Chord Problems, Still kind of new at it but |
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Jul 27 2007, 07:42 AM
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For starters, awesome that you have all that time to practice! You'll progress rapidly. Now lets see..
About "bending" your hand and fingers, I've come to the conclusion that it's really kind of hard to bend your hands/fingers in a bad way when doing chords, you almost have to be trying to. Just make sure that you're using the tips of your fingers (as in, not having your fingers kind of overlap to the next string, make sure they're coming straight down on the notes), and that you keep your thumb in the middle of the neck, but "wrapping" your thumb when doing chords is usually an okay thing as well, most people including a lot of instructors at GMC here do. Judging from the fact that you're just beginning on barre chords, your hands probably just aren't used to it, and you'll get used to it quickly. If you think you're hurting your hands, stop playing. It's very important to be careful with your hands, but don't let that stop you from stretching them out or you won't get anywhere. Just be cautious  Your warmups are probably fine, I warm up with chords a lot. Just remember not to push yourself during warmups, just do whatever feels natural and comfortable until you get kind of a warm feeling in your hand  Scales are an excellent way to warm up!Lastly, your wife probably has the best advice of all RELAX! I mean, literally, do you best to keep your muscles relaxed. Overcoming muscle tension is a huge step to becoming a good guitar player, but it takes a lot of time and willpower. Your perfectionist attitude is a really good asset to your playing I think, just remember that you can play absolutely anything out there if you do it slowly enough, worry first about accuracy and only then move onto speed. Good luck! [edit] Here's some lessons that might help you, if you haven't already seen them: Guitar Chords Lesson by Dave. Advanced Chords by Pavel. Dave's Chord Inversion lesson. Gabe's Blues - Get That Shuffle! lesson. Also one thing you can try is forming the chord, and then picking (remember to always use alternate picking, up down up down) each fretted note, one at a time play the note, lift it and play it open, for each note. It helps your fingers move more independently and you'll have less problems with for example, your pinky and ring fingers always following each other around. This post has been edited by JVM: Jul 27 2007, 07:52 AM --------------------  Gear: Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Gibson '67 RI Flying V, Mesa Boogie F-30 112 combo, crazy pedals. |
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Jul 27 2007, 10:48 AM
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I had same problems at the beginning.
My first acoustic guitar had really high action of the strings,maybe yours too? -------------------- Youtube
MySpace Website Album "Let It Out" on iTunes and CD Baby Check out my video lessons and instructor board! The Pianist tune is progress,check it out! "ok.. it is great.. :P have you myspace? Can i to personalize this for you guy?" |
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Jul 27 2007, 12:40 PM
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Just guessing but from the list I'd assume that you are playing all of those in first position (some/most fingering at the first fret). Fretting chords in first can take a while to get used to as you are pushing the strings down at a point where they are as close to the nut as possible. Just take it nice and slow and don't strain your left hand. Speed will come with practice.
Also one way of getting used to chords and timing down and used to changes is to play a lot of rythm funk guitar. A bit more advanced so something to think about for the future. BTW JVM is absolutely right about the thumb. Vast majority of players often rap their thumb around though personally I only do that if I'm also using it for fretting a specific note on the 6th string. Else I keep it where JVM says - middle of the neck - as I find its the only way that I can make some otherwise difficult stretches that you can come across in jazz chord progressions and in piano voiced chords. Anyone able to play these chords with their thumb wrapped round is a better person than me  :-----------10-------- --------- ----5---- -----------8--------- or -----5--- or -----7---- -----------5--------- -----4--- -----9---- -----------9--------- -----7--- -----5---- --------------------- -----3--- -----5---- --------------------- --------- -----5---- The next hurdles for chordal work are barres/partial barres, then maybe long stretches and two handed chords but that's another story. Main thing is take it slow and practice. I doubt that there is a guitar player living (or dead) that didn't have problems nailing chord playing when they started out.. Cheers, Tony -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com
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Jul 27 2007, 06:05 PM
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QUOTE (JVM @ Jul 27 2007, 02:42 AM)  For starters, awesome that you have all that time to practice! You'll progress rapidly. Now lets see.. About "bending" your hand and fingers, I've come to the conclusion that it's really kind of hard to bend your hands/fingers in a bad way when doing chords, you almost have to be trying to. Just make sure that you're using the tips of your fingers (as in, not having your fingers kind of overlap to the next string, make sure they're coming straight down on the notes), and that you keep your thumb in the middle of the neck, but "wrapping" your thumb when doing chords is usually an okay thing as well, most people including a lot of instructors at GMC here do. Judging from the fact that you're just beginning on barre chords, your hands probably just aren't used to it, and you'll get used to it quickly. If you think you're hurting your hands, stop playing. It's very important to be careful with your hands, but don't let that stop you from stretching them out or you won't get anywhere. Just be cautious Your warmups are probably fine, I warm up with chords a lot. Just remember not to push yourself during warmups, just do whatever feels natural and comfortable until you get kind of a warm feeling in your hand Scales are an excellent way to warm up!Lastly, your wife probably has the best advice of all RELAX! I mean, literally, do you best to keep your muscles relaxed. Overcoming muscle tension is a huge step to becoming a good guitar player, but it takes a lot of time and willpower. Your perfectionist attitude is a really good asset to your playing I think, just remember that you can play absolutely anything out there if you do it slowly enough, worry first about accuracy and only then move onto speed. Good luck! [edit] Here's some lessons that might help you, if you haven't already seen them: Guitar Chords Lesson by Dave. Advanced Chords by Pavel. Dave's Chord Inversion lesson. Gabe's Blues - Get That Shuffle! lesson. Also one thing you can try is forming the chord, and then picking (remember to always use alternate picking, up down up down) each fretted note, one at a time play the note, lift it and play it open, for each note. It helps your fingers move more independently and you'll have less problems with for example, your pinky and ring fingers always following each other around. WOW, great advice, thanks a million, I appreciate it. SO what your saying is "TRY" to keep my thumb in the middle of the neck, but if I can play the chords with my thumb higher or wrapped then it's ok, whatever works for me? I especially like the last part about picking up and putting down my fingers and playing the different chord notes. QUOTE (muris @ Jul 27 2007, 05:48 AM) I had same problems at the beginning. My first acoustic guitar had really high action of the strings,maybe yours too? Yes I think they are as I get a lot of buzzing some times even when I have my finger down in the middle of the fret. I just finally got up the nerve to change from the original strings to some that I bought years ago when i first bought the guitar. They were still new and in the little plastic pouch so i put them on. It made things easier but I know the strings are still too high. I'm getting a new guitar within the next few weeks and when I do I'll have the guitar shop set it up so i won't have that problem any more. Right now while learning this is probably a good problem to have as when I get a good guitar my hands will be a lot stronger? Just a guess on my part though? QUOTE (tonymiro @ Jul 27 2007, 07:40 AM) Just guessing but from the list I'd assume that you are playing all of those in first position (some/most fingering at the first fret). Fretting chords in first can take a while to get used to as you are pushing the strings down at a point where they are as close to the nut as possible. Just take it nice and slow and don't strain your left hand. Speed will come with practice. Also one way of getting used to chords and timing down and used to changes is to play a lot of rythm funk guitar. A bit more advanced so something to think about for the future. BTW JVM is absolutely right about the thumb. Vast majority of players often rap their thumb around though personally I only do that if I'm also using it for fretting a specific note on the 6th string. Else I keep it where JVM says - middle of the neck - as I find its the only way that I can make some otherwise difficult stretches that you can come across in jazz chord progressions and in piano voiced chords. Anyone able to play these chords with their thumb wrapped round is a better person than me :-----------10-------- --------- ----5---- -----------8--------- or -----5--- or -----7---- -----------5--------- -----4--- -----9---- -----------9--------- -----7--- -----5---- --------------------- -----3--- -----5---- --------------------- --------- -----5---- The next hurdles for chordal work are barres/partial barres, then maybe long stretches and two handed chords but that's another story. Main thing is take it slow and practice. I doubt that there is a guitar player living (or dead) that didn't have problems nailing chord playing when they started out.. Cheers, Tony Yup, 1st position as in the G is played at 1st and 3rd fret. I can play them all really clean it's just when changing to and from the "G" and "D" chords where I have the most problems. Thanks again to everyone who answered me, I really appreciate it. As soon as I have something worth while I'll upload it. hehe -------------------- You wish.
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