes that occur definitely affects the whole band!Below are some links,with a really good video link on Charlie Rose's site.

...LeRoi Moore, a saxophonist and founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, died Tuesday in Los Angeles of complications from an all-terrain vehicle accident in June, the band's rep announced. Moore, who had recently returned to his house in L.A. to begin a physical rehabilitation program, died at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, according to the rep. On June 30, Moore was injured in an Atv accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Va., and hospitalized for several days in serious condition. He was readmitted to the hospital in Virginia last month for an undisclosed period due to complications from the accident,
... http://www.davematthewsband.com/
... http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-08-19-leroi-moore_N.htm
... http://www.charlierose.com/guests/leroi-moore

The Minor Bar Chord and Notes On Fretboard

Hope all is doing well with the bar chords.This post is speaking about the minor bar chord,how to form and play it, and the notes on the fretboard.
The minor bar chord shape is a 3 string bar,done with your first finger.You will bar the same as the Major,but including one more string in the bar.I have also included a diagram of the fretboard.Along the bottom will be blue dots.These dots represent the major notes for the 6th and first string up the fretboard.I know when you look at all the notes listed,it is a bit daunting!But by having a system for learning the notes,it takes the mystery out and makes the task a lot easier!
As mentioned earlier,the same applies to the minor bar chord shape,bar all six strings,slant the left hand slightly to the left and pinch the neck with your thumb and fingers.And if you look inside the chord you will see the E minor open string shape within the F minor bar chord.
Now,since this shape is "moveable",we can simply move the shape up the fingerboard to other frets,thus calling it a G minor bar chord or an A minor bar chord,etc.I have included a diagram of the fretboard,with the notes for the 6th string listed with a blue dot underneath each one.These are the "main" notes to be concerned with for now.And there is a set pattern for the order of these notes.Beginning with the 6th string open,it is the note E,then F to G to A to B to C to D and to E(same as open).There is a rule here,it is always this way...
Notes A to B =Always 2 frets apart or 1 Whole step
Notes B to C =Always 1 fret apart or a half step
Notes C to D =Always 2 frets apart or again 1 Whole step
Notes D to E =Always 2 frets apart or,yes, 1 Whole step
Notes E to F =Always 1 fret apart or.yes,a half step
and finally G to A =Always 2 frets apart or 1 Whole step
So,All notes are 2 frets apart from one another(Whole step),Except for the notes B to C and E to F which are 1 fret apart(half step).
Now,knowing this and the name of each open string,will help you figure out the notes,on each string,going up the fretboard.Yes...going UP the fretboard!Because we are going UP in pitch!Simply start with the name of the open string,then apply the rules above,and you will figure or know the main notes on the fretboard!
So you ask,why all this extra info?Because each time you move this minor bar chord shape up the fretboard,it will have a different name!On fret one it is the F minor.On fret 3,it is the G minor,on fret 5,it is the A minor,etc.And this will apply to the Major bar chord shape as well.
Again,be patient,let this all settle for a while,and it will begin to make sense.
...Below is the F minor(6th string root)bar shape,along with the fretboard diagram,For now just concentrate on learning the major notes for the 6th and 1st strings.They are the same!

The Full Bar Chord....6th String Root

OK...we are now going to talk about the full bar chord,the 6th string root bar chord.There are actually the 4th,5th and 6th string root bar chords.The 4th and 6th string root shapes are very similar.For the 6th string Major you bar all 6 strings with the first finger.And if you play an E Major open string shape,well,that is part of the 6th string root Major bar chord.Once you have formed the bar chord,you can see the shape of the E Major open string chord in the F Major bar chord.
....you can see the open E shape inside the bar chord...

In the diagram the numbers represent the fingers to use,and you are barring across all 6 strings with the 1st finger.It will be easier to form the chord if,you twist your wrist to the left a little so that your fingers are slanted to the left!Now strum all six strings....voila!Be patient while learning to play this chord,it will take some time.Now,pick each string separately to listen to see which note(s)are not ringing out.By doing this,you will hear which ones are not clear,work on all the notes(6) to ring out clearly.Maybe,try "pinching" the neck with your thumb behind the neck,and your other fingers.This will help with the barring finger.The great thing about bar chords is,they are "movable",unlike the open string chords,the bar chords can be moved up and down the neck!You use the same shape,just move it it to another fret number.The 1st fret bar chord is the F,the 3rd fret is the G,the 5th fret is the A,etc.We will talk about that more later,the notes on the sixth string.Next we will talk about the minor bar chord shape.Remember....patience is the name of the game here,and break often while playing the bar shapes,until you gain more strength in your wrist and fingers.
....This is called the F Major(6th string root, Major bar chord)

Quick Music Fact...Choices For Soloing

Here are a few choices you have for soloing or improvising...

2-notes patterns: intervals
3-notes patterns: triads
4-notes patterns: arpeggios
5-notes patterns: pentatonic scales
6-notes patterns: blues scales
7 or 8-notes patterns: scales

Isaac Hayes Passes At Age 65

Memphis..Just got the word that Isaac Hayes has passed.He was found in his home on the floor of a bedroom unresponsive,he was 65.The most recent time i saw him was on a late night show,with his large band/horns.They performed what else but,Shaft.He was directing the band,and the arrangement was great.I have always enjoyed and played in horn bands.And of course the reason for my first wah-wah purchase was to learn and play the song Shaft!Isaac won an Oscar in 1972 with that theme song for the movie Shaft.Yea,when i think of Isaac Hayes,i think of the song..."shut your mouth"...Shaft,along with the wah-wah.!And he was the voice of the chef on the show South Park.He will be missed by many,i am sure.May peace be with him....
News link... http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iMlKQQjKqtM0559fVKC1fVS44_iw
additional press releases... http://www.isaachayes.com/press/index.html ...this is a great link to more great links of Isaac Hayes..he was on a recent "roll"!

Another Free Ringtone From Greg Waters...All Over You

More from Greg Waters-G at Myxer

For your free ring tone creator check out Myxer @
http://www.myxer.com/

Quick Music Fact...Changing Strings

When changing a string or strings.something that helps with staying in tune later is,when you thread the string through the eyelet of the tuning gear post,snip it two gears down(this creates 2 to 3 windings around the post once wound),then bend it at the eyelet to a 90 degree angle.This will help lock the string once tightened up.And as you are winding the string,pull up on the string,keeping it tight as you wind.And notice in the picture,the string winding ends up below the eyelet,not above!.Of course,if you have a lock down system,there is no need for this!

Finger Tapping,String Breaking....Monte Montgomery

You gotta check this guy out!I call his playing...The Complete Package!He has so many tricks/tools/weapons, in his players toolbox and never loses sight of the song!His chord melody playing is quite admirable,along with his single note melody playing.And all is done on the acoustic,while playing the classic song by Jimi Hendrix...Little Wing.And to top it off at the end,he tunes down his 6th string,an octave,to the chord being played and then.....then....Breaks His Strings...hum...He really is impressive,there are many lessons to be learned in this one song!My praises go out to Monte (Mighty) Montgomery...i am humbled!
Links... http://www.montemontgomery.com/
... http://www.myspace.com/officialmontemontgomery

The Top 15 Albums For Women

Hum...this is a subjective subject for sure!I read this guys list over at Yahoo,and wow,he must have been born recently or maybe did in home schooling,i don't know!The ONLY older listing was Jefferson Starship!There were many factors invovled in his decision making.,maybe even a particular beginning date!Lets see now,The Dixie Chicks were listed twice,along with Britney Spears,Mariah Carey and Shania Twain....PA...Lease...How about Gladys Knight or Pat Benetar or Sade or Karen Carpenter or Dolly Pardon.Hey,some of these are my favs,some are not,but i think they have a place,they immediately come to mind as far as popularity!Go check out the list,come back and give me your suggestions.And WHY even list a singer more than once,when there are only a total of 15......
... http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/yradish/23407/the-top-15-albums-of-all-time-by-women
...Pictures....left,right,center and bottom,are...Pat Benetar,Sade,Gladys Knight and Karen Carpenter

Bar Chords...The Minor

...An earlier post,The Almighty Bar Chord,below,was the first of post to talk about the bar chords,so you may want to read that first before studying this post on the minor bar chord.

Hope you have been working on the F/4th string root Major bar chord.This post will be talking about the F/4th string root minor bar chord.I would like to mention that the major bar chord actually has the E Major open string shape within the chord,and the minor bar chord has the open string E minor shape within it. Once you learn the shape and can play the chord,you can move the shape/chord up and down the fretboard,you can not do this with open chords,it will not work.Again,when learning to play the Major and minor shapes,try forming the bar with the first finger,then form the rest of the chord.For the minor shape,the finger on the 4th string will be your 3rd finger and you will bar with the first finger.Next we will talk about the full or 6th string root bar chord!But for now,work on the 4 note shape!
..............Only play the blue dotted notes

And after getting the 4th string root bar chord,start on playing the full 6th string root version...

Chord Progressions

All things,chords,chord progressions,scales and modes,are related to the Major scale.It starts with the C major scale,with no sharps or flats.The notes of the C Major scale are below.Now,another way of calling these notes of the scale is by numbers instead of alphabetically.Some people refer to this as the "Nashville Number System"!The truth is,this has been being applied since classical music originated!A musician might say,Greg,we are going to play this tune,it is in the key of C Major,and the chord progression is just a 1,4,5.So i now know the key...C,and the chords involved in the song(1,4,5) C,F and G.How did i figure this out?Well,look below,the C Major scale...the C is the 1,the F is the 4,and the G is the 5.If you can just get a grip on this way of thinking,it will make the whole music theory thing make much better since to you,and you will begin to understand chords,chord construction,scales and the modes.O.K.,now that we have that out of the way,lets talk about chord progressions more.In Western music,the 1,4,5 is very popular.Another popular chord progression is called a 1,6,4,5.Lets see now,in the key of C Major,this would be the chords C,A,F and G.We simply added the 6 or A.And the A would be a minor chord,A minor.So we have C Major,A minor,F Major and G Major.Now with the chord progressions...1,4,5 and 1,6,4,5,you do not have to go exactly by that order!The 1,4,5,in a song may go 4,5 and then 1,or,F,G and then C.So,if you remember this and apply it to other keys,you will know the changes,or,chord progressions to a lot of pop songs.All the classic rock,folk,r&b,funk,old soul,etc,are written to these type chord progressions.So memorize your keys(the notes and order,for each key) and you will be playing lots of songs quicker and easier.

Major Scale.... C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C or 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8(1)
A...1,4,5 chord progression in the key of C is...C,F and G

The Other Keys
C... C,F and G
G...G,C and D
D...D,G and A
A...A,D and E
E...E,A and B
B...B,E and F#

More Chord Progressions...
1 The I-IV-V
o 1.1 Applying the I-IV-V
2 The I-vi-IV-V
3 The I-vi-V-I
4 The I-V-I-I
5 The ii-V-I
o 5.1 Applying the II-V-I
6 The Minor ii-V-I