Six-String Sleuth: A Guitar Player's Guide to Figuring Out Song Chords

By Michael Rays

"Six-String Sleuth" is for guitar players who want to figure out song chords by ear. This book is not tedious--it is FUN! The fictional instructor, Benjamin Nightly, teaches music theory concepts by treating songs as crimes committed by groups of chords. Nightly teaches techniques for finding clues and then following the evidence until the crime is solved--and the song is learned! You will learn about how scales generate chords, common chord patterns, why you should love the circle of fifths and much more. The appendix lists 40 well-known pop and rock songs that will test your musical detective abilities. Grab your guitar and get sleuthing!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Rays
• Release date: Oct 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311094797

Michael Rays

Michael Rays grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He graduated from Northwestern University and served nine years in the Navy, flying the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. Michael lives in Billings, Montana with his wife and daughter.

Book preview

SIX-STRING SLEUTH

A Guitar Player’s Guide to Figuring Out Song Chords

by Michael Rays

Published by Michael Rays at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Michael Rays

Also by Michael Rays, published at Smashwords:

Number One with an AXE! A Look at the Guitar’s Role in America’s #1 Hits

Michael Rays rates every #1 Billboard hit of the rock era based on what else—guitar! YouTube links provided for each #1 song. Loads of history, loads of great music, loads of fun.

Number One with an AXE! (Vol 1: The Fifties)

Get Vol 1 FREE at Smashwords! All ebook formats available. Use free coupon code SZ73R

Number One with an AXE! (Vol 2: 1960-64)

Number One with an AXE! (Vol 3: 1965-69)

Number One with an AXE! (Vol 4: 1970-74)

Number One with an AXE! (Vol 5: 1975-79)

Guitar Odyssey: A Journal of Musical Growth

Guitar Odyssey 2: Talkin’ Dirty

Songs are crimes... Let’s SOLVE ‘EM! Six-String Sleuth is the fun and fascinating guide that helps guitar players learn to figure out song chords by ear. The book’s narrator, Detective Benjamin Nightly, treats songs as crimes and tells you how to look for clues so you can solve the case! Six-String Sleuth is also a not-too-serious introduction to some of the fundamentals of music theory, including how scales generate chords, and the circle of fifths.

The class is about to start. Heed Detective Nightly’s words and you’ll be a Six-String Sleuth in no time!

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this ebook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s hard work.

Ode to Guitar Players by Michael Rays

What meaneth one who says ‘I play guitar’?

A batch of basic chords strummed ‘round the fire

An introverted teen who’d be a star

woodshedding endless blues licks on a Squier?

A young gal voicing jazz chords warm and pure

An old man finger-picking on the porch

A classicist, with tones that long endure

or metal shredders carrying the torch?

A drunken punker, fast and out of tune

an aging rocker holding onto youth

a bold flamenco player ‘neath the moon

a studious composer seeking truth?

Thus meaneth one who says ‘I play guitar’:

‘I’ve joined the journey infinitely far.’

Six-String Sleuth

A Guitar Player’s Guide to Figuring Out Song Chords

Table of Contents

1.Know the Skills You’ll Need

2.Pick a Case You Can Solve

3.Assemble Your 3-Item Sleuthing Kit

4.Gather the Right Evidence

5.Choose How You’ll Investigate

6.Remember: All Key Signatures are Two-Faced

7.Why the Key is So Key

8.Gin Up Your Case—Find the Tonic Chord

9.Round Up the Usual Suspects

10.Make ‘Em Sing!

11.Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

12.Know When to Call for Backup

Appendix A--Forty Songs to Solve

Appendix B--The Dominant 7th Chord--Pop Music’s DNA Marker

About the Author

Preface

This book assumes that you:

* are a guitar player

Reviews for Six-String Sleuth

[Georgette · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was fun and informative. It's a easy, clear and concise explanation of how to use the circle of 4ths/cycle of 5ths, not just for working out songs that already exist but extremely useful for songwriting. Thanks very much Mr Rays :-)