Can it pull a rabbit from of a hat?
Does it pet and feed your cat?
Can you wear it as a coat?
Will it find the TV remote?
AhhhHAAaaa! better than all that ... I'll show you.
BUT FIRST ....
Let's just form the chord. It's just like the "C" chord
only it's now a "B flat" because you are playing it two
frets lower in pitch ... (towards the ceiling OR to your left)
depending on how you like to hold the NS. Hmmmm we never talked
about holding the NS. Okay, real fast ... "The beauty is ...
that you can hold the NS in a guitar like position and because of
the "super deluxe" design of the strap holding ...
'thingy' (pardon my technical jargon) you can EASILY slide it 'up
right' (vertical) to the standard Stick position and back down again
to the standard guitar like position. Try it ...... "Oh, your
right ... that's nice .... ohhhhh so easy!" (There you have
it!). I recommend you chose the position that suits the technique.
If I'm tapping, I'm more inclined to slide the NS a little more
vertical. If I'm plucking bass or strumming chords, then I go a
little more "east/west." Simple and ingenious.
 Okay
Back to the 'magic.' So here is a picture of the "B flat
chord"
Notice those double dots so you can navigate your way
around. Whew, those markers get handier and handier. Sure you're
excited ... go ahead tap the chord, sound the 'gong' let it ring for
the magic is on the way. Get a good clean clear tone and hold it. In
my opinion, holding out a chord or note is one of the harder things
to do ... "Wow, how fascinating, why is that?" Well,
because you get 'one' chance to get it right, one hit, and hold. If
your fingers aren't placed right then you get buzzy sounds or notes
that aren't ringing. AND that's not so good. NOW, if you where
playing a repetitive part, you could correct it on the next beat BUT
Noooooo this was a one shot chord ... and so (in my wacky world)
it's a little more difficult. Riveting tidbit of information wasn't
it?
So, now (sure the magic's coming, actually you're playing part of it
but don't realize it yet! ........ ahHHAAAAA! that's part of the
magic ...) let's get a bass line to facilitate the upcoming
"BIG" magic ... (remind me when we meet ... to tell you
about the time I played a magic show and the tiger got loose, WOW
was that fun!) Okay, hang on, let me draw up the exercise ....
(Finale Notepad 2003 file for the audio - 5KB) I put a lot of 'extra' information on the music this time
just to get us started. When we get to the "Magic" we
won't need it and I can just keep it 'clean looking' with notes.
That will help the illusion along.
 Take
your time with this one, play it S-L-O-W until you get a 'feel' for
it. It's a nice natural left hand transition. (Well, natural to me
... my Son after many years of watching me play one day says,
"Wow "D", check out your deformed lookin' hands when
you play ... they look like 'Mandible Claws" instead of hands.)
So there ya have it ... something to look forward to after many
years.
Anyway ... take your time, feel the flow of the transitions of chord
position in the right hand along with the left hand alternating
fingers with "4th" finger pivot transition. "Hey,
sounds cool doesn't it, like we're really doin' something big and
mechanical." Excellent! Give it whirl ... |
an
authorized NS/Stick™ site
