[deamhain]

How long has it been now? Must be a month to 5 weeks. Finger tips are now like rocks, well certainly 1-3 are, little finger is getting there but isn't used as much. Open chords are now mostly ok and am getting better at moving from one to another without going..strum strum.....pause..change...strum strum..etc. As for barre chords; I just love the sound my guitar makes when I throw it in the corner in abject frustration. I'm not giving up but I just can't get anywhere near them at present. I'm a million miles from being able to finger the shape and lay it down. At the moment it's real one finger at a time stuff with much moaning and groaning. Even then it's far from buzz free and I can only hold the shape for far below a minute before the cramp becomes unbearable!

Anyway, on a positive note: I'm starting to get a bit comfortable with trying some singing as I go. Mostly just on basic, 3 chord, accompaniments but I'm enjoying it. I've sung before so that side's not too bad but trying to do them both is a challenge. Like most blokes, multi-tasking isn't my forte - I can just about walk and fart at the same time!

I've been experimenting over the weekend with chords doing the bass-strum stuff and some arpeggio picking, we'll see how that comes along!

Lessons start in a weeks time so maybe some assistance on the barre chords is coming.

Watch this space for another gripping installment of Beginners Progress in a few weeks.

Cheers
Bob

[BaasLian]

Good Luck Bob!

I'm in the same boat as you . Although I totally suck so far, there are signs of improvement.

All I can say is that you need alot of patience and keep at it... (And don't throw your guitar around )

[stuartmerenbloom]

Don't give up....sounds like you really want to play...so you WILL.Also sounds like you are trying too many new things at one time...slow down a little and get one new thing under your belt before moving on. You might want to build up your finger strength by squeezing a tennis ball for short periods of time. Good luck.

[evileye]

I've been playing for three years and I still cant do bar chords. (Well I can, but I have a habbit of including my thumb in the equasion, I dont bar my finger - it works). Lessons will be a huge help, bieng self taught is cheaper but it has it's dis advantages.

[dadfad]

Sounds like you're coming along pretty well with good progress. It's never easy, whether starting out or learning more advanced things later on, but it will come. I'm working on a tune now in the key of D that requires some pretty rapid changes through several B-minor chord forms based on the barre-chord X24432 (Like X24X3X, X2440X, XX442X, XX44XX, XX4432 and XX4402) and it's killing me! And I've been playing for a pretty long time. So it never ends. Just keep at it.

[wannalearn01]

When you are first beginning it can be very very hard. Discouraging even. But realyl all you need to do is keep up with it. Everytime you have a breakthrough(small or large) you will be a reinvented guitar player. Remember, start simple and work up. When your fingers feel fine, play longer...then you will know what true pain is.

Sticking with it is what will make you a guitar player. Some people could have been awesome, but put the guitar down instead...

T^roy

[deamhain]

Sounds like you're coming along pretty well with good progress.

Thanks for that. It put a wry smile on my face and gives me a bit of motivation. With anything feedback is important to judge progress. One of the reasons I'm starting lessons is to have someone who can help me set realistic short, medium and long-term goals. At present I may be setting unrealistic short and medium term ones and run the risk of demotivating myself if I'm not careful.

[QUOTE]Also sounds like you are trying too many new things at one time..

Panic ye not - I'm only 'tasting' different bits and pieces, not trying to master them all at once.

Cheers again

[pierceme3]

I hope you have cheap guitar ... and a friend who does drywall ... but anyway ;

Some advice on singing and playing ... just start out playing each chord once while singing the song. When I start on a new song I still start this way. It helps get the timing down and you get to know when to change chords.

as far a chord changes ... this is wat helped me the most. STOP THINKING!!!
Sit a watch TV and just strum and change chords at random. you'll also come up with some chord progressions that you'll think are cool too. Just remember to use the chords you are worst at more i.e. B and F.

and I cheat my F ... I do it 033210 instead of 003211

Hope this help you as much as it did me

PEACE
Duncan

[annoying_2001]

Sounds like you're coming along pretty well with good progress. It's never easy, whether starting out or learning more advanced things later on, but it will come. I'm working on a tune now in the key of D that requires some pretty rapid changes through several B-minor chord forms based on the barre-chord X24432 (Like X24X3X, X2440X, XX442X, XX44XX, XX4432 and XX4402) and it's killing me! And I've been playing for a pretty long time. So it never ends. Just keep at it.

the thought that something could challenge you, well it baffels me. and scares me at the same time.

but anywho, good luck w/ the playing. we've all felt like that starting off, but we all keep chuggin along, and the playing gets easier and better. the lessons will help a lot.

[deamhain]

I hope you have cheap guitar ... and a friend who does drywall ... but anyway ; 


and I cheat my F ... I do it 033210 instead of 003211 

Hope this help you as much as it did me

PEACE
Duncan

Don't worry about the guitar or the walls - I throw it very very gently!

You've got me confused on the 'F' though. I've been working on 133211 (I think?!). Maybe that's why I can't manage it. Maybe it's a different 'F' - I haven't got my head round all these 7ths and Sus's etc yet.

003211 wouldn't be a problem. I can put down and hold 033211 without too much difficulty, it's just trying to get that 1st fret on the E without the base of the finger lifting off the trebles that's a bit beyond me just now. Working on it!

Cheers
Bob

[wannalearn01]

Yours is a F barre chord. Hence the barred first string. You can play that same finger position in various places down the neck...notice the F barre chord is the same a F, but with extra notes.


Troy

This post has been edited by wannalearn01: 14 April 2004 - 09:25 AM

[dadfad]

It's easy to add your thumb, playing......

1033211...like this....
TORPMI

Using the thumb on the 6-string can make barre-chords easier. Generally a full six string chord isn't required, just either a bassier chord or a treblier chord. On the F, that open 5-string (A) is a note contained in an F-chord and so may be left open (or fingered, 133211, as desired)

Also.......

Annoying2001

Sounds like you're coming along pretty well with good progress. It's never easy, whether starting out or learning more advanced things later on, but it will come. I'm working on a tune now in the key of D that requires some pretty rapid changes through several B-minor chord forms based on the barre-chord X24432 (Like X24X3X, X2440X, XX442X, XX44XX, XX4432 and XX4402) and it's killing me! And I've been playing for a pretty long time. So it never ends. Just keep at it.

the thought that something could challenge you, well it baffels me. and scares me at the same time.......

The chords themselves generally aren't hard. The simple B-minor barre-chord 224432 is the basis for them all. Normally you could just barre the second fret with your index and hold....

224432 (or X24432) like this...
IIRPMI

The difficulty comes in that all the changes are made within the time-space of one bar of the progression. The index must be removed from the 5-string (while holding the 1, or the 1 and 3 for X04232) or vice-versa removed from the 1 while holding the 5. Also, the middle must be removed from the 2 while playing either the XX4402 and the X2440X. So it's not the complexity of the individual chords, but that they must be done sequentially and fluidly, as an ascending/descending fingerstyle line is being played within 4-count bar. Those B-forms are used in place of the D-chord (in a D progression) and move you into the G-position (in Dropped-D tuning). There really needs to be actually heavy concentration on the right-to-left-hand sequencing as you move. And, not get your fingers all tangled up in each other at the same time!

Everyone is always challenged. The challenge-level may change a bit with time and experience, but it never stops. Don't let it worry you. You'll overcome it, and then go for that next challenge.

[okiejohn]

I have a bit of beginner advise. Do not record yourself. Hahahaha .

Now I'm not going to mislead anyone here into thinking I'm a picker, the only folks I can impress are the total non pickers, but I'm workin on it.

I had been at it for a month or so, and could get through a few of the easier chords, and had found a few songs that used the chords that I could play.

I KNOW I can't sing worth a crap, but I thought I was doing a pretty fine job of playing those tunes and singing when there wasn't anyone around the house cept the pooch.

Well now boys and girls, that's when I decided to make a tape of myself. Damn, that almost brought tears to my eyes, and they weren't tears of joy. It was the most terrible excuse for music that I ever heard.

It was about a year later before I tried again. That was at least tolerable.

Time and perseverance, that's what it takes.

[evileye]

I have a bit of beginner advise. Do not record yourself. Hahahaha   .

Now I'm not going to mislead anyone here into thinking I'm a picker, the only folks I can impress are the total non pickers, but I'm workin on it.

I had been at it for a month or so, and could get through a few of the easier chords, and had found a few songs that used the chords that I could play.

I KNOW I can't sing worth a crap, but I thought I was doing a pretty fine job of playing those tunes and singing when there wasn't anyone around the house cept the pooch.

Well now boys and girls, that's when I decided to make a tape of myself. Damn, that almost brought tears to my eyes, and they weren't tears of joy. It was the most terrible excuse for music that I ever heard.

It was about a year later before I tried again. That was at least tolerable.

Time and perseverance, that's what it takes.

Been there, done that. Recording can be a reality check, but it's helpfull to know how your progressing.

[BaasLian]

I'm working on a tune now in the key of D that requires some pretty rapid changes through several B-minor chord forms based on the barre-chord X24432 (Like X24X3X, X2440X, XX442X, XX44XX, XX4432 and XX4402) and it's killing me!

Dadfad, if I may ask, what are you trying(sorry) BUSY playing?

[Jon_Mac]

I have a bit of beginner advise. Do not record yourself. Hahahaha   .

Now I'm not going to mislead anyone here into thinking I'm a picker, the only folks I can impress are the total non pickers, but I'm workin on it.

I had been at it for a month or so, and could get through a few of the easier chords, and had found a few songs that used the chords that I could play.

I KNOW I can't sing worth a crap, but I thought I was doing a pretty fine job of playing those tunes and singing when there wasn't anyone around the house cept the pooch.

Well now boys and girls, that's when I decided to make a tape of myself. Damn, that almost brought tears to my eyes, and they weren't tears of joy. It was the most terrible excuse for music that I ever heard.

It was about a year later before I tried again. That was at least tolerable.

Time and perseverance, that's what it takes.

yeah I recorded myself and I thought I sounded better then what I actualy sounded like but this helped me to fix up the parts that I thought were good that weren't. What I find fun is recording a riff of something and put it on loop and play with it.

[dadfad]

I'm working on a tune now in the key of D that requires some pretty rapid changes through several B-minor chord forms based on the barre-chord X24432 (Like X24X3X, X2440X, XX442X, XX44XX, XX4432 and XX4402) and it's killing me!

Dadfad, if I may ask, what are you trying(sorry) BUSY playing?

Lian, I'm trying to work on a tune that's fairly obscure. It's a tune called "The Truth Is On The Streets" written and recorded by a friend of mine, Paul Geremia (one of, if not the best traditional acoustic fingerstylists alive. Ask Adam or Cian for their opinion about how good he is). A version is on one of his CDs "Self Portrait In Blue". I have a little blurb about Paul on my profile web-page link below. Paul is as close to perfection in a traditional fingerstylist as I've ever seen or heard. He's expert in multiple styles and is sort of a "guitarist's guitarist". He spends more time honing his craft than promoting his career. I've been in a number of conversations with groups of very good trad-blues fingerstylists where the debate was "who is the best alive, John Jackson or Paul Geremia?" Of course Time settled the debate definatively two years ago with the passing of John. Anyway, should you ever get a chance to see or hear Paul play, by all means do so. You could not possibly be disappointed. (Like you would if you heard ME try to play the same tune! )

[deamhain]

It's easy to add your thumb, playing......

1033211...like this....
TORPMI

Using the thumb on the 6-string can make barre-chords easier. Generally a full six string chord isn't required, just either a bassier chord or a treblier chord. On the F, that open 5-string (A) is a note contained in an F-chord and so may be left open (or fingered, 133211, as desired)

Wayhay!

I may, in the short-term, latch on to the statement that a full 6 finger chord is not normally required because I can manage with relative ease if I leave the E well alone. I'll keep practicing the full chord though as am not one to accept defeat so easily!

Thanks for the advice!

Bob

[dadfad]

Glad it helped. And just try using that thumb. It might seem a little awkward at first, but believe me. It will very soon become very easy.

[evileye]

Paul is truely amazing. Honestly, that CD was amazing! I'm going to rip' it into my computer now that I think of it, I havent listened to it in ages!