Soukous guitar

[Power_13]

I couldn't even spell soukous at the beginning of the day if you'd asked me to, but I found a couple of demo videos on youtube and now I'm hooked.

I've already changed the strings on my Tele Custom to capture the sound better (just replaced the D string with a D-tuned high E string) and it's giving me a boost I've not had for ages. I'm enjoying playing more than I have in ages

From what I've been experimenting with, it appears to depend a lot on different shapes and inversions for chords, so that's something I need to brush up on. Syncopation in fingerpicking is another thing. I was just wondering if anyone's got any tips for artists to listen to or tutorials/exercises to follow.

[elicross]

Links!

[Power_13]

Ok then

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WxLI9lTOwFc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tRKWxd7QBKg&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0WKjU3fwPoE&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=a-7kOXD2Ls0&feature=related

On the third video where the guy talks about the alternate tuning and demonstrates the G chord, I spent about ten minutes trying to figure out the tuning until I realised he was actually fingering a G chord and not playing every string open. I sure felt dumb after that

(edit) is it just me, or would this sound good translated to mandolin?

[Dexter_Sinister]

I couldn't even spell soukous at the beginning of the day if you'd asked me to, but I found a couple of demo videos on youtube and now I'm hooked.

I've already changed the strings on my Tele Custom to capture the sound better (just replaced the D string with a D-tuned high E string) and it's giving me a boost I've not had for ages. I'm enjoying playing more than I have in ages

From what I've been experimenting with, it appears to depend a lot on different shapes and inversions for chords, so that's something I need to brush up on. Syncopation in fingerpicking is another thing. I was just wondering if anyone's got any tips for artists to listen to or tutorials/exercises to follow.

Made my living with this 15+ years ago.

Diblo Dibala wrote the book. Just inhale everything he recorded and you will be doing well.

In general, Soukous is very diatonic, solos derive from arpeggios, avoid blue notes like the plague. Like Funk, the one is key and don't lay back. Its a bright, lively, upbeat sound. I personally think it works better if you put some bounce in your right hand and play cleaner than most guitarists seem to like.

I hate what is happening to that part of the world but I love its musics...

DS