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Post by factorychef on Apr 18, 2010 7:50:46 GMT -5
Getting barre chords down sure opens up a lot of great new sounds. I can't believe I can get my fingers to do what I want them to do. When I first started the chords were very hard to get in position, but now there getting easier. Practice sure does payoff. ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Village Idiot on Apr 18, 2010 8:08:19 GMT -5
You'll have to show me how to do them, then. After 30 years of playing, I can't.
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Post by Resolve on Apr 18, 2010 8:11:14 GMT -5
That is so true! I'm still working on executing them with accuracy and consistency. I usually like the key of the songs I sing to range from D to E (D chords capo 2)...so inevitably I need that "damn Bm". I tried to work around it for a long time (just not selecting songs that had that chord) but finallly I've just decided to purposely select enough songs I love that have that chord in it and go after it. Yup...with enough practice it's coming along fairly well. I just found two songs I absolutely love and I need that Bm for both...great motivation to be able to play these two songs. Glad to hear they are coming along for you too!
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Post by dradtke on Apr 18, 2010 8:12:54 GMT -5
It's always satisfying to have a good Bm.
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Post by Doug on Apr 18, 2010 8:19:26 GMT -5
That is so true! I'm still working on executing them with accuracy and consistency. I usually like the key of the songs I sing to range from D to E (D chords capo 2)...so inevitably I need that "damn Bm". I tried to work around it for a long time (just not selecting songs that had that chord) but finallly I've just decided to purposely select enough songs I love that have that chord in it and go after it. Yup...with enough practice it's coming along fairly well. I just found two songs I absolutely love and I need that Bm for both...great motivation to be able to play these two songs. Glad to hear they are coming along for you too! You don't have to do a bar for Bm. xx4432 xxx432 Thumb wrap 2x4432 Thumb wrap 224432 And you can do xx and bounce the 44 back and forth 32 All in first position.
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Post by theevan on Apr 18, 2010 8:32:17 GMT -5
It's always satisfying to have a good Bm.
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Tamarack
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Post by Tamarack on Apr 18, 2010 9:11:39 GMT -5
Took me 20 years to be able to switch from an open chord to that damn Bm. Barre chords are still challenging for someone with bony fingers.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2010 9:22:59 GMT -5
Barre chords are one of the few things I can do reasonably well, providing the action is decent and the fret stretch isn't too great. Of course there are many things that I don't do well, like playing lead, like not forgetting verses, like getting thru a song without screwing up.....
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Post by RickW on Apr 18, 2010 9:43:30 GMT -5
But you're right, they open up a whole world. If you want to learn how to play up the neck, well, you can play four finger chords, and in a lot of circumstances, it works well. But to be able to play 3/4/5 string barres opens up worlds of things you can do. It makes it so much easier to do multiple chord changes in the same position, or bass and lead runs in and out of a chord.
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Apr 18, 2010 9:46:57 GMT -5
Barre chords are one of the few things I can do reasonably well, providing the action is decent and the fret stretch isn't too great. Of course there are many things that I don't do well, like playing lead, like not forgetting verses, like getting thru a song without screwing up..... Hey! You talkin' 'bout me? Mike
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Post by millring on Apr 18, 2010 9:47:26 GMT -5
Did you hear about the dylexic guitar player who walked into a brrae?
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Post by omaha on Apr 18, 2010 9:58:17 GMT -5
La Brea
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Post by Fingerplucked on Apr 18, 2010 10:01:39 GMT -5
Did you hear about the dylexic guitar player who walked into a brrae? and ordered a cohdr?
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Post by Russell Letson on Apr 18, 2010 10:13:08 GMT -5
I heard he was looking for a clod beer.
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Post by Hobson on Apr 18, 2010 10:48:26 GMT -5
The index finger on my left (fretting) hand is 2 1/2 inches long. That limits the barre chords that I can do. After playing for over 40 years, it's just not going to get easier. I know what I can play and I've learned to live with it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2010 10:56:44 GMT -5
Martin Barre chords?
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Post by Greg B on Apr 18, 2010 10:59:47 GMT -5
You hit the nail on the head right there. A guitar which is not setup well will really fight you on those barre chords. People often look at the bridge height as the place to set the action. But the nut slot depth is just as important and in the lower positions may effect your barre chords more than saddle height.
With you right hand reach over and press a string down at the 3rd fret.
With your left hand press the same string down at the 1st fret. There should be almost no movement at all. You should be able to hear a slight "click" as the string touches the fret. If you feel the string move then the nut slot is not deep enough.
That adjustment (if improperly done) will make the first position chords and any barre chord in the lower several frets much harder than they need to be.
Also, if I'm playing a barre chord that doesn't require my 2nd finger I'll double up by placing my second finger on top of the first. A little extra strength doesn't hurt.
But a well setup guitar will make all the difference.
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Post by Resolve on Apr 18, 2010 12:20:20 GMT -5
But a well setup guitar will make all the difference. Which is why my heart belongs to Marty!
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Post by Don Clark on Apr 18, 2010 13:05:39 GMT -5
I get along with barre chords all right, but I have to admit they were a bit easier before I managed to get my left hand in that darned lawnmower in '81. Bm or Bm7 are easy enough, but an F#m or any of the other barre minors of that shape are clean only if I rock my hand back a bit and help my index finger out some with the second.
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Post by Doug on Apr 18, 2010 13:38:50 GMT -5
clean? are they supposed to be clean?
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