Stretchminator!

thanks frank - indeed Allan has been a big influence... and made me go for chords out of the comfort zone technically speaking.

Hi John - my thumb is right near the edge of the neck around 4th fret and parallel to the neck... you can take your thumb off the neck all together - it might facilitate the stretch better. I am 6' 5" tall with rather large hands so I can manage to do it with my hand still on the neck ... doesn't mean you have to though. Use what works best for your hands.
All the best,
Nick

thanks dude! glad I can help.

Nick

thanks guys
Gerardo - yes.. I should have remembered that one as an alternative. Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Nick

thanks guys! Gabriel - I hope it doesn't hurt
I would be interested to hear anyones interpretation of this if you would like to post on the forum.
all the best,
Nick

yeah it is tricky! Why not try this instead... rather than play it as a chord with the notes ringing into each other, for now you can jump your hand to reach the note... Saves you from having to have your hand static... That is until you can eventually reach it the chord way.

Also here is another option - you can re position the notes to this:

Dm add9

E||----------------------------------------|
B||--------------5-----6----------5--------|
G||*----------7-----7----------------7-----|
D||*--7---------------------------------7--|
A||----------------------------------------|
E||----------------------------------------|

its almost the same except you now play the F note on the 6th fret B string as opposed to the 1st fret E string... you don't get the E ringing into the F like you would if you play the chord but its just a small compromise for being able to play the right notes.

Good Luck!
Nick

Hi Namanja. The bass is programmed - its a software instrument. I use the latest version of logic. Some of the sounds are actual samples but programmable samples. Software instruments are like a cross between audio and midi.

Nick

Thanks chaps! - Victafor, congrats on getting that first chord - its not easy!
nick

thanks guys!
thats a good idea Eddie, maybe a sort of improvisation workshop - playing over chord changes. Mental note taken!
all the best,
Nick

Hi Eddie,
RE altered scale. The altered scale (AKA Super Locrian) has the following interval formula - R b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 b7
notice it has a b4 which is the same as a major 3rd but called b4 so the interval formula numbers go up in order. Therefore it contains a major and minor 3rd... it also has a b7 making it have a dominant sound. Examples of chords the scale would go with are as follows:
7b9, 7#9, 7#5, 7b5, 7#5b9, 7#5#9, 7b5#9, 7b5b9 etc..
these are known as altered dominant chords. These kind of chords can be hard on the ear and sound quite dissonant, but with constant exposure to such sounds, your ear will grow to love the sound.
It is generally seen as a non static sound. ie - leading into another chord. As kind of a tension before the resolution. The altered dominant chord would be seen as a V chord leading to a I chord. For example in the key of C we could go:
G7#5 into Cmajor7.
So in this case we would play a G altered scale on the G7#5 and then C major scale or C Lydian (personal choice) on the C major 7.

In the case of this lesson you will see I used D altered to lead into G dorian. Thats because the D altered chord is the V compared to the Gminor chord that follows it. So it has a nice leading sound.
Also I used A altered at the end which is the V to the Dminor we go back to on the repeat of the entire chord progression.

Hope this helps!
Nick

hehe ... well even if you only take one or two chords from the whole excercise then it should be good to add to your chord vocab... that first chord is huge but with the correct hand, arm and wrist positioning and lots of practice.. it should be obtainable... eventually
The funny thing is, I met Allan Holdsworth a few times and people always think and say he has huge hands because they see him making these huge stretches, but the fact is he is average height and I didnt think his hands were that big - he just practiced like a demon for years!
All the best and good luck!
Nick

thanks everyone! My gear is as follows:

Yamaha AES-FG (Frank Gambale model)

Boss FV-500H (volume pedal)

Sansamp GT2 pedal preamp (not really an ideal substitute for a full preamp rack but I dont have the money for anything more at the moment)

Mesa Boogie Stereo two:50 Poweramp - Great!

Marshall 1936 vintage stereo cab - not perfect for me but ok for now (not keen on the sound of the speakers)

TC Electronic Gmajor - ok for delay and reverb- not keen on the other effects though.

Yamaha UD stomp Delay - this has 8 heads all of which you can set at different speeds and pitches so you end up with a kind of chorus effect - i use that in this video - great unit but I take it out of my signal chain when its bypassed because I feel it effects the tone too much.

I mic this up with a behringer mic - not the best mic in the world but its cool, its really an SM58 copy

Thanks guys, glad you are enjoying it - Kris you are right, its good to warm up for this. Especially if such stretches are a new thing to you.
Nick