Learning to play the guitar.

[danny la rouge]

Yes, same here, although I find barring the B chord a bugger still.

The "A" shape one? Is it all the "A"-type barres, or just the B?

Just play the "E"-type on the 7th fret, then. If you find F easy.

For newbie strummers:

E-type Barre

A-type Barre

*These are moveable chord shapes, and, depending upon where they are placed on the fretboard, can be used for all the major chords. Thus the first type placed on the first fret is an F chord, and the second type placed on the second fret is a B chord. (F and B being their respective root notes).

**It's simpler than it sounds.

***It's not worth trying these until you've mastered the "open" chords, such as those I pictured earlier in the thread.

 

[Iam]

Yes, same here, although I find barring the B chord a bugger still.

Tried doing the 3-string push after the bar (the A shape on the 4th) with your little finger instead of the ring that they tell you to?

Just a thought...

 

[danny la rouge]

Tried doing the 3-string push after the bar (the A shape on the 4th) with your little finger instead of the ring that they tell you to?

Or finger the three strings with your middle finger, ring finger and pinkie.

 

[Iam]

Absolutely.

Those are probably considered bad habits, but if they work, they work.

 

[danny la rouge]

if they work, they work.

My sentiments entirely.

Bert Jansch apparently gets it in the neck from purists for most of what he does. But I'd be happy to be as bad as him. If you see what I mean.

 

[diond]

The "A" shape one? Is it all the "A"-type barres, or just the B?

Just play the "E"-type on the 7th fret, then. If you find F easy.

Yes, the 'A' type barre. As I said earlier, I have extremely small fingers, so barring three strings with just one finger is 'nearly' impossible, as you really need the third knuckle to the tip of the ring finger to really stretch across those three strings, which I find very, very, difficult.

I could be a little more adventurous and slide up the neck a bit more I know, but I must admit, although I have 'messed' about on guitars for about 10 years, I've never really been that serious about it and have kept pretty much in the safe lower regions of basic chord shapes and progressions (When I can bothered to pick the guitar up, which is almost never.)

I suppose it's the combination of frustration having small hands, coupled with being left handed too that annoys and buggers me up.

 

[Iam]

I was like that for quite a while. But it's worth finding your own ways of doing stuff in barres, because it gives you a lot more versatility, I reckon. I've even found some keys I can almost sing along to. But it will take practise, so get tough on yourself and try and pick it up every day...

Bert Jansch apparently gets it in the neck from purists for most of what he does. But I'd be happy to be as bad as him. If you see what I mean.

Yeah. And every halfway good and upwards player I've ever met had their own, too. Sod the purists, because I'm never going to be that good anyway.

 

[danny la rouge]

Yes, the 'A' type barre. As I said earlier, I have extremely small fingers

In most cases you only need to hear the root and the fifth and the root again, since you'll get that it's a major from the context and the melody. So why not just sound the first three notes in the B chord, and find a way of playing that that your fingers like?

 

[Iam]

Now we get to where I start having problems - theory and its application to the actual fretboard. Not a clue about things like that.

 

[danny la rouge]

Now we get to where I start having problems - theory and its application to the actual fretboard. Not a clue about things like that.

Sorry. Muso-mode.

Just play the first three notes of the chord; bugger the others.

 

[Iam]

I understand it, but I can't apply it, if that makes sense. I know about root notes, but I pretty much can't tell you what the other notes of any given chords are. Or write a post like that, then explain it...

 

[danny la rouge]

Quick intervals seminar

[muso mode]Intervals are important in chord structure. An interval is the distance between two notes. The important intervals to get are octaves, fifths, and thirds.

Think of the major scale. G major, for example runs G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G.

An octave has eight whole tones between the two notes in question. An example is G on the 6th string 3rd fret played with G on the 4th string 5th fret. The G on either end of the scale.

A fifth has five whole tones between notes. Count five along the scale. An example is G on the 6th string 3rd fret played with D on the 5th string 5th fret.

A third is more interesting. For G major you count 3 along the scale, which gives you G and B. So play G on the 6th string 3rd fret, along with B on the 5th string 2nd fret. Now thats a major third. But a minor third is one semitone flat (because the minor scale has a B flat where the major scale has a B natural). So to get the minor, play the root G with B flat on the 5th string 1st fret. You can move from major to minor by slipping your finger down the semitone from 2nd fret to 1st fret. Major to minor. Just like Cole Porter.

How you stack these up to get a full chord is the stuff of inversions, and doesn't feature in this seminar.[/muso mode]

 

[Iam]

I'll read that with a guitar in my hand when it's not 1 am.

I have friends who know all this stuff - good players. I really just need some sitdown time with them to be shown, now that I have a technique that actually allows me to play.

But the last few years, most of my playing has been done alone, or around people who don't and I've got a bit lazy with learning new things.

 

[danny la rouge]

People who don't play are easier to impress, therefore they are more impressed when you learn new stuff but it doesn't need to be a huge leap in order to wow them.

Therefore a teensy bit of effort every now and again pays bigger than warranted dividends.

 

[diond]

People who don't play are easier to impress, therefore they are more impressed when you learn new stuff but it doesn't need to be a huge leap in order to wow them.

Therefore a teensy bit of effort every now and again pays bigger than warranted dividends.

Thanks danny (and iam) for the advice. I didn't get back last night because it was late on, but cheers.

 

[Spion]

One word of warning starting out.

The F chord.

It's a fucker, especially on an acoustic. You probably won't be able to nail the top two notes without getting a buzz for a couple of years unless you're Geoff Capes.

That's reassuring. I'm just getting to be able to do an F (using index middle + 3rd fingers on 1st, 2nd and 3rd frets, IYSWIM) perfectly after only 3 weeks playing.

I find G a fucker to get to from others. And stopping the D string buzzing in an A chord is a real bugbear

 

[skunkboy69]

I found electric much easier to start with because of the low action and finer strings.If you have a look for Powertab or GuitarPro you can be knocking out some tunes pretty quickly.They won't teach you much but I just found it fun to be able to play something recognisable while still learning chords and scales etc.

 

[Spion]

I've got this strange idea that it's 'a good thing' to learn on an acoustic because if I get used to the higher action and bigger strings, without rattling etc, then I should be well set up to move to an electric if i wanted. At present tho, electrics don't interest me

 

[Barking_Mad]

I've got this strange idea that it's 'a good thing' to learn on an acoustic because if I get used to the higher action and bigger strings, without rattling etc, then I should be well set up to move to an electric if i wanted. At present tho, electrics don't interest me

I agree, acousitc is a better way to learn in my view, but each to their own. Personally I couldn't be arsed with amps, and besides, finger picking 'Don't Think Twice' by Dylan is super on an acoustic......

*hums*

 

[8ball]

Also, with an acoustic, your tone will always be consistent so it's easier to hear how your technique is coming along.

Plus it's easier to pick up and mess around with while watching the telly.

 

[Barking_Mad]

That's reassuring. I'm just getting to be able to do an F (using index middle + 3rd fingers on 1st, 2nd and 3rd frets, IYSWIM) perfectly after only 3 weeks playing.

I find G a fucker to get to from others. And stopping the D string buzzing in an A chord is a real bugbear

Just sit and play random chords without thinking where you're going next. it's all about getting your muscle memory going!

 

[Barking_Mad]

Also, with an acoustic, your tone will always be consistent so it's easier to hear how your technique is coming along.

Plus it's easier to pick up and mess around with while watching the telly.

And girlies love blokes playing acoustic guitars. I wrote a song for my girlfriend for Valentine's Day and when I'd finished she had tears running down her face. That might have been caused by my singing tho........

 

[Dask]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vZDjWLwqAPY

 

[Barking_Mad]

If peeps want to see some mind blowing acoustic guitar playing, check this guy out....blimey...



edit: check out his other stuff too, it's really something else.