Comprehensive Guitar Technique and Songwriting Study Guide

Technical Guitar Mechanics and Chord Theory

• The "Babadoby" Riff:

  • Key: The riff is played in $G\# \text{ minor}$. Initially incorrectly identified as $G \text{ flat minor}$, but corrected to $G\# \text{ minor}$.

  • Mechanics: The riff involves barring two strings with one finger and using an additional finger for the melody. It incorporates a walking bassline style combined with a sets of three-note chords.

  • Chord Construction: The riff uses fairly simple three-note chords played in a jazzy pattern.

  • Origin: The riff is from a song titled "The Perfect Pair" by the artist labeled "Babadoby" (also referred to as "Beevedoby" or "Bebeadoobee").

  • Physical Difficulty: The instructor notes that this specific riff is painful to execute on an acoustic guitar due to the barring required, though the original recording is likely acoustic.

• Tapping and Harmonics Technique:

  • Execution: Tapping involves using the $12^{\text{th}}$ fret as a reference point. When a chord is voiced, the tapping shape must move relative to the chord shape (e.g., shifting the $12^{\text{th}}$ fret harmonic point based on the fretted notes).

  • Tone Quality: This technique produces "sparkly" bell tones or harmonics.

  • Comparative Difficulty: While often associated with electric guitars, the instructor notes that tapping can actually sound better and feel more precise on an acoustic guitar (specifically citing a Taylor acoustic) because the finger must follow the fretboard precision exactly.

• Guitar Hardware and Tones:

  • Tone Description: Discussion of the "chimey" or "chime" tone, which is a hallmark of the Fender Stratocaster (Strat) electric guitar.

  • Artist Specific Technique (John Mayer): Discussion of Mayer’s style in "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room." He famously uses his thumb to wrap around the neck for lower notes (like $C\#$) due to having exceptionally large hands.

  • Maintenance: Mention of an original Fender guitar strap that was repaired by sewing because the hole for the peg had become too worn and loose.

Songwriting Theory and Structural Analysis

• The Concept of the Ballad:

  • Definition: A ballad is defined in music as a song that tells a specific story.

  • Application: While all music can be said to tell a "musical story" through the movement of harmony, dissonance, and resolution, a ballad is distinguished by its narrative lyrical structure.

• Rhyme Schemes and "Nested Half-Rhymes":

  • Slant/Half-Rhymes: The instructor highlights the use of "garages" and "ages." Despite different vowel sounds ($\text{ah}$ vs. $\text{a}$), the biological structure of the words ($\text{g-a-r-a-g-e-s}$ vs. $\text{a-g-e-s}$) allows the brain to connect them as a rhyme.

  • Rhyme Placement: Using "home" and "go" in positions where a rhyme is expected creates a satisfying connection for the listener even if the rhyme is not perfect (only sharing the $O$ vowel sound).

  • Function: Moving away from perfect rhymes prevents a song from sounding predictable, boring, or "cheesy."

• Wordiness and Chorus Intensity:

  • Critique of Wordiness: The instructor notes that long, wordy choruses can be harder to memorize and may sometimes function more like verses. Artists like Elton John (e.g., "I'm Still Standing") and Billy Joel are cited as examples of successful artists who write wordy, piano-driven choruses.

  • Redeeming Contrast: A wordy chorus can be successful if it has vocal intensity, such as "walking up" vocally, to differentiate it from the verses.

  • Case Study - Coldplay’s "Fix You": Referenced as a masterpiece of structural dynamics. The choruses are smaller and less intense than the verses, and the bridge is effective despite having very few words, using space to draw attention to intensity.

Creative Education and the "Distillation" of Voice

• The Derivative Nature of Art:

  • Philosophy: "There is nothing new under the sun." Every invention and creative work is built upon the "giants" that came before.

  • Historical Context: Early composers would have students copy their music verbatim first, then create variations, and finally write original works.

  • Goal of the Artist: The objective is to take the "distillation" of everything one likes from various artists and combine them into a unique personal voice.

• Limitations as a Canvas:

  • The concept that having a "box" or a limit (a specific theme or canvas size) forces more creativity than infinite possibilities. This is preparation for commissioned songwriting where artists must write to specific themes or requirements.

Original Composition: "Texas Back Roads"

• Inspiration and Background:

  • Inspired by the song "Just Breathe" by Willie Nelson and Lukas Nelson.

  • Written after a drive home through fields and farmhouses in Texas.

  • The song is characterized as Country/Bluegrass, heavily influenced by Willie Nelson’s style and tempo ($\text{BPM}$).

• Lyrical Content (Verbatim):

  • Verse 1: "Look out the window. What do I see? As big empty fields as green as can be. Full of cows and cowboys making their way back home. Old trucks and cars parked in old garages, quaint little homes that have been there for ages. Only families that swear they'll never go."

  • Chorus: "In the old Texas back roads, you'll find the remains of an old life we've left behind. Hills full of love, full of peace. Everybody knew god's word. Everybody's happy in our care in the world. And when you're going through a rough patch in life, you're never alone. We've gone by your side if you have any offend. I'm right up the road. You'll always find love. Those text back roads."

  • Verse 2: "Drive up the road, what will I find? The white church, beautiful and kind. Children waving as I travel by."

Guitar Chord and Scale Review

• Dominant 7th Shapes:

  • Movable shapes are derived from the open $E$ and $A$ positions.

  • Dominant 7 on the $E$ string: Move the open $E$ minor 7 shape up and bar it.

• Major 7th Shapes:

  • Movable Major 7: Uses a shape similar to a "backwards $D$".

  • $E \text{ string Major 7}$: Often sounds better at higher frets due to the low pitch of the chord construction.

• Minor 7th Shapes:

  • Open $A \text{ minor 7}$: The traditional open position.

  • Open $E \text{ minor 7}$: Only requires one finger in the open position, incorporating the high $E$ string.

• Suspended and Add Chords:

  • Mention of $C\text{sus}2$, $D\text{sus}4$, and $C\text{add}9$.

Questions & Discussion

• Soloing Logistics:

  • Student: Is the plan putting a solo here? Because you have solo in the time… Unfortunately, I can't play chords and solo at the same time.

  • Instructor: I can play the chorus for you while you solo. You can effectively have a quiet electric guitar solo over the acoustic rhythm.

• Chord Chart Discrepancies:

  • The instructor points out that the student missed an $F\#$ chord in one measure but added an extra one where it wasn't written. The student acknowledges flipping them in the chart.

• Music Recommendations (Student to Instructor):

  • Cody Johnson: "Triathlon Soldier" (Cover of a Dixie Chicks song) and "I Always Wanted To."

• Homework Assignments:

  • Listen to "Fix You" by Coldplay and analyze the verse, chorus, and bridge functions.

  • Review all musical modes and pentatonic shapes for integration next week.

  • Review variations of open chords ($\text{sus}$ and $\text{add}$ chords).