minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
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Post by minorkey on Feb 7, 2022 21:22:31 GMT
Right so I've had a chord chart for donkeys and I just had a little play of some of the chords on old faithful, my Fender dreadnought which I've had since 2004. I'm familiar with most of the major chords but I prefer minor sounding chords so I had a look at minors, major 7ths etc. Some tough chords in there-G minor is surprisingly hard! But I got em. The only thing stopping me is the side of my finger is very soft so doing barres is literally a pain, so I need to toughen the outside of my index finger, by playing more barres! I see people playing guitar and they make it look a breeze, and though I know my hand and fingers should be relaxed its hard to play some of those chords without applying firm pressure. I guess its something you just get used to. Same with wrist ache after playing. I suspect my whole hand position, including position of the thumb, needs looking at. I'm sure there are some videos on the tube of you covering that... I know I go on about finding it hard to play guitar, whinge whinge whinge, but the thing is, I adore the sound of that fender Dread and its a crying shame to just leave it in the case and get on the easier Ukulele. Half an hour a day should do it right ...?
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leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 24,511
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Feb 7, 2022 23:26:56 GMT
I play barre chords - not all the time though. If I'm picking I will sometimes only fret the strings I know I'm going to play. Also, for things like Gm, I rarely barre the whole neck - just the first 3 strings and use my thumb on the 6th string to 'complete' the barre. Don't know if that helps - or even if it's good advice, Larry! I suspect I might get 'barred' by some of the more accomplished players on here for even suggesting it
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minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
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Post by minorkey on Feb 7, 2022 23:33:09 GMT
Its all good Leo, all good
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Post by delb0y on Feb 8, 2022 8:19:06 GMT
Half an hour a day will see you fine, Larry.
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Post by scorpiodog on Feb 8, 2022 15:13:51 GMT
Larry, are you sure it doesn't need a set up? Barre chords are tricky to learn to play cleanly, but a poorly set up guitar makes it all but impossible.
I was given a Fender Dreadnought in 1982 which I hated, and which sat languishing in my house for decades. In about 2010, I decided I needed a guitar I could take out to picnics and stuff, but it was still beastly to play. I was having work done on another guitar by a tech, so I took it to him to look at. He did a set up on it, cost me about £80, from memory. The main thing he did was recut the nut. Absolute transformation. Plays brilliantly. Sounds the same as before.
It may be worth having somebody take a look at it. You can usually get them to look at it for free, and give you a fixed quote for the work before you commit yourself.
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minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
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Post by minorkey on Feb 8, 2022 15:25:41 GMT
Larry, are you sure it doesn't need a set up? Barre chords are tricky to learn to play cleanly, but a poorly set up guitar makes it all but impossible. I was given a Fender Dreadnought in 1982 which I hated, and which sat languishing in my house for decades. In about 2010, I decided I needed a guitar I could take out to picnics and stuff, but it was still beastly to play. I was having work done on another guitar by a tech, so I took it to him to look at. He did a set up on it, cost me about £80, from memory. The main thing he did was recut the nut. Absolute transformation. Plays brilliantly. Sounds the same as before. It may be worth having somebody take a look at it. You can usually get them to look at it for free, and give you a fixed quote for the work before you commit yourself. My fender had a set up done ages ago, its fine. My Tanglewood seems a bit high but if I lower the saddle the strings are gonna buzz. I believe its me, my fingers are all soft. Even playing Eminor hurts after a while. I'm basically starting over from scratch, and I found a Marty Schwartz series of beginner videos which I'm gonna go through. After watching the first video I discovered I was placing the guitar incorrectly. I'd always rested the lower curve of the guitar on my left knee, which means my left arm is at full stretch. By switching to the right leg things are suddenly easier. Such a simple change!
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minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
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Post by minorkey on Feb 9, 2022 15:18:56 GMT
I found a series of videos by Marty Schwartz, this is me playing from the second one.
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