F chords are actually possible to play, right? - Page 3

Alawiggle · October 11th, 2006

I figured it might be all a hoax for all their difficulty.

Abe · #31 October 24th, 2006

" It also important to remember that everybody has a differently shaped body, from short stubbly fingers to long skinny ones, and everything in between. "

HOW TRUE! In my case, it seems there is "always" one string that falls into the crease of my index finger and get muted. If I turn my index finger a bit, I ride up onto the side of my knuckle and additional strings are not fretted, which causes me to fret. I am using Martin medium grade bronze strings. Would there be any advantage to restringing with light gauge strings? Would they be easier to fret until the muscles are whipped into compliance? I also keep a medium stiff sponge ball in the car the I "fret" with my Index finger and thumb while driving to work hoping that will strengthen the appropriate muscles - again. Thanks for the forum.... it is very informative...

Abe - Concord, NC

ijh · #32 October 25th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abe

" It also important to remember that everybody has a differently shaped body, from short stubbly fingers to long skinny ones, and everything in between. "

HOW TRUE! In my case, it seems there is "always" one string that falls into the crease of my index finger and get muted. If I turn my index finger a bit, I ride up onto the side of my knuckle and additional strings are not fretted, which causes me to fret. I am using Martin medium grade bronze strings. Would there be any advantage to restringing with light gauge strings? Would they be easier to fret until the muscles are whipped into compliance? I also keep a medium stiff sponge ball in the car the I "fret" with my Index finger and thumb while driving to work hoping that will strengthen the appropriate muscles - again. Thanks for the forum.... it is very informative...

Abe - Concord, NC

Nice one Abe! I thought it was just me with the badly positioned crease in the index finger!

What i have started doing with more success is extending the index finger further across the fretboard than i had normally done, so the index tip was practically poking over the edge of the fretboard. This moved the crease so i was able to play the chord much cleaner. Give it a try - it might do the trick for you too.

cshude · #33 October 25th, 2006

Restringing with a lighter gauge will definitely make things easier for you. However, the ease of playing will be offset by a loss in tone and volume. In the long term, it will be up to you to decide whether that is an acceptable trade. In the short term, you can put on the lights to make it easier to get your fingerings down and move up to the mediums down the road.

Abe · #34 October 25th, 2006

Thanks to ijh and cshude for the encouraging comments. I have been able to play most bar chords in the past ..... until recently, I had picked up my guitar about 2x a year ... for the past 10 years or so... BUT, those were the FULL chords. Now with going after Travis picking again, you can't "get away" with the full chord, the BAR needs to be solid to hit the additonal melody notes that are fretted by the bar. I think between the light gauge strings - I am not worried about the loss of volume, in fact my wife will be pleased

- and the daily sponge ball squeezing to strentgthen the muscles, good progress should be made.

Best ... Abe in Concord, NC

cshude · #35 October 25th, 2006

In regards to doing the squeezing exercises, make sure that you are doing opposite exercises as well. There was a couple threads a bit ago where this was covered this-
Non Guitar Finger Workouts
and
hand exercises

You should definitely check them out.

kev374 · #36 October 26th, 2006

F chords come with practice. Don't try using "easy versions" because if you do that you will not learn the correct way to play it. Also don't use undue pressure, if you are pressing so hard that your fingers hurt that much then you're trying too hard and will get frustrated. Even if it doesn't sound clean just keep playing it and soon it will become clearer with time as your fingers gain strength.

A tip for barre chords..place your index finger as close to the lower fret divisor as possible

hb · #37 October 26th, 2006

After viewing this thread, I tried some of the versions mentioned here as well as some web sites that were suggested. When I roll my index finger towards the head of the guitar, it makes the other 3 fingers rise up further away from the strings, thus making it more difficult to get those 3 fingers on the frets. Is this really the best way? It seems to me that the index finger should lay in a position that keeps the other 3 fingers in a more managable position. Any help would be appreciated.
thanks,
hb

Fretsource · #38 October 26th, 2006

It sounds like you're rolling too much - It's just a slight movement so that the soft fleshy part is replaced by the harder bonier edge of your finger.
Place the fingers as normal and roll the index just a little but not so much that the other fingers start to lift off.
Also did you try my earlier suggestion? Just pull on the neck a little with you arm. And push a little with your other arm against the body to stop the whole guitar moving.

hb · #39 October 26th, 2006

I'll try that...........thanks,
hb

GeoNjules · #40 October 30th, 2006

Just started a week ago at 44 y old.
Your post was very encouraging.

sue70 · #41 October 31st, 2006

hello,

when i first started learning the basic chords of the guitar, (5 yrs ago), like most of you, i just could not do the F. i used to do the Dm instead. for the past two yrs i was not playing but took it up again about 2 months ago. finally i can say that i am doing the F chord (not quite as perfect as i'd like but for me it's something), so it just goes to show that you will get there sometime. just keep at it.

Comfycan · #42 November 2nd, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fretsource

And push a little with your other arm against the body to stop the whole guitar moving.

This is the tip that finally earned me the "F" I was looking for. (I could do it on an electric, but not on an Acoustic).

Thanks much, from another mid-40's beginner.

Buying a new Martin DX1 helped too; very playable instrument--I love it. My old Alvarez was simply impossible to bar at the first fret, at least for me. I think it was a cheaply built guitar. The Martin is almost as easy to fret as an electric (the key word there is "almost"; barre chords remain much more challenging on acoustic than electric).