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 Apr 7, 2021 10:12:47 GMT
So I decided to go back to basics, hunt down some YouTube vids (Marty Schwartz is good) and learn from scratch. I love the way 12 bar blues works, I IV V and all that but my god B7 is a bugger of a chord. I'm playing here on the Valencia hybrid because my fingers are all soft. I also practise it on my Tanglewood but it seems extra cramped up there, and at the moment I can't press hard enough on steel strings to get clean chords. I find I can fret with my index finger ok, but when I put the other fingers down, the index seems to lift, go all buzzy. Anyway here it is on nylon. Much easier on my baby soft fingers... http://instagr.am/p/CNVPdiqAwoe
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Post by PistolPete on Apr 9, 2021 9:27:35 GMT
If you're struggling with that B7 shape I'd just ignore the high E string and play B7
--x-- --0-- --2-- --1-- --2-- --x-- or you can leave it open for a slightly jazzier sounding B11 Also, I couldn't quite tell which A7 you were using from the video, but this is definitely the easiest shape for beginners: A7
--0-- --2-- --0-- --2-- --0-- --x-- It looked like you might be using this shape: A7
--3-- --2-- --2-- --2-- --0-- --x-- If you are, then an easier way to play it might be to bar across the top four strings with your first finger and use your middle or ring finger to fret the high E at the third fret like in this picture: Hopefully, those tips might be useful for you - I know unsolicited advice on the internet can be annoying, so feel free to ignore it if you feel so inclined!
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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"}
|
Post by minorkey on Apr 9, 2021 14:40:44 GMT
Ah I'm ok with regular B7, it's just a matter of practise.
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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"}
|
Post by minorkey on Apr 9, 2021 14:46:40 GMT
Also, I couldn't quite tell which A7 you were using from the video, but this is definitely the easiest shape for beginners: A7
--0-- --2-- --0-- --2-- --0-- --x-- Hopefully, those tips might be useful for you - I know unsolicited advice on the internet can be annoying, so feel free to ignore it if you feel so inclined! Yea I'm using that one x02020. Thanks Pete, all help gratefully received
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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"}
|
Post by minorkey on Apr 11, 2021 18:43:12 GMT
Improving, this time on the Fender Dread...
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 11, 2021 19:30:03 GMT
Can certainly hear the improvement over the past few weeks, keep at it matey
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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"}
|
Post by minorkey on Apr 14, 2021 17:14:13 GMT
And its fun on ukulele...
Playing with stop time rhythm (I need to work on that).
The chords played are A7 (with ornamentation), D7 and E7 (0100, 2223, 1202)
Tanglewood TU13M concert uke
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Post by sweyne1 on Apr 14, 2021 17:21:40 GMT
Hallo minorkey. I've been attempting to learn travis fingerstyle for the last 8 months or so and some of the fixes for the problems i've had should apply in your case.
Firstly, you're playing four beats to the bar. In the bar before the chord change count the beats but instead of counting '1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and' try counting '1 and 2 and 3 and 4' leaving a half beat gap which gives more time for the chord change. I found this next one awkward. When you're changing from E7 to B7 try to move your pinky close to the first string ready for the change rather than waiting to move it till you need to change. And you could try setting your pinky down first. The other fingers are easier to control.
I'd also definitely use a metronome if you have one. Set it slow. If you can't make the change cleanly at that speed set it slower again and again if need be. Get it solid regardless of the speed. Once it is solid you can gradually increase the speed.
John
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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"}
|
Post by minorkey on Apr 14, 2021 17:46:38 GMT
Hallo minorkey. I've been attempting to learn travis fingerstyle for the last 8 months or so and some of the fixes for the problems i've had should apply in your case. Firstly, you're playing four beats to the bar. In the bar before the chord change count the beats but instead of counting '1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and' try counting '1 and 2 and 3 and 4' leaving a half beat gap which gives more time for the chord change. I found this next one awkward. When you're changing from E7 to B7 try to move your pinky close to the first string ready for the change rather than waiting to move it till you need to change. And you could try setting your pinky down first. The other fingers are easier to control. I'd also definitely use a metronome if you have one. Set it slow. If you can't make the change cleanly at that speed set it slower again and again if need be. Get it solid regardless of the speed. Once it is solid you can gradually increase the speed. John Thanks John. Is this in reference to my guitar version at the top? I'm not good with guitar. Much better on ukulele, which I think I'll stick with.
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