lspencerini wrote:Modulating? Boy, I really missed a lot by being out last week. I spent part of the morning looking up "modulation" on the internet and I think I sort of understand it, but I'm still not sure how to use it in playing Amazing Grace. I am constantly amazed by how much there is to know about music.
Lawrence, modulation (at the expense of sounding simplistic) is switching keys. If Dave says "modulate to A", he means switch the key to A. Amazing Grace is in G, so the tune would be played 1 step (2 frets) sharp in A. Most of our tunes are constructed from the 1/4/5's of their prospective scales, a rhythm player would substitute the proper chords when modulating to the new key. (a circle of 5ths comes in handy if you are slow like me).
It's not as simple as capo'ing to the 2nd fret, thats cheating. Plus, you would break rhythm applying the capo, which is bad if you are the only rhythm player (the song would die). To be good at modulation for the tunes we play, know your musical alphabet as it applies to the major scale in all the keys (R2212221)play and sudy the scales, and their position on the fretboard, and have a circle of 5ths cheat card on your guitar strap, so at least if your playing rhythm, you can transpose to the new chords. i'll bring a laminated one for you Wed. It also helps to practice the tunes in different keys, because the melody line will also be in the new key. (hence, knowing your fretboard). Lead guitarists in rock use this technique alot in their lead riffs, it really makes a song come alive if you can do this at will.