Learning to play the guitar?
Discussion
cherryowen said:
tr7v8 said:
First lesson tomorrow with a local guy. I was already learning A & D and he suggested adding E to that as well.
That's not a bad idea. It's also real easy to make the E major chord into an E minor. https://rockguitaruniverse.com/guitar-songs-a-d-e-...
ben5575 said:
Just to add, I'm finding these Jim Dunlop 'Max Grip' picks really helpful and a lot easier to use than standard picks
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jim-Dunlop-449P1-0-Guitar...
Or the better looking EVH version
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jim-Dunlop-Max-Grip-Picks...
Drilled holes in one of mine to improve grip and warmed and moulded it to the shape of my thumb.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jim-Dunlop-449P1-0-Guitar...
Or the better looking EVH version
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jim-Dunlop-Max-Grip-Picks...
Still struggle to hold a pick for long and find it easier and more accurate to use my forefinger.
Well first 30minute lesson today.
He was happy with my already learned A, D & E chords but wants me to carry on. Then took me into his lesson 2 which is strumming practice. Also into time 4/4 etc. Lots of homework to do. But finding fingers hurting a bit less. Booked lesson 2 for next week. Lots of homework to do!
He was happy with my already learned A, D & E chords but wants me to carry on. Then took me into his lesson 2 which is strumming practice. Also into time 4/4 etc. Lots of homework to do. But finding fingers hurting a bit less. Booked lesson 2 for next week. Lots of homework to do!
tr7v8 said:
Well first 30minute lesson today.
He was happy with my already learned A, D & E chords but wants me to carry on. Then took me into his lesson 2 which is strumming practice. Also into time 4/4 etc. Lots of homework to do. But finding fingers hurting a bit less. Booked lesson 2 for next week. Lots of homework to do!
Sounds good. As a previous poster said, nail A, D and E, and you'd be amazed what opens up.He was happy with my already learned A, D & E chords but wants me to carry on. Then took me into his lesson 2 which is strumming practice. Also into time 4/4 etc. Lots of homework to do. But finding fingers hurting a bit less. Booked lesson 2 for next week. Lots of homework to do!
After that, C and G chord shapes.. (C is probably the tricker one)
Plus if you have A and E, you can go fairly easily to A7, E7 and Eminor.
Most of all, keep practicing and trying. It does get easier:-)
I've been using a variety of tuition methods, Justin, Marty, Songsterr to name a few but the best thing by a country mile is a one to one lesson. I'm having a lesson every week and have done for the last 4 weeks or so, It's brought me on massively. Helps to find the right teacher of course, first one I tried just didn't suit me.
Need some help please.
Weak finger G chord - 3rd finger on low E, 4th finger on high E
I've realised that I can't independently move my 3rd finger when my little finger is bent on my left hand
The best way I can describe it is on my right hand I can do the cub scout dib dib dib without using my thumb to pull down my little finger. So with fingers 1, 2 & 3 straight, I can straighten and bend my little finger independently.
On my left hand I can't bend my little finger without my ring finger bending. Or a different way - I can't have straight fingers 1 & 2 with bent fingers 3 & 4 and then independently straighten my ring finger on its own. It's as if my brain simply isn't talking to my finger.
Anybody got any exercises I can do???
Hope that made sense
Weak finger G chord - 3rd finger on low E, 4th finger on high E
I've realised that I can't independently move my 3rd finger when my little finger is bent on my left hand
The best way I can describe it is on my right hand I can do the cub scout dib dib dib without using my thumb to pull down my little finger. So with fingers 1, 2 & 3 straight, I can straighten and bend my little finger independently.
On my left hand I can't bend my little finger without my ring finger bending. Or a different way - I can't have straight fingers 1 & 2 with bent fingers 3 & 4 and then independently straighten my ring finger on its own. It's as if my brain simply isn't talking to my finger.
Anybody got any exercises I can do???
Hope that made sense
ben5575 said:
Need some help please.
Weak finger G chord - 3rd finger on low E, 4th finger on high E
I've realised that I can't independently move my 3rd finger when my little finger is bent on my left hand
The best way I can describe it is on my right hand I can do the cub scout dib dib dib without using my thumb to pull down my little finger. So with fingers 1, 2 & 3 straight, I can straighten and bend my little finger independently.
On my left hand I can't bend my little finger without my ring finger bending. Or a different way - I can't have straight fingers 1 & 2 with bent fingers 3 & 4 and then independently straighten my ring finger on its own. It's as if my brain simply isn't talking to my finger.
Anybody got any exercises I can do???
Hope that made sense
Try 2nd finger on low E string, 1st finger on A string and 3rd finger on high E string.Weak finger G chord - 3rd finger on low E, 4th finger on high E
I've realised that I can't independently move my 3rd finger when my little finger is bent on my left hand
The best way I can describe it is on my right hand I can do the cub scout dib dib dib without using my thumb to pull down my little finger. So with fingers 1, 2 & 3 straight, I can straighten and bend my little finger independently.
On my left hand I can't bend my little finger without my ring finger bending. Or a different way - I can't have straight fingers 1 & 2 with bent fingers 3 & 4 and then independently straighten my ring finger on its own. It's as if my brain simply isn't talking to my finger.
Anybody got any exercises I can do???
Hope that made sense
Then try moving from there to a D chord using the same fingers. You should find that easier and a good exercise. (don't forget not to strum the low E string on the D chord).
Edited by RATATTAK on Saturday 25th February 14:04
RATATTAK said:
Try 2nd finger on low E string, 1st finger on A string and 3rd finger on high E string.
Then try moving from there to a D chord using the same fingers. You should find that easier and a good exercise. (don't forget not to strum the low E string on the D chord).
It's this I think:Then try moving from there to a D chord using the same fingers. You should find that easier and a good exercise. (don't forget not to strum the low E string on the D chord).
Edited by RATATTAK on Saturday 25th February 14:04
https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/weak-f...
I've never used it before, it feels weird.
Yeah that's the lesson I was doing. I realised that I couldn't put my little finger down then move my ring finger up to low E without moving my whole hand. ETA link to Justin doing what I can't do: https://youtu.be/AWA5C2MCu2Q?t=38
I've got no problem with scales or forming other chord shapes including F (to date!), but this one chord as shown up something I just can't do. It's not a case of fumbling around, my finger just won't listen to my brain when I tell it to move.
I don't think I'm a freak, I feel like this maybe a common problem? As a newbie, I'm just thinking about what else this will limit me on and therefore what I need to do to fix it. It maybe that experienced players can't do it either and it's never held them back so I've got nothing to worry about and just avoid that particular chord.
It was appealing as I find G to C a struggle.
I've got no problem with scales or forming other chord shapes including F (to date!), but this one chord as shown up something I just can't do. It's not a case of fumbling around, my finger just won't listen to my brain when I tell it to move.
I don't think I'm a freak, I feel like this maybe a common problem? As a newbie, I'm just thinking about what else this will limit me on and therefore what I need to do to fix it. It maybe that experienced players can't do it either and it's never held them back so I've got nothing to worry about and just avoid that particular chord.
It was appealing as I find G to C a struggle.
Edited by ben5575 on Saturday 25th February 15:19
frisbee said:
RATATTAK said:
Try 2nd finger on low E string, 1st finger on A string and 3rd finger on high E string.
Then try moving from there to a D chord using the same fingers. You should find that easier and a good exercise. (don't forget not to strum the low E string on the D chord).
It's this I think:Then try moving from there to a D chord using the same fingers. You should find that easier and a good exercise. (don't forget not to strum the low E string on the D chord).
Edited by RATATTAK on Saturday 25th February 14:04
https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/weak-f...
I've never used it before, it feels weird.
ben5575 said:
It was appealing as I find G to C a struggle.
Lots of songs use the method I advised for G and D and use a similar way to move to a C chord using the same fingers as noted below.Leave your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd (B) string for all the three chords then:
for the G chord, place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th (A) string and your 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 6th (E) string. Mute the 1st (E) string with your 3rd finger
for the C chord, place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th (D) string and your 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th (A) string. You are now playing a C9 chord but lots of songs use this chord.
for the D chord place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd (G) string and your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st (E) string. Mute the 6th (E) string with your thumb.
A favourite of mine that uses these chords played this way is Def Leppard's - Armageddon It.
Edited by RATATTAK on Saturday 25th February 16:01
I get miffed by people teaching guitar this way. (I know, nearly everyone does and I am way off the reservation).
I taught guitar for many years. Including at music degree level.
IMHO: E maj should be played without using the index finger.
An (admittedly really tough) hour in, you move the shape up and form a barre with the index finger and you have F then F# etc... all 12 maj chords by lesson two.
10+ hours self practice a MUST before lesson 2.
Then:
Take the second finger off you have all the minor chords (and explain why)
Take the pinky off you have all the minor 7 chords (and explain why)
Put the second finger back on, you have all the 7 chords. (and explain why)
Leave just the barre on and you have a suspended chord (and explain why)
60 chords learned in two lessons.
(Then you do the A string chords)
Pretty much the entire Beatles back catalogue at your fingertips. Just 200 hours practice and you're sorted.
Much more difficult for the first hour, but so much easier after that... as you learn WHY your fingers are there... not just how to make noises.
As I say... most will always ignore this method. But my way, moving from G to G# is easy. The trad way... what do they do?
Ask a pupil to play G# after two hours and see what happens.
As you were.
BTW, Whenever I taught guitar I'd turn it around to play left handed. It just reminds you how difficult it is as a first timer. Try it.
I taught guitar for many years. Including at music degree level.
IMHO: E maj should be played without using the index finger.
An (admittedly really tough) hour in, you move the shape up and form a barre with the index finger and you have F then F# etc... all 12 maj chords by lesson two.
10+ hours self practice a MUST before lesson 2.
Then:
Take the second finger off you have all the minor chords (and explain why)
Take the pinky off you have all the minor 7 chords (and explain why)
Put the second finger back on, you have all the 7 chords. (and explain why)
Leave just the barre on and you have a suspended chord (and explain why)
60 chords learned in two lessons.
(Then you do the A string chords)
Pretty much the entire Beatles back catalogue at your fingertips. Just 200 hours practice and you're sorted.
Much more difficult for the first hour, but so much easier after that... as you learn WHY your fingers are there... not just how to make noises.
As I say... most will always ignore this method. But my way, moving from G to G# is easy. The trad way... what do they do?
Ask a pupil to play G# after two hours and see what happens.
As you were.
BTW, Whenever I taught guitar I'd turn it around to play left handed. It just reminds you how difficult it is as a first timer. Try it.
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 25th February 16:38
ben5575 said:
Need some help please.
Weak finger G chord - 3rd finger on low E, 4th finger on high E
I've realised that I can't independently move my 3rd finger when my little finger is bent on my left hand
The best way I can describe it is on my right hand I can do the cub scout dib dib dib without using my thumb to pull down my little finger. So with fingers 1, 2 & 3 straight, I can straighten and bend my little finger independently.
On my left hand I can't bend my little finger without my ring finger bending. Or a different way - I can't have straight fingers 1 & 2 with bent fingers 3 & 4 and then independently straighten my ring finger on its own. It's as if my brain simply isn't talking to my finger.
Anybody got any exercises I can do???
Hope that made sense
Chords and chord shapes aside, try placing your fretting hand flat on the table and lift each digit individually without lifting any of the others. So, thumb, then index, middle, ring and little finger. Then do this in reverse and repeat. No 2 fingers or group of fingers, only individually.Weak finger G chord - 3rd finger on low E, 4th finger on high E
I've realised that I can't independently move my 3rd finger when my little finger is bent on my left hand
The best way I can describe it is on my right hand I can do the cub scout dib dib dib without using my thumb to pull down my little finger. So with fingers 1, 2 & 3 straight, I can straighten and bend my little finger independently.
On my left hand I can't bend my little finger without my ring finger bending. Or a different way - I can't have straight fingers 1 & 2 with bent fingers 3 & 4 and then independently straighten my ring finger on its own. It's as if my brain simply isn't talking to my finger.
Anybody got any exercises I can do???
Hope that made sense
An exercise that you can do on the guitar neck, to teach the fretting fingers some discipline, is a chromatic progression.
Try it on the 5th-8th fret first on the high E - index on the 5th, then middle on the 6th, then ring finger on the 7th, small finger 8th. Hold all four fingers in that shape, then lift each finger off in reverse order (8/7/6/5) and repeat. You don't need to pick the string just place the fingers.
For 8 to 7 and 7 to 8 you are aiming for the ring and small finger to move individually, same with the others and it will be difficult at first.
RATATTAK said:
Lots of songs use the method I advised for G and D and use a similar way to move to a C chord using the same fingers as noted below.
You had me at Def Leopard 
Yep, I get where you're coming from. So like Nutshell (plus an Em7)?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EKi2E9dVY8
I suppose it's having the confidence as a newbie to stray away from a rigid framework of basic chords and move on to more colourful/alternative versions of the same which as you explain above, are easier to pivot through with less movement.
Still can't move my ring finger though
Yahonza said:
Chords and chord shapes aside, try placing your fretting hand flat on the table and lift each digit individually without lifting any of the others. So, thumb, then index, middle, ring and little finger. Then do this in reverse and repeat. No 2 fingers or group of fingers, only individually.
An exercise that you can do on the guitar neck, to teach the fretting fingers some discipline, is a chromatic progression.
Try it on the 5th-8th fret first on the high E - index on the 5th, then middle on the 6th, then ring finger on the 7th, small finger 8th. Hold all four fingers in that shape, then lift each finger off in reverse order (8/7/6/5) and repeat. You don't need to pick the string just place the fingers.
For 8 to 7 and 7 to 8 you are aiming for the ring and small finger to move individually, same with the others and it will be difficult at first.
Bosh - that's what I'm after An exercise that you can do on the guitar neck, to teach the fretting fingers some discipline, is a chromatic progression.
Try it on the 5th-8th fret first on the high E - index on the 5th, then middle on the 6th, then ring finger on the 7th, small finger 8th. Hold all four fingers in that shape, then lift each finger off in reverse order (8/7/6/5) and repeat. You don't need to pick the string just place the fingers.
For 8 to 7 and 7 to 8 you are aiming for the ring and small finger to move individually, same with the others and it will be difficult at first.
I've been learning guitar for 5 years or so and absolutely love it. The biggest tip I'll give is just persist. There is no substitute for practice. I don't do nearly enough but really enjoy it when I do.
I've ended up leaving my guitar out in sight so it's much easier just to pick up, rather than open the case etc. Sounds minor but makes a difference to me.
I started off with a cheapo £99 acoustic fender thing. Got me going and decided to upgrade. Went for an electric PRS and it's just not for me. Much prefer an acoustic. Then went for a mini Taylor and what a difference it makes to play.
Next time I make a change in guitar I'll be buying the best I can second hand
I've ended up leaving my guitar out in sight so it's much easier just to pick up, rather than open the case etc. Sounds minor but makes a difference to me.
I started off with a cheapo £99 acoustic fender thing. Got me going and decided to upgrade. Went for an electric PRS and it's just not for me. Much prefer an acoustic. Then went for a mini Taylor and what a difference it makes to play.
Next time I make a change in guitar I'll be buying the best I can second hand
GetCarter said:
I get miffed by people teaching guitar this way. (I know, nearly everyone does and I am way off the reservation).
I taught guitar for many years. Including at music degree level.
IMHO: E maj should be played without using the index finger.
An (admittedly really tough) hour in, you move the shape up and form a barre with the index finger and you have F then F# etc... all 12 maj chords by lesson two.
10+ hours self practice a MUST before lesson 2.
Then:
Take the second finger off you have all the minor chords (and explain why)
Take the pinky off you have all the minor 7 chords (and explain why)
Put the second finger back on, you have all the 7 chords. (and explain why)
Leave just the barre on and you have a suspended chord (and explain why)
60 chords learned in two lessons.
(Then you do the A string chords)
Pretty much the entire Beatles back catalogue at your fingertips. Just 200 hours practice and you're sorted.
Much more difficult for the first hour, but so much easier after that... as you learn WHY your fingers are there... not just how to make noises.
As I say... most will always ignore this method. But my way, moving from G to G# is easy. The trad way... what do they do?
Ask a pupil to play G# after two hours and see what happens.
As you were.
BTW, Whenever I taught guitar I'd turn it around to play left handed. It just reminds you how difficult it is as a first timer. Try it.
Just to be clear, what you are saying is that you start off with Emaj formed as it would be in a barre i.e. I taught guitar for many years. Including at music degree level.
IMHO: E maj should be played without using the index finger.
An (admittedly really tough) hour in, you move the shape up and form a barre with the index finger and you have F then F# etc... all 12 maj chords by lesson two.
10+ hours self practice a MUST before lesson 2.
Then:
Take the second finger off you have all the minor chords (and explain why)
Take the pinky off you have all the minor 7 chords (and explain why)
Put the second finger back on, you have all the 7 chords. (and explain why)
Leave just the barre on and you have a suspended chord (and explain why)
60 chords learned in two lessons.
(Then you do the A string chords)
Pretty much the entire Beatles back catalogue at your fingertips. Just 200 hours practice and you're sorted.
Much more difficult for the first hour, but so much easier after that... as you learn WHY your fingers are there... not just how to make noises.
As I say... most will always ignore this method. But my way, moving from G to G# is easy. The trad way... what do they do?
Ask a pupil to play G# after two hours and see what happens.
As you were.
BTW, Whenever I taught guitar I'd turn it around to play left handed. It just reminds you how difficult it is as a first timer. Try it.
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 25th February 16:38
-0-
-0-
-1- (2nd finger)
-2- (little finger)
-2- (3rd 'ring' finger)
-0-
and thereafter teach the other chords by introducing the barre chord concept (i.e. only involving the index finger at that point, as the barre).
chemistry said:
GetCarter said:
I get miffed by people teaching guitar this way. (I know, nearly everyone does and I am way off the reservation).
I taught guitar for many years. Including at music degree level.
IMHO: E maj should be played without using the index finger.
An (admittedly really tough) hour in, you move the shape up and form a barre with the index finger and you have F then F# etc... all 12 maj chords by lesson two.
10+ hours self practice a MUST before lesson 2.
Then:
Take the second finger off you have all the minor chords (and explain why)
Take the pinky off you have all the minor 7 chords (and explain why)
Put the second finger back on, you have all the 7 chords. (and explain why)
Leave just the barre on and you have a suspended chord (and explain why)
60 chords learned in two lessons.
(Then you do the A string chords)
Pretty much the entire Beatles back catalogue at your fingertips. Just 200 hours practice and you're sorted.
Much more difficult for the first hour, but so much easier after that... as you learn WHY your fingers are there... not just how to make noises.
As I say... most will always ignore this method. But my way, moving from G to G# is easy. The trad way... what do they do?
Ask a pupil to play G# after two hours and see what happens.
As you were.
BTW, Whenever I taught guitar I'd turn it around to play left handed. It just reminds you how difficult it is as a first timer. Try it.
Just to be clear, what you are saying is that you start off with Emaj formed as it would be in a barre i.e. I taught guitar for many years. Including at music degree level.
IMHO: E maj should be played without using the index finger.
An (admittedly really tough) hour in, you move the shape up and form a barre with the index finger and you have F then F# etc... all 12 maj chords by lesson two.
10+ hours self practice a MUST before lesson 2.
Then:
Take the second finger off you have all the minor chords (and explain why)
Take the pinky off you have all the minor 7 chords (and explain why)
Put the second finger back on, you have all the 7 chords. (and explain why)
Leave just the barre on and you have a suspended chord (and explain why)
60 chords learned in two lessons.
(Then you do the A string chords)
Pretty much the entire Beatles back catalogue at your fingertips. Just 200 hours practice and you're sorted.
Much more difficult for the first hour, but so much easier after that... as you learn WHY your fingers are there... not just how to make noises.
As I say... most will always ignore this method. But my way, moving from G to G# is easy. The trad way... what do they do?
Ask a pupil to play G# after two hours and see what happens.
As you were.
BTW, Whenever I taught guitar I'd turn it around to play left handed. It just reminds you how difficult it is as a first timer. Try it.
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 25th February 16:38
-0-
-0-
-1- (2nd finger)
-2- (little finger)
-2- (3rd 'ring' finger)
-0-
and thereafter teach the other chords by introducing the barre chord concept (i.e. only involving the index finger at that point, as the barre).
The idea is to explain WHY fingers go where they do, not just 'it's the easiest way to play a few chords'
Once again... I understand that most people don't want to learn this way. It's a harder start - but 'times tables' never taught people how to do arithmetic/maths, they just taught people 'rote' learning.
ETA... and if people only want to learn half a dozen chords, 'rote' with no understanding is fine. I'm not a snob about it!
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 25th February 18:14
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