Amusing musical discovery of the afternoon

[annathepiper]

So! Having recently been introduced to the music of tfabris and vixyish, and having finally heard "Mal's Song" all the way through, I decided it was my solemn duty as a Browncoat to learn that song.

technoshaman pointed me at the chords posted on Vixy and Tony's site, and I played around with them this afternoon. Discovered much to my satisfaction that the chord set is very easy, and much of the character of the song is dependent upon just putting some suitable ornamentation on the strumming.

Vixy's kicking the song up a few steps from the original theme of the key, I noted. It's up a step, I think...? (Vix, if you're reading this, can you enlighten me?) I'd originally thought it was a fifth, but that didn't sound right at all--so I went looking for what other folks out there had done for the chords for the original theme, and it looks like they're in C. Only played as A chords, capoed up three. So, clearly I need to work on successfully identifying the distances between relative keys. I could tell Vixy was kicking it up higher, but not by how much, not immediately.

The other fun part is that "Mal's Song" is lacking an extra strum right after "take me where I cannot stand", so it kicks over into "I don't care..." earlier than the original theme does. Which throws me off every time I try to play through it. *^_^*;; (Though I'm getting the hang of it playing along with the recording; that way I can much better hear what Tony's actually doing with the guitar part there, and that helps my hands get the idea.)

But I can otherwise totally play this thing. Go me!

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Vixy and Tony, you know about the Valentine's Day Benefit for s00j up at A Gathering Grove in Everett? Dunno if you guys had plans alreddie, but if'n you don't...

[annathepiper]

Yes, we knew, thanks. :)

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

Pretty sure the original Big Damn Theme Song is in D as it has that 'played in drop D tuning' feel to it -DADGBE low to high

[annathepiper]

Nah, it's definitely C. The chords I found referenced on Firefly fan sites were written out in A but specified a capo on 3, and more importantly, they sounded correct when I played along with the recording. Doublechecked vocally, too. I'll learn to pick out keys by ear yet. :)

(Of course, that doesn't mean Mr. Rhodes might not have his guitar tuned in drop D anyway, but regardless, the key is definitely C.)