Example noel gallagher indie strumming

cd track 57

[Bar 1] We are following a simple strumming pattern; easy on the surface but consider this an exercise in timekeeping, dynamics and accuracy. The Em11 chord at the end of this bar is not evidence of Noel’s secret jazz side, rather the natural effect of using all the open strings as a ‘bridge’ to give him time to get his fingers ready for the following chord. You’ll see a similar effect at the end of the next bar – and in a lot of John Lennon’s acoustic work with The Beatles. [Bar 2, 4] Sus4 and add9 chords are quintessential elements of Noel’s style – it’s easier to move chords around if the notes on the second and first strings (3rd fret) remain fretted all the way through – plus these chords sound great! [Bar 9] Here’s the aforementioned movement in action: instead of playing a simple C-A-E progression Noel will keep those notes on the top two strings fretted down, which leads to a more interesting progression (Cadd9 – A7sus4-Em7). He uses this a lot in his playing and writing (you can also hear it in James Taylor’s Fire And Rain).