A Major on Guitar (ideas on how to work on it?)

[jancivil]

"432" there is clear, but 345 for E major is wtf for me.

If you're going to want to move up from open position with no worries as to repositioning, for A you do E on the 4th string with yr middle finger; A on the 3rd string with yr ring finger; C# on the 2nd string with index finger.
So Bb is the same 2 3 4 (no, thumb is NOT 1 for guitar) w. your index finger available for the (1st fret) 5th string Bb.

For open pos. E, 3 4 2, 5th 4th 3rd strs. leaving 1 available to stop F etc {EDIT: or full barre} on the 6th {et al} str. when you move up.

I have a mutant hand so I can barre A leaving both A and the 1st str. E open. With both index and middle finger barre. So I have a lot of options for lead over the held chord.e

[theEmbark]

Thanks guys,

I appreciate the responses. It's all good feedback moving forward! I know the thumb doesn't count as 1 in guitar the last fingering diagrams I really studied where piano so just a slip up confusing the 2. I like to have a lot of options as well for chord fingerings because one song or part of a song might accommodate a specific fingering better than another. That being said it's really easy to get stuck on a certain fingering like I've been stuck on A but working to break that!

Thanks again,
Kevin

[BERFAB]

"432" there is clear, but 345 for E major is wtf for me.

As it is for most guitarists, I think. It's been so long that I forget the details, but I think the reason might have been that I was trying to play a pop song ("Smokin' in the Boys' Room," "Jailhouse Rock" or similar-I told you it was a long time ago) where I had to quickly go from E to F(barre). So I just played the E like a barre chord and then slid up a fret to F. After a while it just seemed like second nature, and it really does make it easier to use E as part of a barre progression.

And although it might seem awkward in an open progression (A-D-E etc.) my own muscle memory really won't allow me to do it any other way.

cheers
-B

[jancivil]

So, like I indicated: ring finger on B, 5th str; pinky on E, 4th string; middle finger on G#, 3rd string, same as F full barre except for the barre.

There is no 5!
Index = 1, middle = 2, ring = 3, pinky = 4.

I have to believe you meant 453. Which is 342 on Planet Guitar.

[sjm]

There are 5 basic chord shapes

https://www.guitar.com/articles/five-basic-chord-shapes

This might be interesting for you

http://www.guitarplayer.com/lessons/101 ... ions/53034

The D and C shapes are actually the same.

[theEmbark]

So is this normal? This is something I fight a lot with my ring and middle finger. They don't want to work together. Any tips on fixing it? Lately I've been putting a rubber band around them and going back and forth from A to B. Tips/tricks/doctors to see?

IMG_20161030_23658.jpg

IMG_20161030_6182.jpg

IMG_20161030_5131.jpg

Thanks!
Kevin

[sjm]

It's much easier to grip an A shape barre chord with 2 fingers IMO. Index does the barre and ring finger presses down two frets up across all three strings. Take a bit of practice, but is inifinitely easier to finger. Also makes it easy to do things like add the 6th by holding down 4 strings (including the high E string) with the ring finger - something you won't be able to do with the three fingers approach. I also find a barred sus4 and 7th chord (7th on high E string) much easier to finger with this technique by adding the little finger to the mix.

Trying to finger a barre A-style chord the way you are just gets my fingers into a jumbled clusterfuck of digits. Don't think I've done that since a couple of months after I figured out the 2-finger approach, i.e. not for more than 20 years

[thecontrolcentre]

It's much easier to grip an A shape barre chord with 2 fingers IMO. Index does the barre and ring finger presses down two frets up across all three strings. Take a bit of practice, but is inifinitely easier to finger.

That's how I do it too.

[theEmbark]

Thanks guys that makes me feel better

I used to Barre a like so

IMG_20161030_3228.jpg

Then you're saying to Barre with the index finger and slide up for say a B chord?

This is how I've played for years but realized I needed to work on technique so bought some books etc and they all try to get you away from that for whatever reason. I realize the fingerings you use are completely subjective to what's before or after and open to interpretation. So if I am playing any combo of C and F I won't use a F barre.

I find the most trouble with B and A so just trying to sort out my transitions with them.

Thanks for all the help!
Kevin

[sjm]

I would say that you need to have more of a bend in your finger to make sure you aren't muting or holding down the high E string:


Note the 45 degree angle at the first knuckle which ensures the high E remains free and is only being held down by the barre with the index finger. If I play the high E string, it plays a nice clear tone.

[theEmbark]

Thanks for the reply and the picture helps clarify!

Unfortunately right now that's about as much as my finger will bend. I had a brain injury and lost control of my left side for about a year. It's honestly a miracle that I can play a guitar at all. That being said I'm at a point where I am relearning and trying to find out what is restricted by medical issues vs just getting repetitions and practice in to build back flexibility, strength and dexterity.

Going to really focus on exercises for these things for the next 2 weeks and see what improvement I get with chords as a result.

Thanks again!
Kevin

[sjm]

If you find certain fingerings difficult/impossible, have you thought of experimenting with alternative tunings?

[theEmbark]

If you find certain fingerings difficult/impossible, have you thought of experimenting with alternative tunings?

I have I actually used to play in drop c but my profession is music ministry. So it's great to teach alternative tunings but standard is still important. It'seems not impairitive that I learn to play again like I used to but more importantly just to be able to lead and play rhythm. Therapy had some things they can do to help as well but they want me to figure out what it is that I need help with so I'm just basically starting over and pretending that I am know no guitar.

[Hink]

Thanks guys that makes me feel better

I used to Barre a like so

IMG_20161030_3228.jpg

Then you're saying to Barre with the index finger and slide up for say a B chord?

This is how I've played for years but realized I needed to work on technique so bought some books etc and they all try to get you away from that for whatever reason. I realize the fingerings you use are completely subjective to what's before or after and open to interpretation. So if I am playing any combo of C and F I won't use a F barre.

I find the most trouble with B and A so just trying to sort out my transitions with them.

Thanks for all the help!
Kevin

in standard tuning I do this but with my index finger, my fingers are short and I still have clearance for the high open E. However rarely these days do I play in standard tuning. I'll use alternate tunings, often open tunings though sometimes I tweak a tuning to fit what I'm working on. I too prefer my hand to be in a position to transition directly into a lead, a fill, squeals and vibrato (the last two often together). I started this around 2000 after playing in just standard or drop D since 1971, best thing I ever did. You can go some interesting places if you change how you look at the guitar by altering your tunings.