UCL2.2 - WEEK 3
"TELEPHONE"
Welcome to week 3. This week you will explore a range of strumming techniques and rhythms that work well with Lady GaGa's hit song, Telephone. The song contains just 3 chords, some of which you can try in alternative positions if you wish. There is also a rapping part, so if anyone is a keen rapper, here's your big moment :)
PDF DOWNLOADS
The PDF download button the song sheet with illustrated instruction for each section. Listen to each of the segments below and practice them independently before putting them altogether.
Have a listen to the audio track at full speed of 120 BPM.
Strumming
Each section has a different strumming style, so this will really test your skills. Half way through the song the strumming becomes syncopated - meaning the down beat falls in between the beats. For trainings sake, the end of the song will fall on the beat so you can practice each section independently before putting them all together.
INTRO & VERSE 1:
For the INTRO, there is a count in of 4 beats and an extra 1. The [Em] falls on beats 2 and 3 for both bars.
VERSE 1 contains the picking pattern as illustrated below, with one bar per chord: [Em] - [G] - [A]
The final bar [Em] is the same as the intro & contains two down strums on beats 2 & 3 of the bar. Have a listen:
For the INTRO, there is a count in of 4 beats and an extra 1. The [Em] falls on beats 2 and 3 for both bars.
VERSE 1 contains the picking pattern as illustrated below, with one bar per chord: [Em] - [G] - [A]
The final bar [Em] is the same as the intro & contains two down strums on beats 2 & 3 of the bar. Have a listen:
BRIDGE SECTIONS
There are 2 BRIDGE sections both contain dampened down strums on all four beats of the 1st 3 chords, [Em] -[G] - [A] with an extra up strum on the + of beat 4. This is where you will lift your fingers to play the next chord.
The final bar [Em] is the same as the intro & contains two down strums on beats 2 & 3 of the bar. Have a listen:
There are 2 BRIDGE sections both contain dampened down strums on all four beats of the 1st 3 chords, [Em] -[G] - [A] with an extra up strum on the + of beat 4. This is where you will lift your fingers to play the next chord.
The final bar [Em] is the same as the intro & contains two down strums on beats 2 & 3 of the bar. Have a listen:
VERSE 2:
VERSE 2 contains an extended half chuck, which basically means you add an up stroke in between beats 1 + 2. are essentially another verse but the chord structure is slightly shorter as follows:
The final bar [Em] is the same as the intro & contains two down strums on beats 2 & 3 of the bar. Have a listen:
VERSE 2 contains an extended half chuck, which basically means you add an up stroke in between beats 1 + 2. are essentially another verse but the chord structure is slightly shorter as follows:
The final bar [Em] is the same as the intro & contains two down strums on beats 2 & 3 of the bar. Have a listen:
CHORUS SECTIONS
There are 2 CHORUS sections that contain a mixture of the dampened strums and the extended half calypso, alternating with each chord as follows:
There are 2 CHORUS sections that contain a mixture of the dampened strums and the extended half calypso, alternating with each chord as follows:
BREAK SECTION
The BREAK section is where the rhythm becomes syncopated. It helps to play a chuck strum on beat 1 then continue with up strums in between the beats with one down strum falling on beat 4, as follows:
The final bar [Em] is the same as the intro & contains two down strums on beats 2 & 3 of the bar. Have a listen:
The BREAK section is where the rhythm becomes syncopated. It helps to play a chuck strum on beat 1 then continue with up strums in between the beats with one down strum falling on beat 4, as follows:
The final bar [Em] is the same as the intro & contains two down strums on beats 2 & 3 of the bar. Have a listen:
MIDDLE 8 SECTION
The MIDDLE 8 section is when the 16th note pattern kicks in which makes it feel like double time. Take it slow to start off and then see if you can fit the whole pattern into 120BPM as below:
The MIDDLE 8 section is when the 16th note pattern kicks in which makes it feel like double time. Take it slow to start off and then see if you can fit the whole pattern into 120BPM as below:
RAP SECTION
The RAP part is just the calypso strum right the way through the two rounds of 4 bars, until you get to the final [Em], here you can finish on 3 down strums.
The RAP part is just the calypso strum right the way through the two rounds of 4 bars, until you get to the final [Em], here you can finish on 3 down strums.
VERSE 3 & OUTRO
VERSE 3 is the same as V1 and contains the picking pattern, with one bar per chord: [Em] - [G] - [A]
The final bar [Em] is the same as the intro & contains two down strums on beats 2 & 3 of the bar.
The OUTRO follows the same pattern for just one round - Have a listen:
VERSE 3 is the same as V1 and contains the picking pattern, with one bar per chord: [Em] - [G] - [A]
The final bar [Em] is the same as the intro & contains two down strums on beats 2 & 3 of the bar.
The OUTRO follows the same pattern for just one round - Have a listen:
ALTERNATIVE CHORDS
For anyone who would like to be a bit more adventurous, you could try playing the alternative chords up at 7th & 9th positions as follows:
VIDEO TUTORIAL
This video tutorial contains a breakdown of all parts as shown on PAGE 1 of the song sheet for Telephone.
PAGE 2 - Telephone
MP3 DOWNLOAD
Click on the button below to download Telephone complete with High End Ukes and the baritone part.
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