Minor chords are an effective way of creating atmosphere on any instrument – no matter if it is lap steel, guitar slide, bass guitar or another. Learn how to find and use them with this lesson.
This lesson will show you how to ‘barre’ all the minor chords in open G tuning for dobro guitar, giving an excellent opportunity for skill building on this instrument.
What is a dobro?
The dobro is an impressive resonator guitar with an unusual construction. It features a square neck that’s usually played lap-style by resting it against their lap while they perform. Strings are free-stopped using a bottleneck (a metal piece that looks like an I-beam with one rounded side) which the performer glides across strings surfaces to produce dynamic glissando effects and create dynamic glissando effects.
Dobro instruments feature circular or f-style sound holes on their resonator plate that help the instrument produce its distinctive banjo-like sound, unlike traditional acoustic guitars which use steel strings instead.
Mike Witcher from Peghead Nation offers this lesson on the fundamentals of dobro resonator guitar playing to introduce you to its history, accessories and playing techniques. Discover how to hold and fit a dobro for optimal playing techniques using styles by Josh Graves, Jerry Douglas, Pete Kirby and other dobro legends as an inspiration – start your journey now to becoming a dobro pro!
Is dobro easier to play than guitar?
Are You New to Dobro? Starting Out can Be Difficult but with some practice it will become second nature! Below are a few helpful hints and tips to get you going:
Starting off right can be easy when learning an iconic dobro melody like Amazing Grace – this will allow you to get acquainted with playing on the first string while honing your intonation skills and producing that authentic “singing” sound of the dobro!
Starting off by learning some minor chords is another fantastic way to expand your repertoire and excel in jam sessions. Mike will show you different methods for inducing minor chords using power chords and dyads, as well as how you can use open strings to play full minor chords. He will also share some blues licks that you can incorporate into your playing for added flavor!
Is dobro a resonator guitar?
Dobro guitars are resonator instruments with metal cones designed to amplify vibrations from its strings. Their shape, size and material all combine to produce distinctive sounds characteristic of their style of use in bluegrass and country music genres.
Dobro guitars are widely renowned for their versatile sound production abilities when using different slide techniques and alternate tunings to extend its sonic potential.
Dobro requires basic accessories to properly operate, including a slide, pickup, gig bag and tuner. A slide is a smooth metal tube used to press down on strings without plucking them, while a pickup captures vibrations of strings and sends them directly into an amplifier. Furthermore, gig bags provide space-efficient transport of musical instruments and their accessories.
Is dobro a slide guitar?
Dobro guitar is a type of resonator guitar similar to Hawaiian steel guitar or lap steel, invented by Czech-born American John Dopyera in 1925. Primarily an evolution from Hawaiian steel guitars, its development can also be considered “resophonic guitar”. This term refers to any instrument equipped with metal-resonating bowls on its body resonator.
The square-neck dobro features a special slide made of glass bottle neck, which allows players to create melodies and glissandos by sliding along its strings. This allows for melodic accompaniment as well as glissando effects.
Dobro guitars feature a rustic metallic tone compared to the more vivid and twangy sounds produced by traditional acoustic guitars, which makes them popular instruments in bluegrass and country music. Dobro players usually opt for fingers or palms over bars when using it – the resonator helps amplify string vibrations for its unique sound while its open G tuning makes chording easy on this unique instrument.