Example 1: "Chordy"

- In this chapter, we're going to examine the mambo or rumba blues feel. Let's listen to example number one. Two, three, four.

Alright, let's break this down. Quite simply, this is simply chords on the backbeat. So every beat, two and four, we're going to play a chord. Since we're in the key of G, on the backbeat of the one chord, you're going to play a G chord. Funny how that works. That's the top four strings, just the G triad.

Three four, then bar across the third fret at the third, second, and first strings. Now, before we move on to the four chord, let me show you something about the rhythm. Now, this is just backbeat, so you're playing on beats two and four. Now what I do, now this is a trademark, it's kind of a signature of mine, I keep my right hand moving on top of the music so my whole body's moving on top of the music and what I'm doing is on the downbeats I'm playing a downstroke and on the upbeats I'm playing an upstroke, so I have the time already ingrained in the guitar.

So all I got to do is play the chord on the upstrokes, and those are the notes on the downstrokes. So check it out. Two, three, four, one. So, I'm playing on the downbeats, but I'm not fretting the notes, I'm just ghosting them. So, when you get to the four chord, I'm going to play a C9 chord, on strings four, three, two, and one, second fret on the fourth string and then bar across the top three strings, and the same rhythmic principle applies.

Ghost the downbeats and play the upbeats. It's hard to hear without the drums going. For the five chord, same thing, four chord same thing, and then back to the one chord, and then finally, end on a D7 chord. Which you'll see pictured in front of you, so check out the tab on your finger, and I end on a G chord.