Barred chords it's the thumb - Page 2

douglas englund · February 22nd, 2008

I am fairly new to playing the guitar (3 years). i know the majors, minors, Sevens and a few more Chords. The barred chords have been impossible for me, i can barely make an F chord, but thats were it ends. i have had 3 different guitar teachers and still impossible. that is until today i went to a new teacher and in 5 minuets he had me doing barred chords (majors, minors and sevens) up and down the fret board with ease. the secret is he is also a classical guitar teacher and i was hold the guitar incorrectly and my hands were positioned wrong. it was a real treat to be able to play barred chords with ease, i am excited.

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There were several things i was doing wrong.. the main thing was my thumb position was wrapped around the guitar. now i put my thumb under the neck about evenly spaced between my index finger and my second finger. that is the most important issue. also hold the guitar upright, don't bend over the guitar. it is a more comfortable way to play and when i Strom a chord it sounds more even. i wish i could have found this teacher when i first started playing. Oh well. i hope some of this makes sense to you. if not let me know. It is going to take me some time to get used to moving the barred chords around quickly but i am making progress.

Thanks allot i thought i would never be able to do barred chords and all it was was my left hand and holding the guitar in the wrong position. with the thumb positioned in the center of the fret board and directly in line with my index and 2nd finger it is actually very easy to do barred chords. i think the big dilemma about barred chords is having someone show you how to do it correctly. isn't it funny it took 3 teachers and three years before i was showed the correct way to do barred chords. so don't give up on barred chords, i still have a long way to go but victory is sweet. Thanks DouG

douglas englund · #16 February 23rd, 2008

I hope it helps you. it sure helped me. good luck

danbhoy67 · #17 February 24th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by douglas englund

I hope it helps you. it sure helped me. good luck

A very good point made about the wrist shape on this wee clip.
YouTube - 099 Guitar Lesson - Master Your Barre Chords Part 2

johnnydoxx · #18 February 25th, 2008

Good link, he explains it well. I watched all four in his series.
I especially noticed the part about wrist not being bent too much, as I have been suspicious that I was doing exactly that, and mine was sore.
Trying to get it less bent was very difficult. I finally figured out that I had to point the neck more skywards and then I could do it (somewhat, still need to repeat so muscle memory kicks in).
So now it's about 60 degrees above horizontal. I figure that I'll be able to drop it as time passes and my hand gets more stretched.

douglas englund · #19 February 25th, 2008

my teacher told that as you down the fret board (toward the saddle) i should not raise the neck but bush it away from my body, he says it is easier that way. i hope this helps you. good luck

Father Goose · #20 February 26th, 2008

Congrats! Its great to have good teacher!

I'm self-taught and have been playing 10+years. I still can't hold a 'full' major bar chord comfortably esp. in the upper frets. Wished i'd take lessons when i first started out.

douglas englund · #21 February 26th, 2008

Father goose; i tried to self teach my self but i have idiot for a pupil. so i had get lessons and it sure is helping me. good luck

Splbooth · #22 February 28th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by douglas englund

Father goose; i tried to self teach my self but i have idiot for a pupil. so i had get lessons and it sure is helping me. good luck

Same, except i'm self-taught and I have an idiot teacher...