The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Classical

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 05-06-2018, 01:10 PM
sirwhale sirwhale is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Spain
Posts: 1,081
Default Red Pony played on nylon (and in standard tuning)

I love this Fahey song, but when you have a flamenco guitar changing tuning is a real pain.

It's originally in Open Dm, but I play this one in standard tuning, playing the alternating bass on the 6th and 3rd strings.

Standard tuning is very close to Open Em, you just need to raise the 4th and 5th up a tone, or you can just work around it. Luckily there isn't much going on on the 4th and 5th strings, and what is happening, I can reach to make sure I'm staying true to the original. Equally, there isn't much happening on the 3rd string when I need to the alternating bass. There is one moment when I switch to just playing the bass on the 6th string (without alternating) when the melody temporarily drops to the 3rd string.

__________________
Christian
Guitar: Camps Primera Negra A (a flamenco guitar)
Strings: Aquila SugarAquila Rubino, Knobloch CX, Aquila Alchemia
I play: Acoustic blues & folk
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/sirwhale28/videos

Last edited by sirwhale; 05-06-2018 at 01:56 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-06-2018, 01:49 PM
BJ9RW BJ9RW is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: New York City
Posts: 68
Default

Very clever, recognizing how close open Em is to standard. I play it in open Dm, the only song I play in that tuning, so a real pain to go into it just for one song. Great job!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-07-2018, 01:07 AM
sirwhale sirwhale is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Spain
Posts: 1,081
Default

Some songs are just so good you have to find a way to play them. Skip James also plays a lot in Open Dm, but unlike this song he uses the 4th and 5th strings a lot. It can be done in Standard, but requires more skill and quicker fingers. Maybe I'll put the effort in sooner or later.
__________________
Christian
Guitar: Camps Primera Negra A (a flamenco guitar)
Strings: Aquila SugarAquila Rubino, Knobloch CX, Aquila Alchemia
I play: Acoustic blues & folk
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/sirwhale28/videos
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-07-2018, 05:01 AM
sirwhale sirwhale is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Spain
Posts: 1,081
Default Blues & Fahey songs on nylon (to show it works) (Edit: now with more songs)

I'm continuing my mission to show how good blues, and other styles like John Fahey's, can sound on a flamenco guitar. These styles are entirely associated with steel string guitars, an instrument that John Fahey championed.

But I love blues and I love Fahey (and similar artists), but I also love my flamenco guitar. I think they sound fantastic together. I sold all my steel strings (I prefer the sound, and much prefer the tension and feel), even when I was only playing blues and Fahey.

Hopefully soon I'll upload some covers of Rev. Gary Davis so others can see.
__________________
Christian
Guitar: Camps Primera Negra A (a flamenco guitar)
Strings: Aquila SugarAquila Rubino, Knobloch CX, Aquila Alchemia
I play: Acoustic blues & folk
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/sirwhale28/videos

Last edited by Kerbie; 05-19-2019 at 03:52 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-07-2018, 07:16 AM
jstroop jstroop is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: North Texas
Posts: 261
Default

Point made. Nice work. What mic is that?
__________________
Joe
1948 Martin D18
1999 Martin HD28
2015 Northwood R-80 MJ
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-07-2018, 07:39 AM
sirwhale sirwhale is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Spain
Posts: 1,081
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jstroop View Post
Point made. Nice work. What mic is that?
AT2020 USB. Not sure why we bought that one now and not the Yeti. My mother-in-law has the Yeti now. I don't know much about recording, I just wanted a USB mic.
__________________
Christian
Guitar: Camps Primera Negra A (a flamenco guitar)
Strings: Aquila SugarAquila Rubino, Knobloch CX, Aquila Alchemia
I play: Acoustic blues & folk
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/sirwhale28/videos
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-08-2018, 03:40 AM
drbekken drbekken is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Trondheim, Norway
Posts: 66
Default

Great....! It is a fact; blues-type stuff sounds gorgeous on nylon strings. Wish more players discovered it.
__________________
Piano, Guitar, Ukulele
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-09-2018, 09:09 PM
jrethorst jrethorst is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 54
Default

John would commend your playing and tone!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-10-2018, 07:37 PM
Stringmaster Stringmaster is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 718
Default

Sounds great! I've been toying with the idea of a nylon string guitar for Blues, Swing, Cowboy/Folk tunes. Thinking a crossover guitar would be the best choice--any experience/recommendations, etc?
Thx!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-10-2018, 11:47 PM
sirwhale sirwhale is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Spain
Posts: 1,081
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stringmaster View Post
Sounds great! I've been toying with the idea of a nylon string guitar for Blues, Swing, Cowboy/Folk tunes. Thinking a crossover guitar would be the best choice--any experience/recommendations, etc?
Thx!
I bought a good Camps crossover when I was in the same transition. But after a few months I got a flamenco and prefer everything about it. My advice; try both, give the flamenco neck some time and you may really like it. I actually didn't need time, I wasn't happy with the crossover as I wanted something definitive and of quality, I went back to the shop, asked for a flamenco, and liked the neck, fretboard, space, sans radius, straight away.
__________________
Christian
Guitar: Camps Primera Negra A (a flamenco guitar)
Strings: Aquila SugarAquila Rubino, Knobloch CX, Aquila Alchemia
I play: Acoustic blues & folk
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/sirwhale28/videos
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-11-2018, 05:41 AM
Stringmaster Stringmaster is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 718
Default

^^
Thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-12-2018, 05:16 PM
rodmbds rodmbds is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Brazil
Posts: 325
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sirwhale View Post
I bought a good Camps crossover when I was in the same transition. But after a few months I got a flamenco and prefer everything about it. My advice; try both, give the flamenco neck some time and you may really like it. I actually didn't need time, I wasn't happy with the crossover as I wanted something definitive and of quality, I went back to the shop, asked for a flamenco, and liked the neck, fretboard, space, sans radius, straight away.
I got the same point of view. I was happy with a crossover but after a while it felt like "all over the place".

I don't know about you guys, but I feel that the nylon strings give me a much similar sound to what's heard on the old blues recordings than a steel strung guitar.

I'm guessing it's because equip at the time couldn't capture some of the high frequencies, so the warm nylon strings sound, playing live, closer to the recordings.

At least it's what I feel. Hope it was clear

Btw, awesome playing, congrats!
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Classical

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=