Music Lesson: Vamping and Chops

So let's do some vamping on some of the songs we've done to get a good chop.

What are Chops?

To get a good chop:

• You hit the chord
• Release the chord
• Damp the strings

Important: You can't just lift your fingers off the strings. Your fingers staying in contact with the strings is what makes it have a damped sound.

Example: Chorus to "Worried Man Blues"

Here's an example of how to play the chorus to Worried Man Blues.

Maybe I'll lead into the song a little bit to get a feeling of where I am in time.

Slower Tempo

We can also do that up the neck. One, two, and two. We should do that just a little slower in case you want to play along with it.

Keeping the Rhythm

You notice sometimes I hit a boom before my pinch, before my chop. That just kind of keeps you oriented and helps keep your hand in time.

It's not a bad idea to try and feel the rhythm in your hand as you do this.