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Wave on wave
I’m sure you all have heard of this term.
If you haven’t, it’s when things come at you, and when you think that was bad– another comes on top of that one– then another- then another…..
That’s what I’m feeling right now.
Had to miss playing the last 4 days last week- and both Sat and Sun- 6 days total. Life…
And I don’t know about the rest of you- but LAST week’s lessons are kicking my butt.
I just can’t seem to “get” those barre chords w-a-y up the neck. They make my hands ache after just a few minutes.
Granted, they sound cool for sure– and I’ll maybe give them more work– but they exhaust my hand strength completely. And I usually have no issue playing (most, anyway), barre chords “all day long”…… It’s just those combinations I think.
Should I give them each a couple more 5-minute sessions- (4 already and still having a helluva time)- or just move on?
Much better at the Crosspicking lessons- no problem at all.
Thanks-
the old coach
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5 Replies
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Yeah last week wasn’t much fun for me either. But I’m still struggling to get consistent results from ANY barre chords, though I’m definitely making some progress lately. My trouble with those higher-up-the-neck ones is I just can’t squeeze 2 fingers onto those narrow frets – and I don’t have especially fat fingers. Maybe there’s a trick I don’t know about?😄 It’s like trying to play an A major chord with 3 fingers lined up – can’t do it. Fortunately there are alternatives down on the 2nd fret. Wish I could offer some magic solution, OldCoach, but at least I will share your frustration! (And hopefully those waves have receded by now)
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Hey there @the-old-coach . First off yes, I do know the feeling. I feel disappointed and things don’t seem to be going right (or at least the way I’d like them to go 😉). It can be frustrating.
It sounds like you are doing what I do at this point – take a step back and re- assess.
As far as missing playing seasons, don’t beat yourself up. As you said, life happens. The past is the past and can’t be changed. We can learn from the past though. Looking back to reflect on possible alternatives may be helpful. Then get back in the horse!
Re barre chords – these are tough on my hands as well. I took the skills course “better barre chords” and it does contain some good guidance and techniques to at least understand the mechanics of making a good barre chord. From there I have found it takes consistent practice (surprise!) and time (surprise again!) to improve them.
I have to take my barre chord practice in small doses – using short intervals, playing something else for a bit and then coming back to another short interval. Also, I put a day or two in between barre chord work to give my hand a break and recover. Finally, I do hand and forearm stretches every day that help. There are quite a number of YT videos on the topic (search for guitar hand stretches).
One thing I have found that helps me improve my barre chord playing is angling the neck up at between a 30 to 45 degree angle. Don’t know if this will help in your case.
Sorry for rambling on a bit. Hope some of this helps. Hang in there!
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Having played barre chords for many years in a local cover band, one thing to consider is the guitar strings you are using. I played barre chords on electric guitars (very light strings) and on an electric acoustic. Always easier to play with the lighter strings, so while learning, look at your strings – and make sure the action is set correctly. I started playing guitar on a Stella, with a very high action.
But, as others have said – it simply takes time. Good luck and hang in there – barre chords open new doors on playing in different keys and adding a different voice when you are playing with others.
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Thank you all for your well-thought-out replies!
Overall, I have no trouble at all playing barre chords- and actually find them easier in some cases- than “regular” or open chords. “A-shape”/ “E” shape doesn’t matter at all either, and I can play them on and on for extended periods.
It’s way up the neck that gives me issues. Much more of a squeeze- as GerryB says- trying to jamb fingers into those narrow frets. 12th fret barre?– fuggedabouddittt.
None of my present guitars has a cutaway- a 12th-fret barre chord is simply not possible for my old hands.
I’m gonna give last week’s tough-for-me lessons maybe 2 more, 5-minute sessions (each)— going as high up the fretboard as I want to— and the likely put them in the rear-view mirror and move on.
Thanks again for encouragement. I think getting bummed-out once in a while is the RIGHT way to do this guitar-stuff.
Maybe it was just “Mr. Expectation” peeking around the corner at me………
It’s funny how I can get bummed-out—- but still be having fun with all this😎
Our TAC family is great- thank you all again
the old coach
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Hi @the-old-coach , let me start by saying if your not feelin it, then it’s time to move on. That being said, take a look at the comments from each lesson, there might be some workarounds that are mentioned. I know for me, I don’t play a cut away style guitar, so I had to switch chord shapes from the E/Em shapes to the A/Am shapes after playing the B chord (799877). At the C#m, I switched to the Am shape (x46654) and for the D#dim I used x67876 and finished with the E (x79997). Also, since we’re arpeggiating the chords from lo to hi toned strings, you don’t have to hold the barre shape once a note has been played.
I know for myself, if I play a song and use all barre chords, the next one has to be open chords just to give my hand a wrest.
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