Christmas is a special time of year when many of us will gather together with family and friends to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Enjoy the music of the season and may it’s message of love, joy and peace refresh your spirit.
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MUSIC TRIVIA:
Did you know…?
The German words for the original six stanzas of the carol we know as “Silent Night” were written by Joseph Mohr in 1816, when he was a young priest assigned to a pilgrimage church in Mariapfarr, Austria.
On December 24, 1818 Joseph Mohr journeyed to the home of musician-schoolteacher Franz Gruber who lived in an apartment over the schoolhouse in nearby Arnsdorf. He showed his friend the poem and asked him to add a melody and guitar accompaniment so that it could be sung at Midnight Mass. His reason for wanting the new carol is unknown. Some speculate that the organ would not work; others feel that the assistant pastor, who dearly loved guitar music, merely wanted a new carol for Christmas.
Later that evening, as the two men, backed by the choir, stood in front of the main altar in St. Nicholas Church and sang “Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!” for the first time, they could hardly imagine the impact their composition would have on the world. ~ by Bill Egan, Christmas Historian
Read the whole story here…
SILENT NIGHT: The Song Heard ‘Round The World
TOPIC OF THE DAY:
Last month we learned how to identify the root of an E Major chord shape and use it to play chords up and down the guitar neck. Today we’ll take a look at an “open” A Major chord shape. The root of this chord shape is in the 5th string.
Place your…
– first finger on the 4th string
– second finger on the 3rd string
– and your third finger on 2nd string
Now, I want you to change this fingering so that your…
– second finger is on the 4th string
– third finger is on the 3rd string
– and your fourth finger is on the 2nd string
Slide this shape up to the fourth fret.
Now place your first finger on the 1st string at the 2nd fret.
This is a B Major chord, but notice how the A shape has been retained within this new chord! The x above and below the 5th & 6th string means that these tones are not in the chord. Do not play the open 5th or 6th string.
This is a movable major chord shape and the name of the chord will always be found in the 3rd string.
If you were to slide the chord shape up so that your first finger was on the 3rd fret you would have a C Major chord.
And…
When you lay your first finger across all the strings on the 2nd fret you’ll have a B Major “barre” chord. The name of the chord (B) is now in the 5th string (R5) so you can play all the strings.
Barre Chord Shape:
If you were to slide this barre chord shape up so that your first finger was across the 3rd fret you would have a C Major Barre chord and so on.
As I said last time, Even if you can’t play barre chords, try using them just to find the root of the chord in the 5th (R5) or 6th (R6) string .
Once you’ve identified the root, play the easier moveable chord shape. The moveable R5 & R6 major chords will maintain their respective “open” chord shape in the 2nd, 3rd & 4th fingers.
FOR MORE INSPIRATION:
Learn how to play…
Silent Night (beginner)
Silent Night (intermediate)
It Came Upon A MIdnight Clear (intermediate)
More Christmas Songs For Guitar Here
UNTIL NEXT TIME:
Thanks for subscribing to the ABC Learn Guitar Newsletter, offering free tips and ideas for guitar players and indie musicians. Enjoy the holidays and I’ll see you next month!
Musically yours,
Kathy Unruh
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