Hints and tips for guitar beginner

[MasterBlaster76]

Many thanks!

I've developed a little exercise which involves playing any chord, but the chord that follows has to be the F chord. I hope that'll develop the F itself, as well as changes to and from it. The F is a very important chord, so that's why I'm giving it 'special treatment' .

 

[Dutch]

Many thanks!

I've developed a little exercise which involves playing any chord, but the chord that follows has to be the F chord. I hope that'll develop the F itself, as well as changes to and from it. The F is a very important chord, so that's why I'm giving it 'special treatment' .

Nice little exercise there! Wait till you get on to Jazz chords! (In Gypsy Jazz you play the sixth string note with the thumb thereby freeing up the other fingers to take one or two strings! Some of the stretches are mad, utterly mad!

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Using the 'two string barre' method for the F Chord, I've found that I can play it a lot better and more reliably if I use my little finger instead of my third finger - hurts more of course, but once the finger's toughened up, that'll no longer be an issue. Should I pursue that, or is it an odd fingering for F Chord that will lead to problems later?

 

[Dutch]

Using the 'two string barre' method for the F Chord, I've found that I can play it a lot better and more reliably if I use my little finger instead of my third finger - hurts more of course, but once the finger's toughened up, that'll no longer be an issue. Should I pursue that, or is it an odd fingering for F Chord that will lead to problems later?

Steve, just to make sure I am understanding you right: you play the E an B string with your forefinger, the G string with your second finger and the D string with your little finger, when fingering the F-chord?

If that is the case I wouldn't pursue with it as it makes changing very tricky in the long run.

The best way to grapple these trickier chords and hand placings is to do some consistent finger stretching and finger independence exercises such as I have described in the beginning of this thread.

If you do those exercises every day for say 3 weeks I guarantee you will ave no problem what so ever with any chord you like!

What would be fantastic would be for you to post a fewscreenshots of your hand placing when doing these cords, then I could really help you. Or PM a few screenies if you don't want to post them on the forum. Am more than willing to help you mate!

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Hi Dutch.

Can't post you piccies of my fingering - my mobile refuses to speak to my PC for some reason - it was fine before...

Anyway:

This is the fingering I was taught - barring first two strings:

and thanks for the heads up about not getting into the habit of using my little finger instead of my third on the D.

Got my strings changed today, my guitar's sounding very bright and cheerful now, plus I just played the most beautiful F Chord - best I've done so far. I felt good about myself in the shop today, I've got to a level where I don't feel at all embarrassed about playing in public. No-one was paying me too much attention though, because there was someone there soloing on an electric, so someone just strumming away was a lot less interesting. Shoulda started singing!

Someone suggested something (unintential alliteration!) to me a few days ago, regarding how to build the guitar into my career - they said that (eventually), I might be able to play for amateur musicals - the musicians are paid even though us actors aren't (even if they're not very good). :sarcasm It always helps to be able to play an instrument as an actor anyway. My tutor reckons that I'll defintiely be able to get into a band at some point, but I'm not sure if I'm the 'band' kinda person, if you know what I mean. Still, never say never.

I know, I'm jumping the gun - bit of a habit of mine!

Edit: Just found this:

Is there anything wrong with playing the F like that?

 

[Simbazz]

Edit: Just found this:

Is there anything wrong with playing the F like that?

I've just tried it on my mildly out of tune guitar and it sounds like it fits, but I'm a massive fan of doing things the "way they should be done," and if I'm honest, taking shortcuts on the chords isn't a great way to learn.

However I will say that do it the way you feel comfortable

Lastly, keep trying at that barre for the F chord, once you get the strength and stretch in your fingers it becomes second nature to play it.

 

[Dutch]

Hi Dutch.


Edit: Just found this:

Is there anything wrong with playing the F like that?

Nothing at all except it is a certain colour, a certain chord texture as they call it. You'll find it a nice way of changing things up a bit but it should never be used as a substitute for the "real" F.

It's part of the CAGED theory, namely there are basically only 5 major chord shapes that just repeat themselves up and down the neck: the C shape, A shape, G shape, E shape and D shape. So you can play the chord shape anywhere you like and it's root tone, on the fourth, fifth or sixth string determines it's name.

 

[Simbazz]

Nothing at all except it is a certain colour, a certain chord texture as they call it. You'll find it a nice way of changing things up a bit but it should never be used as a substitute for the "real" F.

It's part of the CAGED theory, namely there are basically only 5 major chord shapes that just repeat themselves up and down the neck: the C shape, A shape, G shape, E shape and D shape. So you can play the chord shape anywhere you like and it's root tone, on the fourth, fifth or sixth string determines it's name.

See, good ol' Dutchy says things the way I wish I could if I had the patience and general knowledge to bother

It sounds like an F because it is, but its not the F, as Dutchy said.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Nothing at all except it is a certain colour, a certain chord texture as they call it. You'll find it a nice way of changing things up a bit but it should never be used as a substitute for the "real" F.

It's part of the CAGED theory, namely there are basically only 5 major chord shapes that just repeat themselves up and down the neck: the C shape, A shape, G shape, E shape and D shape. So you can play the chord shape anywhere you like and it's root tone, on the fourth, fifth or sixth string determines it's name.

See, good ol' Dutchy says things the way I wish I could if I had the patience and general knowledge to bother

It sounds like an F because it is, but its not the F, as Dutchy said.

Thanks guys.

I was introduced to barre chords today - A7th barre and D9th barre. One other thing, my fingers are aching more than normal - is that to do with the new strings? I learned a cool turnaround to my Blues shuffle as well and my tutor taught me how to recognise every note on the neck besides sharps/flats, he said to concentrate on the ordinary notes for now. It's a lot easier than I thought it'd be.

MasterBlaster76 added 0 Minutes and 52 Seconds later...

I've just tried it on my mildly out of tune guitar and it sounds like it fits, but I'm a massive fan of doing things the "way they should be done," and if I'm honest, taking shortcuts on the chords isn't a great way to learn.

However I will say that do it the way you feel comfortable

Lastly, keep trying at that barre for the F chord, once you get the strength and stretch in your fingers it becomes second nature to play it.

Yes, I'm the same - it can only lead to problems later on if you haven't got the basics down.

 

[Simbazz]

Got back on stage for the first time in a year and half, well sorta, played bass for a song. My best mate is in a local charity band and he doesn't like playing acoustic, so I stepped in. Felt good, made me miss 2-3yrs ago when I was part of a nose-diving band(s).

Any of you guys tried playing in limited light? Whole new level of difficulty to guitar playing, especially moving about.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I've played in limited light, but certainly not while moving around...

 

[Dutch]

I've played in limited light, but certainly not while moving around...

Without being a boast I have had many performances, both solo and in a band, and different genres. There is nothing that beats playing in fornt of people. But you have to practice solid so that when the circumsatnces are not favourable, you can still do what you need to do and do it well!

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Quick update:

F Chord is still giving problems, but I think it's beginning to click now.

I can play a few barre chords: A7th, D9th and E9th (not all the time, but that's always going to happen with new chords). My tutor gave me a CD to listen to (he said it's beginner to intermediate stuff) - if what I'm being taught eventually leads to what's on there, it's going to be fun!!

 

[Magz]

Playing bass and singing at the same time is a real b****.

 

[Simbazz]

Playing bass and singing at the same time is a real b****.

Playing guitar is difficult enough, and that's miles easier than singing and playing bass!

Its the separate rhythm of the bass which throws most people off, I've personally never done it, well, unless at home just jamming with friends. Acoustic basses are possibly the nicest things in the world, I love the look of them!