[rpvinny]

Hello all, my name is Rich, just started messing around trying to learn to play the guitar, never had any music knowledge or lessons, my first teacher started by trying to teach me music notes and the like, now new teacher is teaching me tab. At 63 I have no idea which is the better way to start learning but I can see that tab will probably be faster at being able to learn to play something without haveing to also learn music scales and such. Im only taking this up now because I have the time and have always loved guitar music. especially The Eagles music. I bought a Ibanez GAX70 electric and a Rogue grand concert acoustic/electric. I also got a Fender 25R Frontman amp. Any advice from anyone out here would be GREATLY appreciated. I practice about one to one and a half hours a day and progress is coming very slowly, especially chord progression - cant seem to be able to move a place my fingers fast enough..smile..

Thanks all

[allthumbs]

Just ask for what you need to know. Lots of good people here to help you with answers. Practice and time will solve most problems. Glad to have you here.

[Canuck-Playa]

When you just start guitar its expected not to change notes too quickly. one piece of advice i can give you is look around at the lessons offered here. At the bottom of this site is kirks lessons and some begginers lessons. also a good starting song is kirks lesson on stairway to heaven. and dont worry about switching chords it will come almost naturally. peace

[rpvinny]

Im having a problem fingering chords which require you to apply pressure to multiple strings with same finger. The one Im working on now is F major. Seems I just cant get the e and b strings to ring true with first finger while trying to finger the d and g. My teacher has told me to try and angle my fingers etc, still having a problem, but it seems I have a problem with any chord which requires you to finger multiple strings with the same finger, is this a common problem or is there such a thing as a common problem.. .

Thanks again

[allthumbs]

The F chord at the nut is one of the toughest bar chords to do. Everyone struggles with it so don't worry about it. Bar chords are easier up the neck so you will find other bar chords won't be as tough. It will come in time.

[Clancy]

Hi Rich and welcome.

If you like the Eagles, you're in luck, here is a lesson on Desperado -Desperado Intro >> Fingerstyle Study and here is Hotel California - Harmony Study

That should keep you busy for a while anyway.

Clancy

[rpvinny]

Clancy, thanks after looking at the site you sent me Im sure it will keep me busy for a long long time....thanks again

Rich

[Clancy]

Originally Posted by rpvinny

Clancy, thanks after looking at the site you sent me Im sure it will keep me busy for a long long time....thanks again

Rich

My pleasure Rich, glad to be of help.

Clancy

[Lcjones]

Rich,

Welcome to the board, Rich.

AARP rocks here . At 63 you're just gettin' broke in. And St. Louie is just half a days drive, just across the muddy from the farm here. I'm a mere 52 and feel like a pup on hunt. I think I'll suggest a "seniors" forum section! Believe me, there are a bunch of us "older folk" here.

If I can help, just holler!

Les

[rpvinny]

Hey Les, sound like a good idea to me, anything that helps us beginners learn easier or faster out here works for me..

[Lcjones]

Rich,


Your text book bar F sucks. To be blunt.
Here it is in tab form.

a Bar F

E|--1----|------|------|
B|--1----|------|------|
G|-------|--2---|------|
D|-------|------|--3---|
A|-------|------|--3---|
E|--1----|------|------|

Now lets cheat a bit ... ( hey, tricks of the trade )

E|--M---|------|-------|
B|--1---|------|-------|
G|------|--2---|-------|
D|------|------|--3----|
A|--x---|------|-------|
E|--x---|------|-------|

... and in time you'll be doing ...

E|--M---|------|------|
B|--1---|------|------|
G|------|--2---|------|
D|------|------|--3---|
A|------|------|--3---|
E|--x---|------|------|


Ok, in the bottom illustration you see an F7maj chord.
It is essentially the same as a Bar F if done correctly.
Notice the "M" on the high E. The "M" is for "mute".
We're muting the high string by just barely touching the
string. The "X's" on the low A and E are ignored altogether.
They dont even get touched or your thumb can lay over them,
creating the same mute as on the high E string.

Basically, you're strumming from the D string up (or down physically)
The high E is muted by your index finger even though your index finger is
working the first fret, second string. Don't even worry about the low A and E.

The benefit from doing your bar F in this fashion, is that you are not expending all of your energy on the bar. Rather, you are now concentrating on the "core" F chord without the barring.



Hope this helps.

Les

[jimbo]

Hi rpvinny
nice to here from you and I do know what you mean about learning to play the guitar now you have time, I started at 53, twelve months ago but I have wanted to play all my life, infact I started a couple of times but raising a family or working and trying to make a living always got in the way, now, like you I have time now and I call it my middle age obsession, even though like you my fingers don't seem to do easily what they could once upon a time. This site is great and kirks lessons are terrific, even if I can't play them yet I get alot of enjoyment out of just listening to them, I have started on "As Tears Go By". Good luck, keep trying and it will be nice to here how you are progressing from tome to time
Regards
Jim from sunny Sydney

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by lcjones

Rich,


Your text book bar F sucks. To be blunt.
Here it is in tab form.

a Bar F

E|--1----|------|------|
B|--1----|------|------|
G|-------|--2---|------|
D|-------|------|--3---|
A|-------|------|--3---|
E|--1----|------|------|

Now lets cheat a bit ... ( hey, tricks of the trade )

E|--M---|------|-------|
B|--1---|------|-------|
G|------|--2---|-------|
D|------|------|--3----|
A|--x---|------|-------|
E|--x---|------|-------|

... and in time you'll be doing ...

E|--M---|------|------|
B|--1---|------|------|
G|------|--2---|------|
D|------|------|--3---|
A|------|------|--3---|
E|--x---|------|------|


Ok, in the bottom illustration you see an F7maj chord.
It is essentially the same as a Bar F if done correctly.
Notice the "M" on the high E. The "M" is for "mute".
We're muting the high string by just barely touching the
string. The "X's" on the low A and E are ignored altogether.
They dont even get touched or your thumb can lay over them,
creating the same mute as on the high E string.

Basically, you're strumming from the D string up (or down physically)
The high E is muted by your index finger even though your index finger is
working the first fret, second string. Don't even worry about the low A and E.

The benefit from doing your bar F in this fashion, is that you are not expending all of your energy on the bar. Rather, you are now concentrating on the "core" F chord without the barring.



Hope this helps.

Les

Whos' text book chords are you talking about? Kirk shows the text book chords,but in the lessons and in posts states several times,like you, that playing full chords is not always the way to go.
It is good to know the basic form because in fingerpicking you will at times need to play that F on the 6 string. Also there can be a lot of hammer ons and pull offs in a bar chord. Much simpler to do them with the bar in place.
EDIT
I just noticed your Fmaj7 chord is missing the natural 7. You have from top to bottom. 1,5,3,1,5. It needs to be 1,5,3,7,5. or you could play the top E string open which would make the 1 a 7. You could then choose to mute or not the 1 on the D string or reinforce the majorness of the chord by doing a 7 there too. depending on the feel of the chord you were going for.

[coldethyl]

With that F chord you can always bring your thumb over to fret the F on the sixth (low E) string. That's what I do and I find it much easier.

Neil

[rpvinny]

Hey Jimbo how are you doing with your learning now, are you taking lessons or just trying to learn on your own. Also, are you reading music or using tab.

Rich