Learn these easy guitar chord shapes to accompany Irish / Celtic tunes in E minor - Folk Friend

[@folkfriend]

Hope you're enjoying my videos! You can now grab a classy Folk Friend T-shirt here: finaleguitar.co.uk/product/tee/ Be the envy of your friends! Don't foget to subscribe and let me know anything else you'd like me to make videos about :)

[@Melvorgazh]

Ah, those modal(according to the exquisite Lady Sarah McQuaid) and open chords according to some other guy whose name I forgot. The 5th note has a nice dynamic flavour. Diolch yn fawr, mate! 😉 Tomos ps: I went yesterday to me first Irish trad seisiún in 4 years and a half. It felt good. I saw old friends and made new ones :) They sold Breton cider too there and it was in Schaerbeek near the place where I grew up when I was little. Felt special.

[@syrenarchetype]

Lovely tutorial🥰

[@bofo4396]

good stuff!!

[@folkfriend]

@@bofo4396 thankyou!

[@darkflamejam]

What a magical blackboard!

[@darkflamejam]

Also such brain power to whistle and play

[@folkfriend]

That's nothing, you should see the outtakes in which I play the violin at the same time.

[@sacredinstrumentals]

good video

[@folkfriend]

Thank you 👍

[@madfortrad4717]

Nice tip. I love dorian but for minor I actually prefer phrygian although that doesn't suit trad tunes too good. :)

[@folkfriend]

Yes phrygian is class! It's funny that it didn't find its way into Celtic music but at least Spain and eastern Europe got their money's worth from it haha.

[@madfortrad4717]

@@folkfriend For sure. Have you heard Balkan wedding music? Lovely modes and harmonies and lots of odd time signatures.

[@folkfriend]

Yes! I got into it after watching Black Cat White Cat and Underground - best soundtracks ever!

[@Darkvibration]

Great video, thanks. Just a question: if power chords are neither major or minor, why do you suggest them for a minor tune.

[@folkfriend]

E works particularly well as a power chord in this example because as well as the fretted notes there are also two unfretted E strings (root) and an unfretted B string (5th) which you can easily add. You could use power chords in place of either minor or major chords, meaning that an E power chord would work equally well as chord I in the keys of E major OR E minor... It just so happens that very few tunes are in E major, so E minor is where I generally use it. It would also work well as chord V in either A major or A minor. This can be broadened out to the following rule: if the open strings you are not fretting harmonise with the root chord of the current key, then a power chord shape can be used to replace any given from the current key. Hope that helps!

[@Darkvibration]

Thanks!

[@kevingillen6640]

Link for ebook doesn't seem to be working. Wouldn't mind checking it out as videos are really useful. Thanks.

[@folkfriend]

Hi Kevin. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! You can find the book here: folkfriend.co.uk/product/backing-guitar-techniques-for-celtic-traditional-music-e-book-edition/

[@kevingillen6640]

@@folkfriend good man. Just got it their so looking froward to getting stuck in. Starting playing in an Irish ballads group with a few guys miles better than I am at this sort of thing. Covid has given me the time to catch up (I hope). Only came across your videos this week. Keep it up!!

[@folkfriend]

@@kevingillen6640 ah that's great! Good luck with it- I give lessons over Zoom too if you'd like some one-on-one help. It's much easier to learn with someone guiding you along :)

[@kevingillen6640]

@@folkfriend good stuff. Won't be free until late August so might guve you a shout then and arrange a few lessons.

[@folkfriend]

@@kevingillen6640 Sounds good! My email is [e-mail] if you'd like to get in touch :)