Mercurybird
First Lieutenant   Posts: 7 Registered: 1/20/2007 Status: Offline
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 posted on 1/22/2007 at 16:56 |
As I indicated in my previous message, I'm learning from the Hal Leonard
Guitar Methos 1-3. I'm at the page in the first book where I'm introduced
to the C chord and the G7 chord.
Now those are some impossible stretches. I know I'm going to get there, but
that seems like a big step. I can see that I'm going to have to keep my
nails extremely short in order to be able to use that extreme edge. I'm
playing with the very tip of my fingers consistently. But in these chords I
can see that being able to roll right over the nail edge of the finger
could help a lot.
Am I on the right track here? Also, I am practicing by making sure it is
the very tip of my fingers that contacts the strings. But I'm still not
clearing the other strings as cleanly as I should. I suppose this will sort
itself out as I get better and more accustomed to it?
Thanks! 
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brian
Moderator   Posts: 1042 Registered: 12/22/2003 Status: Offline |
posted on 1/22/2007 at 18:02, Reply 1 |
Yeah hand strength and finger strength is what you need to work on. This
happens naturally though when you practice chords and scales every day!
I recommend starting with the open chords (chords in the first position
with open strings) C,G,D,Am,G7,D7,E,Em,B7,C7 etc.. this is in the book or
we have chord and scale generators you can use!
Try practicing without picking or strumming with your right hand or left
hand if your left handed. Finger Memory I call it. Try to play a C chord
for example placing the 3,2,1 fingers at the same time not one at a
time.
For example open your hand completely then in one motion play the chord.
You can do this watching tv picking one chord that your having problems
with and practice this technique over and over and you will notice a huge
difference!
Trying fretting a note until it sounds best! Everyone has a different
approach but playing with your finger tips is a good start.
Hope this helps
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Mercurybird
First Lieutenant Posts: 7 Registered: 1/20/2007 Status: Offline |
posted on 1/22/2007 at 18:28, Reply 2 |
Yeah it helps a lot. The main thing that is encouraging is that if I keep
at it, I'll keep progressing. So when the going gets tough, I gotta get
going.
Thanks!
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brian
Moderator Posts: 1042 Registered: 12/22/2003 Status: Offline |
posted on 1/29/2007 at 20:55, Reply 3 |
so how's it going with the chords?
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Mercurybird
First Lieutenant Posts: 7 Registered: 1/20/2007 Status: Offline |
posted on 1/30/2007 at 10:29, Reply 4 |
quote:
so how's it going with
the chords?
Good. But no cigar yet. I've only been pluckin' for about three weeks so
I'm still in that fresh bloom of beginner fever.
My fingers do seem like they are beginning to loosen up a bit more. I'm
also starting to look into how there are what you might call "chord
families" I guess. Chords that are related musically, and close together so
that not much movement gets you from one to the other.
In the meantime I'm progressing in the book to get a handle on playing all
six strings. You know, the little tunes they put in there to practice
moving between all the strings. So I'm coming along slowly. But trying to
do everything correctly.
But I would like to know how different chords in the different keys are
layed out up and down the fretboard. I think studying that and
understanding that early would help my progress and excitement.
Thank you for asking me!
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ricoboc
Moderator  Posts: 278 Registered: 4/27/2004 Status: Offline |
posted on 2/10/2007 at 05:50, Reply 5 |
Hi,
I was curious- Are you teaching yourself from theses books or do you have a
teacher guiding you along?
A teacher is great to have when your starting out. He or she may not be
able to help with your early finger developmet (strength and stretching)
but they can answer any questions you have and help to giude you along. A
GOOD teacher will become an inspiration to you. You'll want to reach that
teachers goals and move beyond. If your lucky that teacher will become a
friend for life and always inspire you.
I've been blessed with the fortune of having two teachers who I call
friends. Each gifted musicians. They've inspired me over many years and
have guided me down a path many guitarist never take.
Just remeber that nothing is easy and knowledge is only power when it
becomes applied knowledge.
Stay on track and have fun. Dont let others guide you in the wrong
direction. ____________________
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Mercurybird
First Lieutenant Posts: 7 Registered: 1/20/2007 Status: Offline |
posted on 2/10/2007 at 09:54, Reply 6 |
I'm teaching myself right now and for the foreseeable future. I've taken
time out from the books to do a couple of things to get myself more
effiecient in the basics. Let's see...
I'm learning music from a really great website
And learning to read notes quicker from here;
And I'm stretching my fingers and hands from a site that I found. I don't
remember where that was. And I'm also practicing fingering the common open
chords.
So right now I'm doing the little things that I think will make it all come
together better and gel later. Once I'm pretty comfortable with reading all
the notes I'll pick up the book again.
I'm also practicing just going up and down the scale from E to E getting
comfortable with my fingers reaching up and down accurately.
I don't have a teacher per se'. But there is a guy at work who is going out
when I come in and he has been playing all his life. He has also taught in
the past. He talks to me about it and gives me pointers and advice.
So I'm pretty motivated. I'm not moving along as quickly as I'd like to
because my schedule. But I'm having fun and it is very rewarding. Better
things are awaiting me if I stay with it.
Thanks!
[Edited on 8/27/2007 by brian]
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saltydog
First Lieutenant Posts: 4 Registered: 2/10/2007 Status: Offline |
posted on 2/10/2007 at 15:43, Reply 7 |
i taught myself and never had any help other than guitar tabs! ive been
playing nearly 3 years now and i remember how difficult it was when you
first start, but if you stick with it it'll just click. i remember the
first time i tried play a barre chord and getting cramp every day but now
it makes me laugh how simple it is
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Gullo74
First Lieutenant  Posts: 4 Registered: 2/10/2007 Status: Offline |
posted on 2/10/2007 at 15:57, Reply 8 |
I'd like to say that I'm self-taught, but that wouldn't be entirely true.
While I did teach myself how to play the guitar, it was by listening
to other, better guitar players that I learned how to make music.
Yes Martha, there's a major difference between playing the guitar and
making music.
After 20 years, there's always more to learn from other players. It always
starts with the desire to learn from them.
Keep listening newbie.
davidgullo.net
[Edited on 2/10/2007 by Gullo74]
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Mercurybird
First Lieutenant Posts: 7 Registered: 1/20/2007 Status: Offline |
posted on 2/10/2007 at 17:31, Reply 9 |
Well from my newbious perspective I simply divided the learning curve into
two parts; the mechanics and the creativity. I'm content to learn the
mechanics from a book, provided that it is a good book. Then let someone
else teach me the creative part of it. I don't mean to over simplify.
I'm just content to let the book take me where it can take me. When that
blessed day comes that it can take me no farther I'll go from there. Right
now I'm just working towards the day when it clicks! Thanks for that
Saltydog.
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