Does any1 know what 8va... means?

[MetallicaGirl]

Does anyone know what 8va........... means?

[suppaenitetere]

Where did you see it? that looks like someone saying "ever" in netgeekslang(*l33t*)

[MetallicaGirl]

I've seen in tab, never really worried about it, then saw it in standard notation on some Paganini stuff and decided to check into it.

[StrawJam26]

8va means to play one octave higher than it is written. The reason they do this is b/c when reading standard notation once you get past the top ledger line it becomes harder to read music when you start adding more lines and going higher and higher above the top ledger line. A simple example would be, if you see a piece of music and it tells you to play a G (3rd fret, low E string) if you were playing that piece 8va, you would play that G one octave higher (5th fret D string). Hope I was clear with that explanation. If it was too confusing just let me know and I'll try again :)

[suppaenitetere]

Ah, well i dont read music, never new that. Thought maybe you were reading the notes at the top on a tab and someone through that in there lol. Wow i was way off.

[StrawJam26]

I'm very limited in reading music. It takes me too long to recognize what notes are what. So I basically can't play at all by reading music. I had a book one time that I ordered to help me learn to read music, but I got frustrated with it and sold it. While I had it, I did learn the 8va thing. I'm working hard on trying to get better at playing by ear. Your way ahead of the game if you can do that, so that's my goal..

[MetallicaGirl]

Yeah, that explanation was definately clear. Thanks. And I'd trade in being able to read music to be able to play any song by ear in a heartbeat. But alas, you must work at both. :)

[Claire]

the only reason why i knew what that meant is 'cause they use it on a lot of sheet music. if i hadn't seen it there i would be lost!

[StrawJam26]

Glad I could be of some help. Speaking of playing by ear, I know this guy who can tear it up, but has very limited knowledge about theory and doesn't even know what chords he is playing sometimes. Yet, he's WAY better than I am. Makes me sick ha ha..

[MetallicaGirl]

hehe, I know many who can tear it up better than me. I suck at tearin it up. I'm actually just starting to really get better at that kind of stuff. but i figure if randy had 17 years to get that good, i still got lots to go myself.

[stevante]

8va can also mean to play an octave lower. it depends if it is written above or below the staff.

[StrawJam26]

Metillica Girl, How long have you been playing? It does take awhile, as I am learning. The main thing a guitarist can have is patience. Something I don't have sometimes :)

[MetallicaGirl]

To tell you the truth, I hate to say how long I've been playing- not even 2 years yet!! It gives people the impression that I probably suck. well, i do compared to the greats, but not for how long I've been playing, even though in my opinion i'll never be as good as i want to be. but that's what it's all about right? take time? i have no patience either what so ever. I mean NONE. I wanna fly like malmsteen right now, and i tell myself i should be able to!! so it gets me even more frustrated. But on the other hand, pushing myself like that is what makes me better than other guitarists. I think though that I just found the secret to learning how to improvise better...actually it's no secret, i just never took it to heart, but i'm just starting to solo to stuff on the radio, and especially metallica (they're not the best band ever, but they are awesome riffers). it really helps. (duh metallicagirl!) hehe.

[MetallicaGirl]

p.s.- thanks stevante.

[StrawJam26]

Soloing to stuff on the radio is a good way to learn. Usually what I do, is I take a song I like and first I learn how it's played and then I break it down to see why it works so I can maybe take some ideas and incorporate them into my own playing. I'm very much a work in progress when it comes to soloing. I'm pretty good at ryhthm guitar, but my soloing is lacking. Maybe one day :)

[MetallicaGirl]

Rythm's a lot easier for me too. I actually at some point want to break down classical pieces- the good classical pieces, not the full symphony stuff, but the violin solos, etc.- and incorporate that sound into rock. That's why I love Randy Rhoads. He started to do, right before he died, the stuff that I want to do. I'm finishing his work!! lol- I shouldn't say that, because then I'd be comparing myself to a really great person and guitar player.

[StrawJam26]

Nothing wrong with comparing yourself to a great person or great guitar player ;) . I think sometimes what bogs my soloing down is that I think about theory too much instead of thinking more creative. I think having a creative mind can take you as far as knowing a lot of theory. Theory does help a lot though. Now if I can work on the creative part, I might be someone :)

[MetallicaGirl]

Mm yeah. I was big time into theory for a few months until I realized that I wasn't getting anywhere with my guitar playing. I figure I'll learn the music aspect, then learn how it works. hehe. My problem is that I can be creative, but I can't put it down on the guitar. It is hard though- I mean look at Yngwie- he says he never gets a creative strike because he's always got something to put down! He never gets OUT of the creative mode- so he says. He also says he's never really practiced, just played. I think from now on everyone should call him Mr. Big Ego. :rolleyes:

[StrawJam26]

I would like to get in creative mode and put it down on guitar, just one time would be nice!! Another strange fact about my guitar playing. It seems if I put the guitar down for a couple of days and then come back I do better than if I play every day. Strange but true.

[MetallicaGirl]

That is strange. But hey, if it works. I know it's true that if I learn something for the first time and if I memorize it, I'll be better at it when I come back to it later that day. Maybe that's along the same lines...? Me...I have to play hours a day. I'm addicted to it. If I'm not playing then that's all I'm thinking about.
Ah...I love my life. :) So how long have you been playing? What are your influences?

[StrawJam26]

I'm pretty addicted to guitar/music theory myself. I find when I'm not playing I'm thinking about it. I've even woke up in the middle of the night and the first thing that pops into my head is music theory! And I get these ideas, and then after I go back to sleep and wake up the next day, I've forgot what ideas I had :)... I've been playing for about 3 years. My influences, it seems they vary widely from day to day. There's a local band here named Atomic Eyes whom are a big influence. Lifehouse is one of my influences. What about you, who are your influences?

[MetallicaGirl]

Hehe. Almost every night I get up in the middle of the night too...to play- usually for about an hour. It keeps my fingers nimble. I'm really trying to stay away from music theory, because I know if I learned it, I definately would understand things better, but I'm trying to understand how things work by ear instead, then later I can go back to theory. And when I say later, I mean years from now. My influences...First and foremost, 80's metal. All the great guitarists played in the 80s. Those bands just kicked ass. After that, classical music. It's just arranged so perfectly, I mean, when I hear it, I just know that geniuses had to have created it. It's beautiful. :rolleyes: That's mostly what influences me. I also love progressive rock, like Dream Theater. They're definately a musician's band, (for the most part), but John has great chops, well, all 4 members do. And the way their songs are arranged...they're very technical and...intellectual I guess you could say. Great minds created those three genres. It gives me chills just thinkin about it. ;)
And oh yeah, go with those ideas you have. Write em down or somethin really quick (I know it sux, cuz you just want to sleep), but it may really help. That kind of stuff can really inspire you, and make you feel like you've accomplished somethin. :)

[StrawJam26]

I don't think I've ask, but what kind of guitar do you play? I own a Takamine G Series Acoustic. I play that and my brother's Stratocaster when I feel like being electric :). I have a friend who's into Dream Theater. I don't think I've ever heard any of their stuff... You are so right about classical music. It's genius. The old classical's like Bach, Beethoven etc. were just magic.... I'm also pretty much into music with a mellow violin. I love to hear the violin. It's all about emotion and mood :)..

[MetallicaGirl]

I play a fender strat. I've been saying this for a while, but I'm gonna get a new guitar soon. Just got to find the right one. It's very difficult. And it's not like a have a lot of money. I'll probably get one of the ibanez rg series. I can't do anything on acoustic. Nothing cool anyway. I hear martin's are good acoustics. How about takamines?

[StrawJam26]

The Takamine I have isn't the top of the line. I gave close to $200 when I bought it new last year. But for the price, it's got a good sound. It's prob. a mid-line guitar. It's not the best but it's good quality. The music store I got it from has an Ovation acoustic ($400), it's green and I love the sound of it. It's much easier to fret than mine and has a great sound. I know someone who has a Washburn acoustic that has a really respectable sound.. I'm happy with mine for now. I would like to have that Ovation, but just don't have the money to do it now. I like playing both acoustic and electric, depends on the mood. I've found that since I play acoustic mostly, when I do play electric, it's so much easier to play (like fretting etc.)... I buy my guitar equipment from this place called Sound Post, the guy who owns it is real cool and will negotiate and give a good deal. He threw in some picks, a guitar strap, and a set of strings for free when I bought my guitar... Speaking of picks, when I first got my guitar, all I had were Fender picks and they ALL broke quickly. Now I buy these Dunlop picks with a picture of a Turtle on them :).. There pretty cool!

[MetallicaGirl]

That's cool. They're opening a Samash store where I live. Yay! Hopefully it'll have some good stuff. I have to play with hard picks. No medium or thin. ech. The first time I played with a thin pick it broke. And I was on an acoustic guitar. I have red white and blue picks. Nice and patriotic.
:cool: