Geoff's Guitar Chords

Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

It has been said that music is the universal language of love. Regardless of your background, most of us can relate to music as a sensual art. In this article we will take a look at translating emotion into a beautiful song using a few simple techniques.

First off, throw your speedy hands out the window. Technique is a fantastic thing for every guitarist to master, and you will be using it for playing this style of music. However, some of the most thought provoking music comes from slow and deliberate notes. Moving around your fretboard at lightning speed won't get you the sound you are looking for.

You might be surprised to read that playing music at a slower tempo (speed) can be harder than fast, technical riffs. Why would slower music be harder? This is where the art aspect of romantic music comes in... you feel it. When you're playing notes slowly, you hear the tone with clarity and notice if the musician is sincere with what he or she is playing.

The first thing you can do to work on your tone, is to brush up on some important techniques. For starters, you want to master the vibrato technique. Take your finger and place it on any fret you wish. Then pluck the string and shake it! Yes I said shake it (your finger that is.) If you played the technique correctly, it should make the note "wobble." In its purest form, vibrato gives the impression of your guitar singing. Vocalists do the same thing with their voices on long tones.

Your guitar's purpose is going to change when you play romantic guitar. Usually, the guitar's function is to set a rhythm and lay down a lead to enhance the vocals of the song. Now your guitar is the vocalist. See the difference? Your guitar will become the melody of the song and tell the listener a story. The guitar shifts from supporting the vocals to being the star of the show.

A great way to hear this is to listen to vocalists such as Andre Bocelli and Josh Groban. They use their voices to evoke emotion from their audience and you want to have the same affect with your guitar. Listen to the similarities between their voices and your guitar.

For instance, your guitar can use dynamic swells (gradually get louder or softer). You can slide to various notes, they can slur notes together. They can sing short and detached (staccato) and you can play notes short and detached. The list goes on.

Here are the basic techniques you will need to transform your guitar into a soloist:

Chelsea Nisbett

If there were three words to sum up this inspiring artist, they would have to be integrity, class, and passion. Chelsea Nisbett is a new talent recently merging into the music industry. She brings with her a refreshing outlook on life and a tremendous aptitude for music that has been refined over recent years.

Her enthusiasm and dedication are clearly evident in her live gigs. I've had the honour of seeing her live and can say from personal experience that Chelsea's current discography has something for everyone, regardless of background.

One of the most impressive aspects of Chelsea's unique musical style is her ability to add texture and depth to her music. She employs a variety of melodic and harmonic chord progressions with a beautiful mix that you can't help but listen to.

Guitarists will enjoy the work of Macio Dorrington as he takes a new approach to lead guitar that revitalizes soul. Vocalists can appreciate how hard composing music can be and the challenges associated with it. Chelsea has composed many songs and has an extremely mature voice for her age.

I had the opportunity to speak with Chelsea earlier this week and here's what she had to say about what she's been up to and where she is headed:

"I've been singing ever since I can remember and in junior high I decided to take guitar lessons to accompany myself whenever I got to sing. I was tired of depending on other people to provide music for me. I also decided to take some singing lessons for a few months in high school and a few months in university.

I always knew I wanted to be on stage as a profession but I didn't start to get serious about it until after my first year of university. Up until that point I would casually play music on the side. I definitely think the timing was meant to be because about 7 months after I started avidly pursuing gigs, someone saw me playing at a coffee house. He suggested that I apply for a grant to record a CD. I did and I got it! The funding came through the Nova Scotia Government (located in Canada), and is for the CD that I am currently working on. I'm hoping to release the CD in November. It will be called "New Beginnings," an EP featuring six songs that I've written.

My band has come together over the past year. Charlie Marcelli is my drummer. I met him through our common involvement in the music ministry at our church. Macio Dorrington is my electric guitar player. I asked him to play with me for a benefit concert last February (after seeing him play in other settings) and he's been playing with me ever since. I still don't have a regular bass player yet. I'm praying about it, and trusting God to provide one for me. For now I am having a variety of people play with me at shows.

Together with my band we've developed a style that I would describe as a mix of R&B, soul, pop rock, jazz and blues. To be honest, I never know what to say when people ask me what my style is so I've resigned to calling it "soul." I like to write songs as experiments. "Slow Down" was written to experiment with 12 bar blues and "Soldier" was written to experiment with jazz chords and rapping to a guitar. I write to challenge myself."

...Watch out for Chelsea in the future because I highly doubt this will be the last time you'll hear about her. Speaking of hearing, you can't leave your computer without checking out her website. Click here to go there now. You'll find songs you can listen to and enjoy, coupled with lyrics.

I'd like to personally thank Chelsea for her contribution to the industry and wish her the best of luck. If you're reading this and thinking, "I'd like to be a Feature Band," send us an email!