Mary Flower dives into the relationship of chords while looking at a piano keyboard for a better understanding.
Taught by Mary Flower in Lessons with Mary Flower seriesLength: 16:39Difficulty: 2.0 of 5
Mary Flower is an award-winning acoustic fingerstyle blues guitarist known for her original tunes and smooth voice. With multiple albums and an impressive career, Mary strives to keep the blues alive.
Lesson 1
Mary Flower dives into the relationship of chords while looking at a piano keyboard for a better understanding.
Length: 16:39 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Mary Flower talks about the major scale, its formula, and chords. She also briefly discusses barre chords.
Length: 15:43 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 3
Mary Flower shares a basic lesson on Travis Picking.
Length: 15:38 Difficulty: 2.0 FREE
Mary Flower talks about alternating bass patterns and how to incorporate them into your playing.
Length: 6:52 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Mary Flower talks about the CAGED system, the transposition process, and how to use a capo.
Length: 6:34 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Mary Flower
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Working in both the intricately syncopated Piedmont fingerpicking style and her own deeply bluesy lap-slide guitar, Mary has earned rave reviews from critics and audiences alike for her springwater-clear vocals and mastery of multiple guitar styles as well as her own compositions. Though she can create prewar blues and ragtime with the best of them, Mary draws on traditional, contemporary and original material to create something new: a sound uniquely her own that remains true to the timeless power of the blues.
Flower's elegant, funky and inventive playing on vintage guitars makes her one of a mere handful of women guitarists admired for their instrumental prowess. In 2000 and 2003 respectively, Mary placed in the top three at the National Fingerpicking Championship. Her career as an internationally known performer and teacher has spanned more than three
decades.
A recent transplant to the Northwest, Mary cut her teeth on the Colorado music scene where she played with the likes of Katy Moffatt, Pat Donohue, the Mother Folkers and more. Mary took a detour in the 80s to raise a family, all the time woodshedding and performing locally.
Mary's CD Bywater Dance, recorded pre-Katrina in New Orleans for Yellow Dog Records, has garnered widespread acclaim. An award-winning player with seven solo cds and 5 instructional DVDs to her credit, Flower is in demand for festivals, concerts and guitar workshops on both sides of the Atlantic.
"Unassuming blues heroine Mary Flower proves one again that she's one of
the nation's premier fingerstyle blues guitarists-- her technique is exceptional
throughout, and in the end, serves the highest purpose, the music--unfailingly
sweet, hot and sassy--every track on this album has something about it that will
give you the shivers... This is one of the most satisfying albums of the year."
- All Music Guide to Blues
"Her crisp, fluid fingerpicking sounds deceptively effortless, with flawlessly executed syncopation, the hallmark of a bouncing, upbeat Piedmont style. From casual listeners to devoted blues fans, Flower's music is accessible to everyone"
- Blues Review
"With her immaculate guitar playing and warm contralto, Mary Flower finds the
sweet spot between modern and rootsy in twelve tunes bred of back porches,
parlors, street corners, juke joints and country churches...one of the best blues based
singer songwriters working today."
- Acoustic Guitar Magazine
"Mary is one of those rare artists who manages to create a tincture of the aged
authentic with the freshly original."
- Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Dear Mary, I have played for years and only now learning something (1-4-5). I heard about 1-4-5 from you Uke class, which is 1-2-5 with a 7th on the 5 (vamp). Thank you!! :)
Been thinking of trying thumb/finger picks. Anyone know what brand she uses or have recommendations.?
That was a great lesson. Very helpful in understanding how the 'families' of chords work.
enjoyed the lesson
I love your lessons, especially since you find ways around barred chords. I also like the way you used the piano keyboard to illustrate the chord connections. Thank you!
Great teaching based on an important topic. Thank you
Dear Mary, one of your colleagues, Steve Eulberg, said in one of his classes, he likes it that students - experience a "aha moment". If someone does not understand a particular subject and suddenly, bingo, the puzzle parts fit together ... then you get a "aha - moment". Well Mary, during your videos, my puzzle about several theoretical problems, is finished. Thank you for your simple, yet very clear enlightening lessons. Marcel (Celle) Antwerp, Belgium.
Mary, this is great. Thanks for your work.
Yo know, I've been playing by ear for a number of years, and every time I decided to take lessons, I would ask questions surrounding this very topic, and NEVER get a straight answer. Why? I have no clue. THIS was a concise lesson I will never forget. Thanks!
This was an outstanding explanation of the content... really kind of a light bulb moment for me... thank you!
this explained a ton. thanks a billion.
Hello Mary,it's good to see you back,many thanks.
Hi Mary, i am very new learner, browsing through and found you. I am starting to get the gist about chords and relationship, thank you, Iam turning 57 and looking forward to learning. it is never too late and i am so excited to learn how to play the guitar.
SO glad to see you again and learn from you!!!! So fortunate to have you!!
I love your lessons Mary. I can't wait to study your new material.
Great to see you back Mary! Its fun to revisit the basics with you. I already learned a new chord shape - Bm7 without barring, and I like your alternative A shape concept. Thanks, Wolf
Welcome back Mary. Looking forward to your lessons.
Hi Mary, Just yesterday I was looking at some of my old progress report lessons I saved to review and brought up your piano boxcar lesson. I'm so glad your back. Uncle Joe
Yay Mary! Nice to see you back here, and great ideas with the keyboard layout. Also, I really love that old Gibson...