Babe I'm Gonna Leave

[rtob]

I would kline to know why you do not play the interlude in the open position (first fret), rather than moving to the 8th and 6th fret after the first 4 8th notes. It seems that it would be much smoother (because of time to shift positions) just staying on the first few frets.

[Lavallee]

Rtob, I am sure Neil will respond but I have a book from Led Zep, and this is also at the 6th and 8th fret for the interlude, I have never seen it played how you describe it, but I wonder if doing it at the first would not lower the registry a bit. I would be curious to see a video showing that.

By the way glad you are joining us on the forum

Marc

[rtob]

The notes are exactly the same, not an octave lower ... Or lower register. For example, it is like playing the 4th fret on the g string or playing an open b (2nd string). Each of the notes (in the interlude) played at the 6th and 8th fret can be played on a higher (I.e., b or high e) string. I am no sure at this point which position is easier to play .... Or whether it is because the strummed chords must be played at the higher frets.

[TGNeil]

There are a couple reasons Jimmy played it up the neck. The second set of notes would require quite a stretch to play low keeping all 3 notes on separate strings to ring over each other. This is an important part of the sound. The E and the G can not both be played on the E string, meaning the E would have to be at the 5th fret of the B string. This is nowhere near impossible but not as easy as the shape up the neck on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings.

You also get a significantly different tone on the notes up the neck that you do on the 1st string. Much thicker sound on the thicker strings.

It also keeps his right hand pattern more consistent, hitting the 2 thumbed notes on the 5th and 4th strings, rather than skipping over the 4th to get to the 3rd.

There are probably another 5-6 reasons that I could come up with in a few more minutes but that should be enough for now.

Neil

[rtob]

The comment regarding tone with thicker strings does make some sense. Apparently he was going for that sound. And keeping the same picking pattern makes very good sense. I feel much more comfortable playing the notes at the 8th and 6th fret positions. It just takes me too long to get there. .... But practice will get me there!

I do not know what you mean regarding the stretch to play certai notes. I have tried playing the following strings/fret

A/0, D/2, B/0 (not G/4), B/1

A/0, G/2, E/0, E/3 (why not E and G on the E string .... length of ringing time???)

A/0, G/2, B/3, E/3

A/0, G/2, B/3, E/1


I am very sure these are the same notes (I do no have access to my guitar right now .... And my minds eye could be blinded)

But, the picking pattern suggested above does not require any significant stretches ..... It is, as you suggested a pattern that changes, maybe too much

[TGNeil]

rtob wrote:

The comment regarding tone with thicker strings does make some sense. Apparently he was going for that sound. And keeping the same picking pattern makes very good sense. I feel much more comfortable playing the notes at the 8th and 6th fret positions. It just takes me too long to get there. .... But practice will get me there!

I do not know what you mean regarding the stretch to play certain notes. I have tried playing the following strings/fret

A/0, D/2, B/0 (not G/4), B/1

A/0, G/2, E/0, E/3 (why not E and G on the E string .... length of ringing time???)

...

Both of these fingerings play consecutive notes on the same string. Like you said, "length of ringing time???"
The notes must ring over each other to maintain the arpeggio feel.

Neil