Acoustic Newb

Comment

Comment by Downtown Freddy Brown on November 5, 2009 at 6:18am

For those that are interested. I have a capo chart I made up a couple of years ago that shows where to place the capo to get what keys on one side (there are a few different charts offered by others that do this too) BUT if the chart says to capo 3 and play in C for Eb. Now what chord do you play to get say Ab or Bb7? Well my chart has another chart on the back that shows you what chords to play too. I print and laminate them for local friends and students ($9.95 CDN). They are not massed produced and I have never really sold them by mail. I can't take credit cards but maybe I should. Everyone who sees the chart thinks it is really helpful. If interested please contact me. Thanks

Comment by Easthouse Blues on October 23, 2009 at 3:38pm

Hi Walt,
Mine hasn't arrived yet, either, but it is online (main page!)

Slainte,
Bruce

Comment by Walt Pilcher on October 23, 2009 at 3:23pm

Bruce,
Yes, and that's actually what the Fmaj7 is - basically the full F except for the 6th string first fret, so I mute or don't play the 6th string. I can do similar tricks to get F#m, G#m, C#m, Gm, and some B's, though I haven't practiced those much yet, except the B's. My December issue hasn't arrived, so I look forward to the article. Thanks.
Walt

Comment by Easthouse Blues on October 23, 2009 at 3:07pm

Hi Walt,

Have you thought about partial chords rather than barre chords? My index finger doesn't work too well, either, and I find I can get chords like F much easier with partial chords (good article in Dec issue of Acoustic Guitar)

Slainte,
Bruce

Comment by Walt Pilcher on October 23, 2009 at 10:41am

Hello, Donna! I've tried the capo and moving up the neck does make for better angles, but I've had to conclude that at least for now I should not worry about barre chords. My left index finger is a little misshapen and just won't work properly for the barres, even when I use the right hand to place all the fingers correctly as a teacher might do for me - they just won't stay. For the F, what I am doing is in fact the Fmaj7 but with my index finger holding down the 1st & 2d strings first fret, so all I'm missing is the 6th string first fret, which I don't play or sometimes mute with my thumb. It's nice to know I'm doing something a good teacher recommends! Thanks!
Walt

Comment by Donna Zitzelberger on October 23, 2009 at 7:48am

Hi Walt - You have mentioned your struggles with barres before and I can't remember if I recommended a capo. Have you tried using a capo and playing it up the fretboard, say about capo 5? It's easier to make the bar chords when your arm is closer to your body. Maybe this will help.

Another thought - if you can't get the barre, and want to play songs in the key of C. Try an Fmaj7 and don't play the first string - or mute it. Or substitute at an F9 (sometimes called an F2) -- play an Fmaj7 and have your pinky play the G note (first string, 3rd fret), this works out well for a lot of songs.

Donna

Donna

Comment by Walt Pilcher on October 22, 2009 at 8:35pm

Well put, Clark!

I think I've got the F almost under control, so for me now it's the Bm that acts the way you described. But I had a breakthrough with B7 tonight at my music circle - I actually got it 5 out of 7 times in a song we were doing (Wayfaring Stranger). That's one of those "You can't get there from here" chords for me right now. Practice, practice!
Walt

Comment by Clark Ellison on October 22, 2009 at 5:19pm

Is see a lot of people stating they did not or do not know the F chord. I know the F chord several ways but that does not mean it acknowledges me when it comes around. I think it is one of those special chords that desires a lot of attention before it will present itself properly. Some days it says hi and some days it just ignores my attempts and makes fun of me.

Comment by Newbie Dean on October 12, 2009 at 8:49am

I find myself doing the same thing. Whenever I go to hear my coach play i a local establishment, I find myself "strumming" on my leg/stomach/etc to try to pick up the strum patterns. I do the same thing when I'm driving in the car with my stereo on. While listening to songs I'm familiar with, I strum on the side of my leg and think about the chard changes. there are a lot of little things you can do without your git to "pracice".........Dean

Comment by Walt Pilcher on October 11, 2009 at 6:18pm

Welcome, Bruce and Joel! We have a lot of fun in this group, and you should feel free to jump in wherever you like. Bruce, I hope you're finding that playing the guitar again is like riding the proverbial bicycle (You never really forget how), and Joel, when I first started a couple of years ago I was fortunate to find an acoustic band that let me stand in the back, unplugged of course, and look like I was playing. I knew a few chords (the F not among them!) but not how to get from one to another, so when we would do a song I'd look to see which chord was most prevalent in that song and when it would cdome around I'd play it. But at least I was participating, and it was a great incentive to learn how to do the changes. So take heart!
Walt

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