Chord du Jour: February 2010

Monday, February 15, 2010

Mid-February Hiatus + Chord du Jour Jam Session Archive

Our first 12-week cycle of Chord du Jour Jam Sessions has ended. If you missed them, there are convenient download links for each week (mp3s inside ZIP files) below. We will go on a brief blogging hiatus until March 1st, 2010! We'll have some new Jam Sessions and Chords/Scales/Modes of the Day when we return!

Jam Sessions Nov. 2009 - Feb. 2010
ZIP files contain mp3s. Files hosted by the Internet Archive:

112 in F (37 MB; guitar, bass, drums, ukulele)
111 in Bb (44 MB; guitar, bass, drums)
110 in Eb (39 MB; guitar, bass, drums)
109 in Ab (49 MB; guitar, bass, drums)
108 in Db (34 MB; guitar, bass, drums)
107 in F# (36 MB; guitar, bass, drums)
106 in B (51 MB; guitar, drums)
105 in E (39 MB; guitar, drums)
104 in A (44 MB guitar, piano)
103 in D (38 MB guitar, bass)
102 in G (39 MB; guitar)
101 in C (32 MB; guitar)

Did you know that you can subscribe to our Jam Sessions as a podcast? Check out our FeedBurner feed and use your favorite podcatcher (like iTunes) to subscribe!

Jam Session Serving Suggestions
Instruments and accessories, similar to what we used in our Jam Sessions. Links go to Musician's Friend:

Guitar
Capo
Glass Slide
EBow
Multi-Effects Pedal
Bass
Bass Distortion
Piano Virtual Instrument
61-Key USB MIDI Controller Sustain Pedal
Drum Machine
Digidesign Strike for Pro Tools 25-Key USB MIDI Controller
Ukulele
Soprano Ukulele

For future Jam Sessions, we will play these instruments and more. So find the nearest musical instrument, and let's jam!

Tweet to us @DeRamosMusic!

Podcast Subscribers: If these jam session notes look jumbled, please visit http://www.chorddujour.com - Thanks!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Jam Session 112l + F Blues Scale

The Scale of the Day is F Blues (for guitar):

Chords for Jam Session 112l: Fm Db Bb C Fm C Eb

Jam Session Notes: Both guitars in standard tuning.

Guitars

     Fm        Db          Bb     C  Fm C  Eb
E  |-8---------9---------|-6------8--8--8-----|---------------------|
B  |-9---------9---------|-6------8--9--8--8--|---------------------|
G  |-10--------10--------|-7------9--10-9--8--|---------------------|
D  |-10--------11--------|-8------10-10-10-8--|---------------------|
A  |-8---------11--------|-8------10-8--10----|---------------------|
E  |-----------9---------|-6------8-----8-----|---------------------|

Jam Session Serving Suggestions:

If you're using a digital audio workstation to record your own jam sessions (and songs), a MIDI controller will help with playing virtual instruments (like a keyboard) and to trigger samples and patterns. More keys, knobs, buttons, and sliders will give you more options - and possibly more complications (at first). Remember to get a decent keyboard stand, too.

M-Audio Keystation 61es USB MIDI Controller

Tweet to us @DeRamosMusic!

Podcast Subscribers: If these jam session notes look jumbled, please visit http://www.chorddujour.com - Thanks!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Jam Session 112k + F Mixolydian Mode

The Mode of the Day is F Mixolydian (for guitar):

Chords for Jam Session 112k: F Fsus2 Eb Ebsus2 Bb

Jam Session Notes: Jon's guitar in standard tuning; Ryan's guitar in standard tuning with a capo at the 3rd fret.

Jon's Guitar

     F      Fsus2          Eb       Ebsus2     (Bb for two bars)
E  |-8------8------------|-6--------6---------|-6-------------------|
B  |-10-----8------------|-8--------6---------|-6-------------------|
G  |-10-----10-----------|-8--------8---------|-7-------------------|
D  |-10-----10-----------|-8--------8---------|-8-------------------|
A  |-8------8------------|-6--------6---------|-8-------------------|
E  |---------------------|--------------------|-6-------------------|

Ryan's Guitar - capo at 3rd fret

     F      Fsus2          Eb       Ebsus2     (Bb for two bars)
G  |-2------0------------|-0--------0---------|-3-------------------|
D  |-3------3------------|-1--------1---------|-3-------------------|
Bb |-2------2------------|-0--------0---------|-0-------------------|
F  |-0------0------------|-2--------0---------|-0-------------------|
C  |---------------------|-3--------3---------|-2-------------------|
G  |---------------------|--------------------|-3-------------------|

Jam Session Serving Suggestions:

We use Digidesign Strike as our "drummer" for many of the jam sessions. This RTAS plug-in only works with Pro Tools, though.

Digidesign Pro Tools Mbox 2 Factory Bundle ¹

Tweet to us @DeRamosMusic!

Podcast Subscribers: If these jam session notes look jumbled, please visit http://www.chorddujour.com - Thanks!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Jam Session 112j + Fm Chord

The Chord of the Day is F Minor (for guitar):

Chords for Jam Session 112j: Fm Ebsus2 Ab

Jam Session Notes: Jon's guitar in standard tuning; Ryan's guitar in half-step down tuning.

Jon's Guitar

     Fm       Ebsus2       Ab
E  |-8--------6----------|-4------------------|---------------------|
B  |-9--------6----------|-4------------------|---------------------|
G  |-10-------8----------|-5------------------|---------------------|
D  |-10-------8----------|-6------------------|---------------------|
A  |-8--------6----------|-6------------------|---------------------|
E  |---------------------|-4------------------|---------------------|

Ryan's Guitar

     Fm       Ebsus2       Ab
Eb |-2-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
Bb |-2-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
Gb |-2-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
Db |-4--------------4----|-11--12--11--14--11-|---------------------|
Ab |-4-----------2-------|-0---0---0---0---0--|---------------------|
Eb |-2--------0----------|--------------------|---------------------|

Jam Session Serving Suggestions:

If you need some guidance on the blues scale, there's a Cheat Shirt for that.

Tweet to us @DeRamosMusic!

Podcast Subscribers: If these jam session notes look jumbled, please visit http://www.chorddujour.com - Thanks!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Jam Session 112i (with Ukulele) + F Ionian Mode

The Mode of the Day is F Ionian (for guitar):

Chords for Jam Session 112i: F Dm Bb C

Jam Session Notes: Guitar in standard tuning; ukulele tuned G C E A.

Guitar

     F                     Dm                   Bb

E  |-1-------------------|-1------------------|-1-------------------|
B  |-1-------------------|-3------------------|-3-------------------|
G  |-2-------------------|-2------------------|-3-------------------|
D  |-3-------------------|-0------------------|-3-------------------|
A  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
E  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|


     C
E  |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
B  |-5-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
G  |-5-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D  |-5-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
E  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Ukulele

     F                     Dm                   Bb

A  |-0-------------------|-0------------------|-1-------------------|
E  |-1-------------------|-1------------------|-1-------------------|
C  |-0-------------------|-2------------------|-2-------------------|
G  |-2-------------------|-2------------------|-3-------------------|


     C
A  |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
E  |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
C  |-4-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
G  |-5-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Jam Session Serving Suggestions:

Play a ukulele.

Lanikai Kohala Standard Ukulele Nato Fretboard

Tweet to us @DeRamosMusic!

Podcast subscribers: If these jam session notes look jumbled, please visit http://www.chorddujour.com - Thanks!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Jam Session 112h + F Chord

The Chord of the Day is F Major (for guitar):

Chords for Jam Session 112h: F C G Bb F C G

Jam Session Notes: Guitar and bass in standard tuning.

Guitar

     F        C            G         Bb         F         C

E  |-1--------3----------|-3---------1--------|-1---------3---------|
B  |-1--------5----------|-3---------3--------|-1---------5---------|
G  |-2--------5----------|-4---------3--------|-2---------5---------|
D  |-3--------5----------|-5---------3--------|-3---------5---------|
A  |-3--------3----------|-5---------1--------|-3---------3---------|
E  |-1-------------------|-3------------------|-1-------------------|


     G
E  |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
B  |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
G  |-4-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D  |-5-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A  |-5-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
E  |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Bass

     F        C            G         Bb         F         C

G  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A  |----------3----------|--------------------|-----------3---------|
E  |-1-------------------|-3---------6--------|-1-------------------|


     G
G  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A  |----2--3--4--5-------|--------------------|---------------------|
E  |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Jam Session Serving Suggestions:

If you don't have a bass, you can process your guitar with an octave pedal (or vice versa), but it's worth it to get a decent bass.

Squier by Fender Standard Jazz Bass Walnut Satin

Tweet to us @DeRamosMusic!

Podcast subscribers: If these jam session notes look jumbled, please visit http://www.chorddujour.com - Thanks!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Jam Session 111l + Bb5 Power Chord

The Chord of the Day is the Bb5 root-fifth power chord:

Chords for Jam Session 111l: Bb5 B5 etc.

Jam Session Notes: Jon's guitar in standard tuning; Ryan's bass in standard tuning; free guitar with capo on first fret.

Jon's Guitar

     Bb5   B5

E  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
B  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
G  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D  |-8-----9-------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A  |-8-----9-------------|--------------------|---------------------|
E  |-6-----7-------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Ryan's Bass

     Bb5   B5

G  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
E  |-6-----7-------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Guitar #2 (capo on first fret, with all sorts of strange effects, like Whammy and something like a Talk Box).

Bb5

F  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
C  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
Ab |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
Eb |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
Bb |-0-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
F  |-0-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Jam Session Serving Suggestions:

Use a capo.

Tweet to us @DeRamosMusic!

Podcast subscribers: If these jam session notes look jumbled, please visit http://www.chorddujour.com - Thanks!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Jam Session 111k + Bbsus4 Chord

The Chord of the Day is Bbsus4:

Chords for Jam Session 111k: Bb Bbsus4 Ab Absus4 (Repeat for 3 bars) Gb F

Jam Session Notes: Both Jon's and Ryan's guitars are in standard tuning.

Guitars (Hint: Italicized fret numbers are played with your pinky finger.)

     Bb  Bbsus4 Ab Absus4 (Repeat for 3 bars)   Gb      F

E  |-6-6-6---6-4-4-4---4-|--------------------|-2-2-2-2-1-----------|
B  |-6-6-6---6-4-4-4---4-|--------------------|-2-2-2-2-1-----------|
G  |-7-7-8p7-7-5-5-6p5-5-|--------------------|-3-3-3-3-2-----------|
D  |-x-x-x---8-x-x-x---6-|--------------------|-4-4-4-4-3-----------|
A  |-8-8-8---8-6-6-6---6-|--------------------|-4-4-4-4-3-----------|
E  |-6-6-6---6-4-4-4---4-|--------------------|-2-2-2-2-1-(1--3--5-)|

Jam Session Serving Suggestions:

Our current line of Cheat Shirts features the Mixolydian mode (with major pentatonic scale) and the blues scale (with minor pentatonic scale). We plan to design new Cheat Shirts with other modes and scales.

Tweet to us @DeRamosMusic!

Podcast subscribers: If these jam session notes look jumbled, please visit http://www.chorddujour.com - Thanks!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Jam Session 111j + Bb Chord

The Chord/Scale/Mode of the Day is Bb major (for guitar in standard-tuning):

Chords for Jam Session 111j: Bb Bbmaj7 F Eb

Jam Session Notes: Jon's guitar in standard tuning; Ryan's guitar in dropped-D tuning.

Jon's Guitar

     Bb                    Bbmaj7               F

E  |-1-------------------|-1------------------|-1-------------------|
B  |-3-------------------|-3------------------|-1-------------------|
G  |-3-------------------|-2------------------|-2-------------------|
D  |-3-------------------|-3------------------|-3-------------------|
A  |-1-------------------|-1------------------|-3-------------------|
E  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

     Eb
E  |-6-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
B  |-8-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
G  |-8-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D  |-8-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A  |-6-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
E  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Ryan's Guitar

     Bb5                   Bb5/A                F5

E  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
B  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
G  |-3-------------------|-3------------------|-5-------------------|
D  |-3-------------------|-3------------------|-3-------------------|
A  |-1-------------------|-0------------------|-3-------------------|
D  |---------------------|--------------------|-3-------------------|

     Eb5
E  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
B  |---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
G  |-3-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D  |-1-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
A  |-1-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
D  |-1-------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

Jam Session Serving Suggestions:

Another double entendre keyboard shirt - offensive to some; funny to others; very clever, if I do say so myself.

Tweet to us @DeRamosMusic!

Podcast subscribers: If these jam session notes look jumbled, please visit http://www.chorddujour.com - Thanks!