From "Chords and Rhythm" by Jamie Andreas

[ShirleyIplay]

Here is my first posting of the Bob Dylan song, "Knock Knocking of Heaven's Door"
Notices I missee a chord there in the middle but will post it anyway for comment.
I didn't sing loud, but wanted to get the syncopation, which is more important to me anyway Here it is.

http://youtu.be/26HQSQZHz5U

[Jamie]

Great Shirl! The strumming and chord changing is solid.

I am not sure if you certain enough of where all the words fall. For instance, "Mama take"...Mama should be on beat 3 of the G chord, "take" on beat 1 of the D. Of course, you can do whatever you want (lord knows Bob does!), but I like students to get things pretty "straight" before they start altering.

I would slow it down a bit too. This song actually sounds quite good with just a straight 4 feel.

[ShirleyIplay]

Well you got that right. I really don't know the words to the song. I have always just listened to the music ever since I was young. Very little do I sing along or know words to over 3,000 songs on my Ipod. I can tell you what instruments are played to orchestras but can't sing along.
I will make more of an attempt to re-do this with better attention to your suggestions. If I'm to be any better, I need to be able to sing along....and you have said that before in your courses. So now, I pay the price.
As always, thanks, Jamie, for helping me be a guitar player and musician.

[Jamie]

You're welcome Shirley! btw, your voice is fine, you sing right on pitch, no problem. It is just that you most likely never had to pay attention to the rhythmic placement of the melody/words as a song goes along.........and now it is time to do that. Believe me, you will not have a problem getting completely comfortable with this!

[shanejur]

Nice job Shirley, I liked it. Shane

[ShirleyIplay]

Great Shirl! The strumming and chord changing is solid.

I am not sure if you certain enough of where all the words fall. For instance, "Mama take"...Mama should be on beat 3 of the G chord, "take" on beat 1 of the D. Of course, you can do whatever you want (lord knows Bob does!), but I like students to get things pretty "straight" before they start altering.

I would slow it down a bit too. This song actually sounds quite good with just a straight 4 feel.

"Mama take"...Mama should be on beat 3 of the G

On the sheet of music in your book the above "mama" begins on beat two of the "D" chord. Is that right?

[Jamie]

Shirley, that D chord does not happen until the 3rd beat of that measure. Look and you will see, the G occupies the 1st and 2nd beat, D starts on the 3rd beat, over the 3rd strum line.

I was wrong about "mama", that is on the 2nd beat of that measure (G), "take" is the 3rd beat of the measure, but the first strum of D.....whew...semantics...........it's much easier to play than to say!

[ShirleyIplay]

I was wrong about "mama", that is on the 2nd beat of that measure (G), "take" is the 3rd beat of the measure, but the first strum of D.....whew...semantics...........it's much easier to play than to say![/quote]

If I'm understanding the above info. you are saying that "G" gets 6 beats and that "Mama" begins on the 5th beat then "D" is the last two beats of 2nd measure.

I took the 2nd measure to be 4 beats of D because it sits over the whole thing. Anyway if I can get the Mama right the rest will go well.

Thanks for the help. I love confusion, don't you? lol