Playing guitar

[Old Blue 2]

It's the barring with the fourth finger that does me in, especially when needing a quick transition. I think I panic and try to plant it down hard too quickly.

If you look at where my thumb is, tubey, it is right in the centre of the neck at the back, not near the fretboard. Some will play with their thumb near the fretboard on the bass side, but that restricts the movement of the other fingers. Put your thumb dead centre on the back of the neck, and move your hand back and forth - you should be able to do that easily. That helps with moving your hands and fingers up and down the fingerboard. Then put your thumb near the fretboard on the bass side and try to do the same - you can't. A lot of learners approach the neck with a 'grip' first of all, and I've always coached them with the idea of thumb central on the back of the neck. It works.

 

[Old Blue 2]

They did the same with the Vintage VSA535 - a little too close to the Gibson ES-335 apparently.

I've had a Vintage VSA535 for about 20-something years now and only saw the lawsuit story when I was trying to see if it was worth anything.

Gibson are STILL going after companies for copying their intellectual property!

 

[arch stanton]

If you look at where my thumb is, tubey, it is right in the centre of the neck at the back, not near the fretboard. Some will play with their thumb near the fretboard on the bass side, but that restricts the movement of the other fingers. Put your thumb dead centre on the back of the neck, and move your hand back and forth - you should be able to do that easily. That helps with moving your hands and fingers up and down the fingerboard. Then put your thumb near the fretboard on the bass side and try to do the same - you can't. A lot of learners approach the neck with a 'grip' first of all, and I've always coached them with the idea of thumb central on the back of the neck. It works.

that technique also allows a big bend in the wrist so the tips of the fingers can be used to fret, important for those with chubby digits and I find it helps when stretching up the neck

 

[Cels]

I don't even know what a capo is. Is it the thing you put across all the strings?

Think it's an Italian hat.

 

[Prevenger17]

And yes, I can bend my ring finger so that the top string sounds.

That's impressive tbf, have been playing guitar for 17 years and cant do that, I just go without the high E on those ones

 

[Billy Dean]

Think it's an Italian hat.

Italian mafia boss I think mate.

 

[Cels]

Italian mafia boss I think mate.

How is your guitar playing coming along? Oddly enough, I've also been considering learning to play the guitar, but I have fingers like pork sausages and no rhythm, so I'm not sure it's such a good idea.

 

[aazak]

 

[gianthogweed]

Just tune your guitar to open G tuning you don't need to press any strings down all the other open type chords are just a straight bar across the frets going down the fingerboard

 

[Billy Dean]

How is your guitar playing coming along? Oddly enough, I've also been considering learning to play the guitar, but I have fingers like pork sausages and no rhythm, so I'm not sure it's such a good idea.

It's the same for me mate but like others have said here if you practice regularly you improve. I find it a fun thing to do when I'm at home and more productive than watching Netflix and the like.

 

[Disgruntledgoat]

Gibson are STILL going after companies for copying their intellectual property!

I have an Edwards (ESP) Les Paul special made to the late 50s specs. They're banned from selling those in the states because Gibson will sue... that said I'm really unimpressed with new Gibsons. Paid €1000 for the Edwards and tried out some much pricier Gibson models that I didn't think were anything like as good.

 

[Old Blue 2]

It's the same for me mate but like others have said here if you practice regularly you improve. I find it a fun thing to do when I'm at home and more productive than watching Netflix and the like.

A further tip about practising, and it applies to all players, I believe.

There will be times when you will pick up the guitar, play it for a few minutes, and feel you are getting absolutely nowhere. Nothing is happening. Put it down, and walk away. Go again the following day, and it is likely that things will be OK again. There will be times when you practise and you feel you are improving, and other times when you feel you have 'hit the wall', and you are getting nowhere. Happens to everyone. You just have to battle your way through it. Playing guitar is not a flat-line graph - it is little peaks and troughs. Enjoy the peaks and work your way out of the troughs. It IS worthwhile.

 

[JAYMULL]

This is the B shape. In the pic, it is 5 frets further up - the shape is constant, the name of the chord changes (as you know) as you move up the fretboard.

So, on this E chord, I'm barreing the 7th fret with my first finger, and using my ring finger to fret the 9th fret across the second, third and fourth strings. And yes, I can bend my ring finger so that the top string sounds.

As the shape remains the same, but moves down the fretboard, fret by fret, the chord changes as follows: E - Eflat - D - Dflat - C - B. For those learning, always remember: alphabetic progression as you move the same shape up or down..

should use your little finger to fret those chords all the technical players do

 

[Old Blue 2]

should use your little finger to fret those chords all the technical players do

But I play like a man with no hands! lol

 

[Old Blue 2]

Billy,
Here's another chord you can practise. It is very easy.

Eminor (Em): 2nd fret fifth string & 2nd fret fourth string. Use your middle finger on the fifth string, and ring finger on the fourth string.