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How To Play Johnny Cash Songs On Guitar
By Mike Hayes | December 1, 2009
There is a whole new generation of guitar players discovering
Johnny Cash’s music; people who would normally be listening to
rock or heavy metal are tuning in to this country music legend.
Cash’s songs are easy to play, well constructed and full of
surprises plus they sound great with just one guitar; I thought
it might be interesting to take a closer look at some of the key
ingredients to Johnny’s style.
Johnny Cash style chord progressions:
Most of Johnny’s songs are three chord tunes, notice I didn’t say
simple three chord tunes. Cash regularly turns three chords
progressions into storytelling masterpieces, here’s how…
I’ll use “I Walk The Line” for our project; let’s play it in the
key of A.
A three chord song in the key of A usually refers to the chords
of A, D & E(7). These chords are the 1st, 4th & 5th chords in
that
key.
Key of A
Chord 1 = A
Chord 4 = D
Chord 5 = E(7)
Most experienced guitar players would feel pretty confident
playing three chord songs, after all they are fairly basic so
there shouldn’t be too many surprises here!
That’s where Johnny catches a lot of players nappin’!
Usually a three chord song begins and ends on the “1″ chord; one
of Johnny’s songwriting tricks is to begin on the “5″ chord and
then proceed to the “1″ chord, quite the opposite to standard
three chord songwriting; then again, there’s nothing ’standard’
about Cash’s songs.
Take a close look a “I Walk The Line” and you will see what I
mean.
“I Walk The Line” – Key Of “A”
E7/// | E7/// | A/// | A///| E7/// | E7/// | A/// | A///|
D/// | D/// | A/// | A///| E7/// | E7/// | A/// | A///||
How to learn this song quickly:
Tip 1: the first four bars are the same as the second four bars.
Tip 2: the first four bars are used again to form the last four
bars.
Summary although “I Walk The Line” is a sixteen bar song there
are only two four bar chord sequences to learn.
Chord sequence 1: E7/// | E7/// | A/// | A///|
Chord sequence 2: D/// | D/// | A/// | A///|
Then there’s Cash’s trademark alternating bass:
No Johnny Cash song would be complete without the alternating
bass part; once you have memorized the chord progression try
adding the bass.
Alternating bass for “A” chord would be …
Beat one = fifth sting open; beat two = strum the A chord from
the fourth string to the first string; beat three = play the
sixth string open; beat four = strum the A chord from the fifth
string.
remember to leave your fingers in the A chord formation while you
play your bass notes.
Alternating bass for “E7″ chord would be …
Beat one = sixth string open; beat two = strum the E7 chord from
the fifth string to the first string; beat three = play the fifth
string; beat four = strum the E7 chord from the fourth string.
remember to leave your fingers in the E7 chord formation while
you play your bass notes.
Alternating bass for “D” chord would be …
Beat one = fourth string open; beat two = strum the D chord from
the third string to the first string; beat three = play the fifth
string open; beat four = strum the D chord from the fourth
string.
remember to leave your fingers in the D chord formation while you
play your bass notes.
I invite you to add some Johnny Cash’s songs to your guitar
playing repertoire they will work nicely in just about any
jam session or performance.
And now I’d like to invite you to get free access to my “How To
Remember 1,000 Songs” eCourse. You can download the course for
free at: http://www.guitarcoaching.com
From Mike Hayes – The Guitar Coaching Guy & the Express Guitar
System
Topics: Beginner Guitar Lesson, Country Guitar, Guitar Tips | No Comments »
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