Cowboy Chords

[zmf]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

And there are open chords that have a sound you can't get with chords up the neck.

Having imprinted on John Fahey's "John Henry" early in my guitar preoccupation, I look for music that is played solely in open G. It relaxes me.

Just sayin' I'm not a snob about first position chords.

[CASD57]

The way I was told by old fart pickers...Cowboy chords=Open Chords/first position

[Nymuso]

I don't have a problem with the term, I think most can readily deduce what chords are referenced. I also don't think of it as a pejorative term per se. Even if it is intended as such, will the disapproval of the speaker be lessened by the use of a synonym?

I would add that even after decades of playing, most of the chords I use in an average gig are cowboy chords or variants thereof. When playing jazz or standards, I'm more likely to play more up the neck, tight chords. It depends on the gig, the genre and most importantly, the song.

[MChild62]

I wonder if the "cowboy" term loosely implies bluegrass/folk/Carter-style, where open chords are emphasized for the oomph they give the rhythm section (even capoed). If so, then maybe more factual than derogatory, at least in its origin.

I remember my flatpicking teacher once said not to spend too much time on bar chords since "we don't use them much."

[RedJoker]

Originally Posted by Seagull S6

Oh I have heard than sometimes if a cowboy has a spare moment they also heard cattle..........

I, too, have heard cattle.

[The Bard Rocks]

I have alway perceived the term used in a slightly derogatory manner. For most folk music, I prefer their sound when accompanying. It is fuller and has more bass as well as a basic 3 note sound. But not as good when you want to call attention to your guitar work as it doesn't cut through as well as chords further up the neck.

[rct]

Originally Posted by RedJoker

I, too, have heard cattle.

I sit in the valleys of Yellowstone, Hayden and Lamar, and hear the bison. There is nothing like listening to them reassure each other that they are there at 2am. If I sit out in the grass far enough without Mrs having a heart attack, I can feel them walking around me, they sniff at me and talk to the others, I guess tell them there is a strange rock here or something.

Terrifyingly beautiful music.

rct

[Bluebaren]

I have never heard that term and been playing guitar since the 60s.I guess you are never too old to learn.

[rmgjsps]

Just for some fun:

Oh, give me chords, lots of chords
On a beautiful guitar
Don’t CAGE me in.

Let me play in the way
Of the Cowboy songs I love
Don’t CAGE me in.

Let me pluck out the bass
On the E through G strings
Tickle out a melody on my B and E strings
Play a Western tune that soothes and sings
Don’t CAGE me in.

[s2y]

I have mostly heard it used in a derogatory manor by snobs. Truthfully, I think there's a lot that can be done with them when you consider that most are 2-3 finger chords, which leaves 1-2 fingers to do something else. Those bluegrass fellers can add a lot of texture with them thar cowboy chords.

[Seagull S6]

Originally Posted by RedJoker

I, too, have heard cattle.

What was that? I was listening to the cactus grow and didn't here you.................

[merlin666]

Cowboy chords = if you want to play Bob Wills (Western Swing) tunes but you're no Eldon Shamblin ....

[rmgjsps]

Originally Posted by RedJoker

I, too, have heard cattle.

Herd of Cattle? Sure there's a bunch of 'em over there.

[Jukie]

Originally Posted by Russell G

Well, how many millions of dollars have been made with 3 chords?

Call them cowboy chords, or some other name, it's been the recipe for many a great tune.

Not sure if it was Tommy Tedesco or Chet Atkins who first said "there's no money to be made above the fifth fret".

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by Jukie

Not sure if it was Tommy Tedesco or Chet Atkins who first said "there's no money to be made above the fifth fret".

Which always made me smile, as both of those guys spent a whole lot of time above the fifth fret...

Cowboy chords...aren't they what drew us into the guitar as beginners?...picking up a guitar and strumming a big old E chord? If you've gotten too cool for that, might be time to go back and remember why we picked up this beast in the first place...