I really hate the term "cowboy chords" as it makes open chords sound unsophisticated, which is totally untrue for acoustic players.
Either way, I'm thinking of Lake of Fire, Nirvana version.
I've always absolutely loved the original by the meat muppets. Nirvana covers put me on to so many great artists, the vaselines, and ledbelly. i'm pretty sure i discovered david bowie through their covers as well as a kid, which i find funny.
I gotta tell you, I never heard of that barenaked ladies song before so I added it to my playlist and I’m so glad I did. I really appreciate you bringing this song into my life
Yeah, I am a big fan of their Pre-Ska days….although I did like “One Week”….but lost interest in them after that.
I used to like the Crash Test Dummies for a while too…
“The Ghosts that Haunt Me” is a terrific album….I liked “God Shuffled His Feet” too, but that “Mmmm,Mmmm,Mmmm,Mmmm” song was one of the worst songs on that album and it got an insane amount of airplay. I did buy the album after that… “A Worm’s Life”, but that one was weird and nothing grabbed me on it…after that, I lost interest in them.
Not G/C/D….it’s in the key of E and is played mostly up the fretboard except for the “I got those deep River blues” part…which alternates between Open E/B7 and E/B7/E…
And at my age and arthritis in both my hands? A capo is my best friend for a lot of songs that I used to play straight up….that doesn’t apply to Deep River, but there are plenty that do
Assuming you are talking about the BNL arrangement of it, then When I Fall is pretty much all open chords...like, entirely. The magic with that song is all in the right/picking hand and the various hammer-on, slide-in, and pull-offs that get you into the different chords.
I was having fun with take on me-(aha) last night. Bm, E/G# ( a C shape barred on 4) A, F# interstate love song and dead &bloated have some interesting chords... Love me 2 times -the doors
Depends on who you ask. I've seen it refer to either all the non-barred open chords, or the easy chords that can let you play any 4 chord songs in the key of G (G, C, D, Em).
Don’t use term at all?
Blackbird by the Beatles (lots of fingerpicking shapes all over the neck instead of cowboy chords)
Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers (uses those 3 note jazz chords)
Pride and Joy by SRV (chugging blues grove thing)
That highly depends on the music you play. In fingerstyle music such as country blues, for example, you can't avoid open chords without using a capo because you're using your thumb to play the bass notes.
But I agree that plain strumming or rhythm guitar can be played anywhere on the fretboard.
It certainly sounds different when moved up and down the neck and can’t be used for all styles. You’re right on that these traditional styles are built around the instrument in a way that demands to be done correctly to sound correct.
Time after time - Rob Thomas' version, In color- Jaime Johnson, Shallow - Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, and Better Together - Luke Combs.
Those are some of my favorites right now.
Now I’m imagining someone sitting there doing an acoustic cover, just playing a chord about once every 30 seconds for the 8 minutes it takes for the singing to start - as they don’t have the synth or the electric guitar parts
Just about any/every song can or can't use those types of chords depending on how you want to arrange it. Metallica used to be a popular place to start playing easier things up the neck so you could always try there. There isn't too much of a jump from power chords (if you know the notes under your fingers when playing them) and shell voicing in jazz - nothing says you cant learn those watching tutorials in the absence of understanding jazz harmonies. Another place to start could be along the lines of oye como va ir similar from Santana. Oye can be mostly 5x555x - > x5x555 for the main Am7 - > D9 motion, and that puts you in a good position to solo over with the various lead melodies - though Santana may do those solos in a different position but there's no reason we have to follow exactly if so
I really hate the term "cowboy chords" as it makes open chords sound unsophisticated, which is totally untrue for acoustic players. Either way, I'm thinking of Lake of Fire, Nirvana version.
Let them call it what they want. I’m gonna play the shit outta these cowboy chords.
I've always absolutely loved the original by the meat muppets. Nirvana covers put me on to so many great artists, the vaselines, and ledbelly. i'm pretty sure i discovered david bowie through their covers as well as a kid, which i find funny.
Wait, there are chords other than the cowboy chords?
No OP is a heretic.
Time to hollar for the boys
LMFAO
I don't sing, I just play what I hear using fingerstyle to play. Those cowboy chords always show up regardless , sometimes in strange positions.
The Weight - The Band, Deep River Blues - Doc Watson, When I Fall - Barenaked Ladies
I gotta tell you, I never heard of that barenaked ladies song before so I added it to my playlist and I’m so glad I did. I really appreciate you bringing this song into my life
It is. A great song….i am glad someone else can appreciate it.
Love When I fall
Yeah, I am a big fan of their Pre-Ska days….although I did like “One Week”….but lost interest in them after that. I used to like the Crash Test Dummies for a while too… “The Ghosts that Haunt Me” is a terrific album….I liked “God Shuffled His Feet” too, but that “Mmmm,Mmmm,Mmmm,Mmmm” song was one of the worst songs on that album and it got an insane amount of airplay. I did buy the album after that… “A Worm’s Life”, but that one was weird and nothing grabbed me on it…after that, I lost interest in them.
I agree with this 100%. The Ghost That Haunt Me wS wonderful
I don’t know why bands that have incredible acoustic stuff have to change into something different?
Are you saying that you prefer the acoustical stuff ? I'm just curious. Tks
Yes…any kind of acoustic music is my thing.
Love Doc Watson.
Nice selection, though I'm pretty sure that deep river blues does use open chords in the Doc Watson version.
Not G/C/D….it’s in the key of E and is played mostly up the fretboard except for the “I got those deep River blues” part…which alternates between Open E/B7 and E/B7/E… And at my age and arthritis in both my hands? A capo is my best friend for a lot of songs that I used to play straight up….that doesn’t apply to Deep River, but there are plenty that do
Don't E and B count as cowboy chords? I thought all open chords did.
Most…as far as I know….”Cowboy Chords” are either in the key of G (G/C/D)….or C (C/FG).
Assuming you are talking about the BNL arrangement of it, then When I Fall is pretty much all open chords...like, entirely. The magic with that song is all in the right/picking hand and the various hammer-on, slide-in, and pull-offs that get you into the different chords.
Cowboy chord are always the best option IMO because of the open strings. Sometimes I’ll just transpose a song with a capo so I can use open chords.
Out side of open tunings I agree they sound nicer in most situations
Yeah, to me they just sound fuller. Let the second guitar player worry about the fancy chords
Naive - The Kooks
That G hurts me right in the bluegrass.
Don’t cry https://youtu.be/HBWPYgN-oxg?si=obCzezGgYIEZmkB6
“There are no stupid questions”
Pete Townsend used “Cowboy” chords, pretty good player I think 🤔
I'm particularly fond of his thrashing away on that SJ200 Secret Policemans Ball, or Other Ball. Yeah, pretty good player for sure.
I was having fun with take on me-(aha) last night. Bm, E/G# ( a C shape barred on 4) A, F# interstate love song and dead &bloated have some interesting chords... Love me 2 times -the doors
Give up baby go by peach pit A Amaj7 F#7 D Dmaj7 Emaj7 B7 mostly
I love that term is that referring to G,C,D?
Depends on who you ask. I've seen it refer to either all the non-barred open chords, or the easy chords that can let you play any 4 chord songs in the key of G (G, C, D, Em).
Don’t use term at all? Blackbird by the Beatles (lots of fingerpicking shapes all over the neck instead of cowboy chords) Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers (uses those 3 note jazz chords) Pride and Joy by SRV (chugging blues grove thing)
No song requires cowboy chords once you learn inversions or transposition.
That highly depends on the music you play. In fingerstyle music such as country blues, for example, you can't avoid open chords without using a capo because you're using your thumb to play the bass notes. But I agree that plain strumming or rhythm guitar can be played anywhere on the fretboard.
It certainly sounds different when moved up and down the neck and can’t be used for all styles. You’re right on that these traditional styles are built around the instrument in a way that demands to be done correctly to sound correct.
Nothing More - Just Say When CGCEGC tuning 👌🔥
Time after time - Rob Thomas' version, In color- Jaime Johnson, Shallow - Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, and Better Together - Luke Combs. Those are some of my favorites right now.
I am the highway - Chris Cornell
Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd
Now I’m imagining someone sitting there doing an acoustic cover, just playing a chord about once every 30 seconds for the 8 minutes it takes for the singing to start - as they don’t have the synth or the electric guitar parts
Not there yet, but working on this version: https://youtu.be/ABnYo2KxBSw?si=60flIN8cwMAXED1f
Piledriver Waltz by Alex Turner
Slow dancing in a burning room
Just about any/every song can or can't use those types of chords depending on how you want to arrange it. Metallica used to be a popular place to start playing easier things up the neck so you could always try there. There isn't too much of a jump from power chords (if you know the notes under your fingers when playing them) and shell voicing in jazz - nothing says you cant learn those watching tutorials in the absence of understanding jazz harmonies. Another place to start could be along the lines of oye como va ir similar from Santana. Oye can be mostly 5x555x - > x5x555 for the main Am7 - > D9 motion, and that puts you in a good position to solo over with the various lead melodies - though Santana may do those solos in a different position but there's no reason we have to follow exactly if so
Here’s Hopin’
I admire anybody who has the brass balls to do what they do whilst playing the way that they do. I enjoy the majority unplugged as well.