Backer Corner with Matt Heaton - D Major Tutorial

In-house guitarist Matt Heaton shares thoughts on accompanying tunes in D Major.
And here is a transcription, created by our blogger pal:
dadgad-guitar....
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[@karlcolon5299]

Fantastic Matt! Flashes of Paul Brady’s early stuff w Tommy Peoples and Andy McGann! And of course Dennis Cahill as well, yet very much your own. I learned a lot - thanks!

[@justthemust]

Great tutorials! Thank you both for these. And humour is great too :-) Greetings from the Faroe Islands. Im just wondering how you would do the Em in these fingerings?

[@mattguitarheaton]

thanks so much. I did make an E minor voicings video, maybe it would be helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5yTZqtjprF5n9Esi=U5hZkmsX9BWoVkv2

[@danydhondt4677]

Man, am I glad to have found this channel!

[@matojorodante7737]

Hi Matt, the progression D crunchy Bm G A C# it is simply wonderful, thank you so much!

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

LOVE the crunchy chords -- and they probably work so well when Matt plays, because he also really knows the tunes. He knows when to push things a bit!

[@karlcolon5299]

I also note there is a lot to be learned by having some of the fuller names (D5, Bmadd6, etc) b/c of the voice leading opportunities you are demonstrating. And I think standard sounds great for Irish in the right hands, clearly including yours. 😊

[@robertwright9880]

This is just brilliant- I don't know how I haven't heard of you guys until now- thank you for what you guys do!

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

glad you found us, Robert. And thanks for your kind words!

[@leverbart]

This is so helpful. I've been gigging as a backer in Irish pubs only for the last few years and still learning loads! Thanks!

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

So glad this can be of use. Happy learning!

[@briandwi2504]

Really useful sounds, many thanks!

[@ojosenelmonte]

The tutorials are entertaining and explained with great sympathy. Thank you very much from Spain.!

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Thanks for tuning in from Spain!

[@oldtimeharmonica8560]

Awesome ideas! Thanks so much for sharing the knowledge

[@johnmcgahern3946]

Amazing chord voicings Matt. I've been watching your videos with Shannon for about 6 months now and I always assumed by your hand positions all over the neck that you weren't using a standard tuning but maybe an open D or G tuning. You create a great sort of "drone" effect by having certain notes constantly ringing throughout.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Yes, John! Matt really uses all the benefits of standard tuning, and seems to avoid some of the chordal shapes that CAN be less amazing with Irish music.

[@johnmcgahern3946]

@@ShannonHeatonMusic Agreed Shannon, it completely changes the nuance.

[@folkorchestraukuleleoxford6374]

Heck, this is good! Came across it quite by accident. Excellent - more from you please. Thank you.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

oh, yay! Glad you found us. And glad you are rocking the uke.

[@garrettdevine1175]

Thanks Matt. This is really helpful to me. I am beginning to explore the fret board, while I accompany 2 friends on mandolin and tin whistle. This makes so much sense to me as the open chords to seem a little brash at times. Also, a big thank you for the link to the chords diagrams, to help cement these chords.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

happy to offer these.. And grateful for the help with the chord diagrams!

[@larrygallagher6525]

Nice. A few very handy tricks that I will attempt to absorb.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

so glad to share some ideas, Larry. Let us know how it goes!

[@irish-bouzouki]

Hi Matt, many thanks again for this top tutorial. Lots of new chords to learn. Some of them seem to be not very easy, but will do in the future ;-) As in the last weeks I tried to write down the chords you mentioned. Hope I did it right. The chord chart is to be found here: dadgad-guitar.blogspot.com/2020/05/matt-heaton-chord-ideas-for-d.html Hope you don't mind.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

you are so good to do this, and to share with us/folks! Hope you will get use of some of these ideas.

[@MrGmooney]

Very interesting, now how about singing a few cool traid Irish songs to illustrate your lovely alternate chords. Ger Mooney guitar man Claregalway Galway Ireland.n

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

nice one, Ger!

[@edewolf3]

Hi Matt, your videos are very helpful and good. Do you always play drop-d at D-tunes? Only for D-tunes?

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Hello, Eduard. So glad you are enjoying Matt's videos. He uses standard, drop D, and DADGAD for tunes... even open G sometimes. We both enjoy the variety you get from different tunings and capo positions (there are joys and limitations for each). Tuning the low string down for D tunes IS a favorite move, though!

[@jackielangley5154]

What's the thinking behind muting the third in backing? I know this is from two years ago but could anyone answer this?

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Matt could respond better, but I'd say that keeping the chords a little more open gives the tune more space. It doesn't crowd the melody. And it makes it FEEL more spacious... by taking notes away judiciously, sometimes it can actually end up feeling like a bigger, richer ensemble sound. It sets a mood.

[@jackielangley5154]

@@ShannonHeatonMusic Thank You for that answer. I do feel there are times where the backing instrument uses full cords, but yes, omitting the 3rd does leave it more open for the melody player(s) who shouldn't have to compete with the backing instrument and detract from the tune. Also using the 3rd as the low note in the cord (like D/F#) seems to not get in the way so much either. Thanks again.

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

Yes, ​@@jackielangley5154 ! The third in the bass is pretty special. And it's not just about the backing NOT competing with the melody... but it's about the backing making its own beautiful sonic bed and "part" (which doesn't happen as easily with root position chords.. the voice leading isn't so great that way).

[@jackielangley5154]

@@ShannonHeatonMusic Thanks again for your answers!