I for myself try to play "real" chords as much as possible, and even when I play power chords, I've started adding the rest of my fingers to get a full six string major or minor chord. Maybe it's because I write my songs on my acoustic guitar primarily. Power chords are ok, but real chords sound more like garage punk, I think. Real chords somehow feel not as solid as a wall, but rather delicate, richer, but also thinner in power (that's why they're no power chords), so it's not so much "rock" but more "garage", if you know what I mean.

Another pro for real chords in my opinion is that when you've learned and practiced them a bit, you don't need to climb up and down your fretboard but can keep your hand at one position, which is much more comfortable for lazy ol' me. And with the variations on the chords you can fake guitar solos without knowing how to play guitar solos...

after playing power chords for a really long time to get the notes I wanted I've just started practicing "real chords" it's keeps me from getting bored but also gives a whole new direction to my sound. but I really think if you like the way it sounds then just play it! I am forever learning to "play" the guitar but it's loads of fun!!!

full chords all the way. they add more depth to the song and sound more garagey too

Hey....how are you doing....
Play what sounds best to YOU.......'power chords', half chords, 'proper' chords, not-a chord-at-all chords (my favourite...)......it's the SOUND that counts.....if its the note you meant, its the right note.....
The only benefit I would say to learning 'proper' chords is that it gives you that option if you want to take it.....
As to which chord type to use......whatever!......(say, early on in the song you want a bit of a jangle? half chord, top strings only!...later on......its time to blast through to the end? Power chord!)
Enough crap from me....good luck....keep on keepin' on...
BG
TBGZP

imo full chords are 60's fuzz nugget psych folk neo garage punk, power chords should be left for the likes of Green Day & Nickelback. In answer to your question....either way your going to learn how to play both.

To me, it's more than the label, it's the quality of the workmanship of the instrument. The type of wood, the way the frets are dressed, the tuners, etc all come into the equation. I've owned a few Dano Longhorns. I had an original 60's one, then I had a 90's Korean remake, and IMO neither comes close in quality to the Jerry Jones Longhorn I still own. The reason is, the neck is beautiful, he uses great tuning pegs, the pickup's and wiring are all hand made. It's a well made, great sounding instrument, made in the USA. I still own a 90's Dano Baritone, and to get it up to speed, I had to change the bridge & the tuners. But it's still nowhere near a Jerry Jones.

Peavy makes very high quality instruments, however, they are just plain ugly. The same with their amplifiers. If they had a better design, I think they would be more widely accepted.

Squier's are getting better, the problem is they were so bad in the past that they are associated with low quality.

Funny, I remember when 70's Fender's were looked down upon. Everyone said the only good Fender's were Pre- CBS.
I liked the 70's P basses and bought a few quite cheaply in the late 80's. They have gone way up in value.

Then people looked down on the Japanese made Fenders. Those too are going way up in value. I have a Mexican Fender Jazz bass, and it's a fine instrument.

My real guilty pleasure find however is a 70's Hondo P bass. I scored it for around $50, and it's a great bass.

I've owned a lot of guitars over my lifetime & I keep going back to Fender. They are solid, well built, reliable, easy to play and they sound great. Who cares what some pop star uses as a prop in his video? Pop stars come & go. If you dig the Jaguar, get one. I had a Mosrite bass for a while & it did not come close to a Fender bass in any way. The strings were too close together, the sound was muddy & the pickups came loose rather easily. I think Mosrite guitars are better than their basses, but I just can not comprehend the huge price-tags asked for these instruments these days. I can remember a time when these were $50 guitars.They look cool, but IMO if it's all about the image, save your money & buy an Eastwood, a Hallmark or a Univox. These are decent guitars at a fraction of the cost. Do you really want to be babysitting a $2,000.00 guitar at your gigs?? If you are looking for the real surf sound, it's not just the guitar, but the amplifier that makes the difference. You'll also need a good reverb tank to get the real surf sound, and those too can be quite expensive. It's also about you as a player. Dick Dale uses a Stratocaster. He uses very heavy strings & uses a vintage Fender dual showman amp. He gets quite a different sound than most Strat players. Keep in mind, Johnny Ramone changed the pickups on his. So his guitar did not sound like most Mosrite guitars.

Jay Reatard - Death is forming
Turbonegro - Self destructobust
The Damned - Love song
Butthole Surfers - Kuntz
The Oblivians - Five Hour Man
UK Subs - Left for dead
The Black Jaspers - Long 'n' Wavy
Thee Headcoats - Again and again
The Beguiled - La Muerte Del Ray
The Ramones - Loud Mouth

I had somehow been going right on through life without ever having heard of Josie Cotton. Checked her out earlier in the week, thanks to your post. Much obliged!

Mark Von Frankenstine said:

Josie Cotton - Johnny Are You Queer?

MC 5 - shakin´street
Gary US Bonds - i wanna holler(but the town´s to small) - and also the detroit cobras version
the Gories- i think i´ve had it
Batman and Robin - my Heropower is my moustache
Sons of Cyrus - didn´know
Jay Reatard - not a Substitute
Mudhoney - Fuzzgun91
Blues Explosion - 2Kindsa Love
Beach Boys - Girl don´t tell me
Man or Astroman - King of the Monsters

Damn i need a number 11 for

Bunker Hill - the Girl can´t dance

Off the top of my head:
Shake Some Action - Flamin' Groovies
Slave Girl - Lime Spiders
Hard for You - Beasts of Bourbon
Communist Radio - The Eat
No. 1 - The Charlatans
Leaving It Up to You - John Cale
Fashion - Dan Melchior Broke Revue
Urban Guerrilla - Hawkwind
Cocaine Blues - Johnny Cash
Biff Bang Pow - The Creation

BTW, I also love "I Wanna Destroy You" by the Soft Boys.

MikeL said:

You should check out a band called Manda and the Marbles. They did a really good cover of "I Wanna Go Home."



Mark Von Frankenstine said:

Here's some random stuff that popped into my head. It's all pretty scattered, but I love 'em all in their own weird little way:

The Osmonds - Crazy Horses
The Ramones - Carbona Not Glue
Amboy Dukes - Journey to the Center of the Mind
Josie Cotton - Johnny Are You Queer?
Dirtbombs - Your Love Belongs Under a Rock
Turbonegro - Denim Demon
Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Zombie Compromise
King Khan and Barbecue - Teabag Party
Holly and the Italians - I Wanna Go Home
Soft Boys - I Wanna Destroy You

Tomorrow it'll be a different ten.

Here are some favorites of mine...

"Running with the Wasters" by the Takeover UK.

"Simple Things" by Manda and the Marbles.

"Forget About the Day" by Manda and the Marbles.

"Rock'n'Roll Babe" by the Cocktail Slippers.

"Ramona" by the Ramones.

"Danny Says" by the Ramones.

"Ain't So Cool" by Les Hell on Heels.

"Pull Shapes" by the Pipettes.

"Personality Crisis" by the New York Dolls.

"Fox on the Run" by the Sweet.

BTW, this is just a very scattershot list.

Gringo Starr said:

Great. Where's part 3!?

Thanks, dude!!! A lot of fun.

sick!!!

Thanks! Very Cool!

This is a good website that shows probably all of the clones of whatever fuzz you're searching for: www.effectsdatabase.com

I want to record songs digitally.  What's the easiest way?  I have never done a home recording before and would like to keep the cost at the low end.

sorry if this is a topic already discussed but just wondering who some of the ladys here are influenced by musically.  I think I have a lot more male influences but would love to see some female names, singers and guitarists especially

Shakey- Neil Young..I really loved reading about all the traveling and his recording then and there habits. He's a bit mad and obsessed with his work but I enjoyed being submerged in the life he has led. I have yet to listen to tonights the night but I hope it's as good as the book makes it seem!! I'm gonna find that Patti Smith book next!!

The chapter about the making of Funhouse in Open Up and Bleed should be a whole book, it's incredible. Mr. S by Frank Sinatra's longtime valet George Jacobs is one of the wildest biographies, portraying Frank and his pals (including JFK) as a bunch of insecure, whoremongering, rat soup-eatin' honkies. John Lydon's autobio Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs gave me new respect for the guy and it's kind of touching that he finds his story after his mother's death too painful to delve into. White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground Day-by-Day by Richie Unterberger is the last word on the VU and clears up the many mysteries surrounding the group. My all-time favorites are Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love by Peter Guralnik, a two-volume biography of the King of Rock and Roll beside which all other Elvis books are trash.

i'm looking to travel more whether it's in the usa or europe and would like to know of some good events to check out.

woops ment to hit the stop following button.