| Title: | GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion |
| Notice: | Discussion of the finer stringed instruments |
| Moderator: | KDX200::COOPER |
| Created: | Thu Aug 14 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 3280 |
| Total number of notes: | 61432 |
Hi
Is there any exercises for speeding up the left had, especially in
quick chord changes up/down the neck? - I know chords, but I'm tring to
get a bit quicker on those chord forms...
Thanks,
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2403.1 | Some suggestions | ZYDECO::MCABEE | A semaphore named Godot | Fri Dec 13 1991 16:38 | 48 |
Chord moves up and down the neck can be easier if you learn to use guide fingers. Before moving up or down the neck, place one finger on the string it will eventually play and let it guide your hand up (or down) the neck. Use just enough pressure to stay in contact with the string, not enough to gliss it. Sometimes you can alter the previous chord fingering to give yourself a guide finger to the next chord. When I was teaching, I used the following to reinforce chord forms and changes: To reinforce a chord: 1) Make a chord. 2) Pick the fingers straight up, just off the strings. 3) Hold the chord form (in air) momentarily. 4) Replace the fingers on the strings, trying to make them all contact at the same time. 5) When you feel good about 1-4, repeat, but this time gently hammer the chord down so it sounds. To reinforce a chord change: 1) If needed, do 1-4 above. 2) Make the first chord. 3) Lift the fingers just slightly above the strings. 4) Keeping the fingers close to the strings, form the next chord in air. (If this involves shifting up or down the neck, don't use guide fingers.) 5) Gently hammer the chord down. 6) If guide fingers are appropriate, work them in after using the above for several sessions to reinforce the moves. When shifting up or down the neck, let the thumb stay lightly in contact with the neck. Let the elbow lead slightly in the direction of the shift. If you practice this stuff slowly and patiently, the speed will come naturally. Bob | |||||
| 2403.2 | ex | MRCSSE::WAIBLE | Tue Dec 17 1991 14:30 | 17 | |
What i do is keep the same position and change from say a dm7 to am7
(pick the chords whose difficulty you are 'comfortable' with) and start
by playing the first chord and then taking your left hand completely
away from the guitar then play the second chord repeat that for a while
then do the exercise while keeping the thumb on the neck but
coompletely outstretch the 4 other fingers. then work it down to where
you are just changing the positions without removing the fingers from
the fretboard but do it very deliberately getting faster and faster. I
know this description is a little awkward but basically what you are
doing is going from very extreme movement to as minimal movement as
possible. As always just repitition of the chord progressions that you
are trying to master up and down the neck first very slowly and
deliberately to faster and faster is always worthwhile. repetition to
the point of finger memory is what it's about.
-Fred
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