Don't Know Why - Norah Jones Chords

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 11 Sep 2015 10:06 pm

So I had a play with this just focusing on rhythm/chords that can be played to backup some vocals while performing solo.

Hope you enjoy. Threw in some extra sus and b9 chords.

https://ilapsteel.wordpress.com/2015/09 ... itarslide/

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 12 Sep 2015 1:37 am

Beautiful, Stefan, and the additional chords work great.
There's a nice 'singing' section at the end.
Looking forward to hearing the vocal version.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 12 Sep 2015 1:51 am

Thanks. Not much of a singer more of a Hendrix sing-talker.

My goal is to be able to play our instrument solo. So then I can play in a 3 piece. So I have some work to do.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 12 Sep 2015 2:15 am

I'm after the same goal, but not even close yet
It's going to have to be an original song at first, just to get started.
Meanwhile, you've got a beautiful bed track there, and it's a singable song.

Rick Bernauer · Post by **Rick Bernauer** » 12 Sep 2015 7:00 am

Very nice. I'm intrigued by what you're doing. I read through your blog. Could you provide some more information about what tuning(s) you prefer for this type of chord work. Thanks.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 12 Sep 2015 11:09 am

My Tuning is called the Theory Tuning:

https://ilapsteel.wordpress.com/the-theory-tuning/

Figured out after my constant uphill struggle in learning to read music and my previous playing around with chordal style tunings.

Notice its laid out like the treble clef on a music stave.

C,E,G,B,D,F,a,c,d,e,f,g

henceforth the name theory as in music theory.

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 12 Sep 2015 12:10 pm

Stephan,

Your playing on "Don't Know Why" is absolutely beautiful!
Congratulations to you for coming up with this. The tone and timbre,..just so soft.. it equals that of the Jazz Guitar and in time you can go on to improve it even more. Incredible!

I signed up on your blog and want to keep updated on your work.

Roy

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 12 Sep 2015 3:21 pm

Thanks for the kind words.

I'll keep on.

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 13 Sep 2015 12:11 pm

Norah Jones will you marry me?
Yep one of my regrets, not that i ever did or ever will stand a chance.
Letterman had her on his very last show, very last act performing that tune. I couldn't help thinking he feels the same way about her. He stood off to her left a couple of feet away watching with a big smile on his face.

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 13 Sep 2015 12:27 pm

...and BTW nice playing Sefan.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 14 Sep 2015 4:02 am

Jim Pitman wrote:...and BTW nice playing Sefan.

Thanks Jim

Trying to get the lap steel back into the spotlight by showing people you can play whatever you want solo as well.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 22 Sep 2015 10:31 am

Love the flexibility of that tuning. Very intriguing. I'm looking for a 10 string tuning and didn't necessarily want to go with a straight up C6. This looks like a great one to start with.

Biggest challenge I can see is keeping the string groups straight. Easy grabs on adjacent strings,
but's like the fret is not a position for a chord, and there are 3 or 4 grips/inversions of that chord...more like a fret is a position for a KEY, and instead of inversions you have the triads from that key.

Sorry that I'm stating the obvious...just "talking" myself thru it.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 22 Sep 2015 10:31 pm

Chris Walke wrote:Love the flexibility of that tuning. Very intriguing. I'm looking for a 10 string tuning and didn't necessarily want to go with a straight up C6. This looks like a great one to start with.

Biggest challenge I can see is keeping the string groups straight. Easy grabs on adjacent strings,
but's like the fret is not a position for a chord, and there are 3 or 4 grips/inversions of that chord...more like a fret is a position for a KEY, and instead of inversions you have the triads from that key.

Sorry that I'm stating the obvious...just "talking" myself thru it.

Intriguing indeed. "Grips" some easy and some hella hard. Chords ALL available.

Not sure what you mean by the "fret is not a position for a chord" ???

If you have any queries feel free to ask though. I'm more than happy to help.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 23 Sep 2015 7:47 am

Yeah, I wasn't clear. I'm thinking of a fret as a root position for a chord. C6 tuning, fret 5 is the root position for F major or D minor, with a number of grips for inversions of each, right? But with your tuning, it's more like the fret 5 is a root position for the KEY of F major, as we have major & minor triads on adjacent strings giving us the I, the ii, the iii, the IV, the V, the vi... all in the key of F major.

I realize I'm not even digging deep, this is just what looks obvious to me at a glance.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 30 Sep 2015 12:28 pm

Chris Walke wrote:Yeah, I wasn't clear. I'm thinking of a fret as a root position for a chord. C6 tuning, fret 5 is the root position for F major or D minor, with a number of grips for inversions of each, right? But with your tuning, it's more like the fret 5 is a root position for the KEY of F major, as we have major & minor triads on adjacent strings giving us the I, the ii, the iii, the IV, the V, the vi... all in the key of F major.

I realize I'm not even digging deep, this is just what looks obvious to me at a glance.

Yep. You can pretty much forget about Grips. Think of this tuning like a guitar and approach it like that. no Grips simply notes and chords. Inversions mean you need to know where they are by learning the notes. A word of warning. It takes some time to figure out so be patient.

Tabs are not the way to go. As none exist. Sheet music is though. Also another plus is that you can strum this tuning and sing along to your favourite songs.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 7 Oct 2015 9:25 am

Yes, having messed around with it for the first time last night, I quickly saw advantages, especially in terms of playing melodies, and challenges. A diatonic tuning is definitely a different animal than a chord-based tuning.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 10 Oct 2015 12:35 am

Good news

It is a Cmajor 13 tuning with a diatonic top on the first 5 strings.

However beware of the 11 note in most jazz it is always played #11

Other than that you have All you need for solo playing plus extensions and fast solo playing with practice.

I encourage you to explore and enjoy. However if C6 is what you are hoping for this tuning won't give you that. Also there are no tabs or help.

You need to treat this tuning like a guitar. I cannot stress this enough. From low to high.

If you have any questions I am more than happy to help.

Lap steel on. The revolution has begun.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 10 Oct 2015 1:40 am

And you also have a

Diatonic Chord Sequence - This explains the chords found in a key. For example: The diatonic chord sequence in the key of C is, C, Dmin, Emin, F, G, Amin, Bdim.

In the lower strings