Using Guitar Chord Charts

Guitar chord charts…

Guitar chord charts are a systematic way to learn how to play chords on a guitar. To be able to read the charts, you must first know the different types of chords- major, minor, and dominant seventh. It is important to know what type of chord you are playing when reading the chart so that you can choose which finger numbers your will use in order from index (1) through pinky (4). For example, if you see a “C” on the chart and it says “3 3 3 4,” this means that your index (1), ring finger (2), middle finger (3), and pinky finger (4) will be used in order from left to right.

Guitar Chord Reference Dial…

The guitar chord reference dial is a device that is used to help guitar players learn chords and songs. The device displays the name of each chord, as well as its fingering and the strings that should be played. The beginner can also move their fingers around on the dial for quick reference to different chords.

A guitar chord reference dial helps many guitar players learn chords and songs in a more efficient way than trying to memorize every song note by note. Just by looking at it, you will know which string needs to be strummed, what string should be your ring finger, which one should be your middle finger, and so on.

Music Dials Guitar Chords Chart

Front shows 12 charts, each showing all the chord forms and positions for each major & minor chord. Back shows 12 charts, each showing all the chord forms and positions for each augmented & diminished chord. Also shown are the notes for 7th chords.

Forget those big fat cumbersome chord books. Take a look at a complete guitar chord reference on a simple easy to use 2-sided movable dial. Fits into your instrument case.

Jam On!
Ron Greene
Founder of the Music Dials Charts

J. Geils Left Our Planet on April 12, 2017…

An East Coast (US) guitarist has left us on April 12, 2017… J. Geils.

According to Wikipedia… John Warren Geils Jr. – ‘J. Geils’ – grew up in the New York Metropolitan Area, then interested in jazz and blues music. After moving to Massachusetts for his college education, he formed the J. Geils Blues Band while still a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. After dropping the word “Blues” from their name, the band released their first album in 1970, performing soul and rhythm & blues-influenced rock music for most of the 1970s, before changing styles to New wave music in the 1980s.

The article from Rolling Stone (below) describes the circumstances and updates of J. Geils death at the age of 71, as of the date of this blog writing…

Take Care and Jam On with the music my fellow musicians!

-Ron
Music Dials

J. Geils

… via Rolling Stone online (by: By )

“The J. Geils Band released a slew of albums during the Seventies and early Eighties. With vocalist Peter Wolf at the helm, the band became best known for singles like “Centerfold,” “Love Stinks,” “Come Back” and “Freeze-Frame,” which have since become rock radio mainstays.”

Read More on J. Geils here…

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/guitarist-j-geils-dead-at-71-w476279

Johnny Cash and June Carter Walking the Line…

For the first time the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) is dedicating an entire day to the legacies of “The First Family” of Country Music with a curatorial talk, an instrument spotlight, a themed menu at Café Allegro, a MIMQuiz with prizes, and more on June 25.

Johnny Cash and June Carter has provided a great ride for us musicians to enjoy their contribution to music. So many of us have covered a Johnny Cash tune with many musical variances… from rock to punk.

This press release (below) discusses the event that will take place a the MIM in Phoenix and what to expect if you drop by…

(btw… MIM displays more than 6,500 instruments collected from around 200 of the world’s countries and territories).

Jam On!
-Ron

johnny-cash-and-june-carter

(via: Musical Instrument Museum Organization)

Johnny Cash’s marriage to June Carter Cash represents a union of musical influences that have truly shaped American music for nearly a century. The Carter Family has served as a standard foundation for American folk and country music since their historic recording sessions in Bristol, Tennessee, in 1927. Johnny Cash is one of the most iconic musical personalities…

Read More About This Event Here:
https://mim.org/press/come-walk-the-line-on-june-25-for-musical-icons-johnny-cash-and-june-carter/

Prince as a guitar player…

The musician Prince (died April 21, 2016 @ age 57) and was considered one of our greatest modern era rock/pop singer songwriter. He wasn’t necessarily considered a great guitar player. Yet after further research and review of his expansive musical history (even though he left this planet way to early) it proves that Prince was indeed one of the most acclaimed guitarist in this genre.

Prince also had the early insight of recognizing the record industries manipulative ways of cornering the artistic marketplace. He took it upon himself to be one of the leaders in ‘self-published’ works. As such many musicians to follow expanded on this foundation to distribute their music without the record industry strangle hold on the market.

This article spends a good deal of time getting to the point as to why Prince was considered one of the top greatest guitarist of our times…

Jam On!
-Ron

Prince_-_Musicians_Blog

 

 

(By Jack Hamilton – via: slate.com)

“Prince may have been the greatest guitarist of the post-Hendrix era and often seemed to carry Hendrix’s aura more intrepidly than anyone, most notably in his incredible versatility.” further noting in this article… “The story goes that sometime during the 1980s, Eric Clapton was asked how it felt to be the best guitar player in the world, and responded, “I don’t know; ask Prince.”…

Read the whole story about why Prince may have been the greatest guitarist since Hendrix, here…

https://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/04/28/why_prince_was_the_greatest_guitarist_since_jimi_hendrix.html

Singer Songwriter, Merle Haggard died…

Merle Haggard sang his last song the day of April 6’th, 2016… he was just 79 years old. Born right outside the small town of Bakersfield in the high desert, north over the mountains from Los Angeles.

Many of Merle’s band members, the Strangers, were playing live with him on tour right up to the day of his departure. Some of these members had been with him for over 40 years! Merle himself was a gifted guitar player, mostly played a Fender Telecaster. He had the stories and voice to carry his message to the ones that appreciated his ventures. A real true freedom supporter!

Merle mentioned that… “the road thing is like a run-away train, once you’re on it you keep riding her to the end…”

Haggard wrote over 700 songs! Merle once mentioned that he had written so many songs from so many experiences, that he kept coming around stumbling all over himself. But, once in a while something very powerful would emerge as a new discovery about himself.

Jam On!
– Ron

Merle_Haggard_Musicians_Blog_image
(via FoxNews.com)
The Byrds, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Grateful Dead, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams and Reba McEntire all covered his songs, while many others paid tribute to him in theirs. In the Dixie Chicks’ “Long Time Gone, which criticizes Nashville trends, the trio crooned: “We listen to the radio to hear what’s cookin’ / But the music ain’t got no soul / Now they sound tired but they don’t sound Haggard.”…

Read complete press release here:
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2016/04/06/merle-haggard-dead-on-his-7th-birthday/

David Bowie’s Influence on Music…

David Bowie died in early 2016… his mark on the music industry is both, influential and controversial. Reviewing his past, one can indeed provide many twists and turns that contributed to our music industry.

via GIPHY

The press release below provides more insights regarding the unfortunate (early aged) departure of David Bowie…

Jam On!
-Ron

David-Bowie-Died

Credit Given via:https://www.bbc.com/news/

“The artist’s hits include Let’s Dance, Changes, Space Oddity, Starman, Modern Love, Heroes, Under Pressure, Rebel Rebel and Life on Mars.

He was also well known for creating his flamboyant alter ego Ziggy Stardust.

The singer (ed. Bowie), who had been living in New York in recent years, released his latest album Blackstar only last (ed. early 2016) Friday, his birthday.

The album has been well received by critics and was intended as a “parting gift” to the world, according to long-time friend and producer Tony Visconti.”

Read the rest of this story about David Bowie’s death here…

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35278872

Playing Guitar Like Keith Richards…

In this short video clip interview, Keith Richards explains the importance of having an acoustic guitar around for playing. The fact that Keith actually fools around with the guitar, even removing a string to show another tuning style, is note worthy enough to view.
Jam On!
Ron Greene

Keith_Richards_Playing_Guitar

Keith Richards Explains Why ‘the Acoustic Guitar Is Most Important’…
(by:https://www.acousticguitar.com – News)
Richards kicks off the conversation with this knowledge bomb: “I would say that the acoustic guitar is the most important thing for a guitar player to start with. Learn the feel and the touch of the string and what it does against a fret. Learn that and then you can add the effects later on…
See more at…

Songs Every Guitarist Should Learn to Play…

I recently came across a website that mentions the top 20 songs every guitarist should learn to play. Spending time at this site had me realizing that knowing many great tunes is a nice reference, indeed. However, I was further reminded that having a list of guitar ‘tabs’ is one thing. Yet, also having a great reference to how the chords are developed for each song, is a wonderful compliment.

So, take a look at the website (below) and maybe consider grabbing a Music Dial Chart or two, to make your guitar tab reading much easier.

Jam On!
-Ron

promote music online(via: Ultimate-Guitar.com)
This week’s traditional Wednesday Question saw the UG community debating the mater of songs that every guitar player should learn to play. Kicking things off with an all-time classic, we have Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.” Universally hailed as the tune with the greatest guitar solo of all time, it’s quite apparent why this one made the list…

Find the rest of the list of the top 20 songs every guitarist should learn here, and be sure to visit MusicDials.com to compliment your tabs!…

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/ug_news/top_20_songs_every_guitarist_should_learn_to_play.html

History of International Guitar Month

International Guitar Month (IGM) has been an annual
celebration of guitars and guitar products that happens
every April. Started in 1987, IGM was originally sponsored
by Guitar & Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA)
and National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM).

International Guitar Month logo

 

In 1996 GAMA decided to focus most of its resources on Teaching Guitar Workshops… subsequently, International

Guitar Month was rolled into their effort of introducing
more music instruction.

It seems cool enough to take additional notice @ least
once a year, to celebrate the Guitar as a major participant in our music history.

Jam On!
-Ron

Grab your All-Around-Guitar-Pack Discount special… Now, all
‘4’ Guitar Dial Charts for just the price of ‘3’… Get One FREE!

Play by ear with these chord and note charts

Play by ear with these chord and note charts

https://www.MusicDials.com/guitar.html

 

Ron Greene Publications is celebrating International Guitar
Month with our hand-held visual guides for … music theory,
chord structures, melodic notes, keys and scales. All in one,
compact 9″ x 11″ portable movable dial that fits inside your
instrument case and is readily available whenever you want!

Time to celebrate International Guitar Month.

Ron Greene
Inventor of the Music Dial Charts
@ (970) 259-5214

10 Commandments of Jam…

Jamming in a band takes on a whole new set of rules and dynamics. When we as musicians blend our abilities, it takes some additional attention to details to create the best jam possible. In this article you might find interest in Derek Trucks’ insightful take on the 10 Commandments of Jam.
Jam On!
-Ron

Music Dials 10 Comandments of Jam image

In 2004, Alan Paul interviewed Derek and wrote up his 10 Commandments of Jam for Guitar World… Pretty right on and deep thinking, as per usual for DT…

Read the complete ’10’ list here:
https://alanpaul.net/2015/04/derek-trucks-10-commandments-of-jam/