Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Thank you John for sharing. We all beginners before so we all same level to start. Don't worry! No need to rush at all. Learning guitar is like a little bit unlearn and fix problems. That's why YouTube videos are not really helping to learn how to play guitar. I needed to make a lot of mistakes so that I could notice something and be careful about it. This way we can learn how to recover from any problems/mistakes.

Please enjoy your guitar journey!

Tomo

I feel you, John! I'm not as senior but the backdrop is almost the same. I was exposed to the instrument during high school years but unfortunately never really learned and played it. Only until in recent years, I have sit with myself and realized that it's something that I truly love.

I have great aspirations (probably disproportionate to my age, time and condition (allergies, severe)), but I still wanted to play the guitar.

I'm very happy to hear that you've found your enjoyable moments. Similarly, I find chromatic scale fun to do and I can (over-)do usually haha. Let's enjoy the journey together!

Hugo

Hi David,

Yeah, that's the method that I used. I know on the internet there might have been tons of videos but I am more interested in how Tomo and you guys worked it out.

For example, for Kyoto, I think I was getting close but I hit a brick wall that I (mis-)recognized the key as E Major (but the song is actually, its relative minor, C minor). It will be great to learn how to discern these. There ought to be multiple methods that we can try.

[Post-edit: To be clearer. Here's what I did usually:

1. Pick the vocal or guitar track/sound from the song (maybe bass guitar is better, but my ears are not that good)
2. Try to match with a major scale (single note, i.e. root to 7 as you mentioned) that I play
3. If it feels right, try to fit parts into the diatonic chords because it might help distinguish between major and minor.
{! But probably it's half-way only, or not entirely correct because I didn't get the Kyoto key right!}]

Hugo

I’m not sure if this is the case, but a chord (say a C chord) played as a first or second inversion somewhere on the neck will sound a little different and might be a little tougher to recognize right off the bat, but still be that C chord.

Maybe better to find a few songs that only use mostly simple chords without any chords like G G/B CMaj7 C/D etc.

Keep it simple so that less confusion.

Tomo

Thanks John and Tomo.

I totally agree. I think root position major triad will feel most "natural" and easiest to listen to and identify, probably because of how much we have listened to it in our lives.

Strangely, the inversions of major triads do give me confusion sometimes when I do "ear tests" like this. Tomo's suggestion probably is the best:- train with simpler/easier songs (maybe 40s - 70s, older music with less tracks or more prominent guitar tracks is a good idea?). Less distractions provide better platform to hone skills. I felt way more certain (about the key) on the Japanese pop song because of this reason too.

Hugo

Thank you Hugo.

Yes! Older simple music is the best! Anything simple and old!

Tomo

Thanks Tomo. Spread the love! I enjoy the vibe here very much and people taking time out of their busy schedule!

Hugo

(But guys please always take my suggestions with a pinch of salt, as I'm a true beginner here who just like to browse around and think randomly/a lot about the instrument. :D)

So happy to hear that Hugo! Please enjoy more!

Tom

Nice to meet you Richard.

Got a Q: I am on triads now and kind of understand the construction of 7 chords. However, how do you know or feel it's a 7th chord when you're testing out what key a song is? I know it's part of it is likely experience but could you let me know how you approach this (or in context how did you isolate or work out for this song?)?

Thank you!

Hugo

Thank you Rich! Good job! Very special soul chords. bVII7, bIII7... (Away from original key sound) Someone think a quick key change.

Last 4 bars. bIII7 bIII7 ii-7 V7 ... To me...super quick key change to upper minor 3rd... then ii V back to original key. ii-7 V7 (Going home)

Tomo

Another beautiful song.

Hi Hugo -

The song just sounded like a blues to me so I started out with dominant seventh chords and it seemed right.
I guess if you played major chords over the changes it works too but adding that b7 to the major chord really makes it sound bluesy to me so I just started there. In pop songs a lot of times that b7 doesn’t sound right and it’s obvious so I just kind of listen and see if it sounds right or not.
Nice to meet you too.
Will see you around the forums.
This place is amazing.

-Rich

Hi Rich,

Thanks much for the inspiration. I think it's your hard work that grants the experience of testing the 7th chords. I'll be sure to check them out.

You are so right. We may not immediately know what genre a song is but there are tells and we can discern with trials. Lovely!

Hugo