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Had fun until I tried power chords and barre chords
Hi all, I guess my age (71) is trying to tell me something. I started a month ago and must say I was enjoying the little progress I had with basic chords. I was happy just trying to improve my chord transitions, speed and such. I really didn’t care if I am able to play any song. But as I tried the F cord and any of the barre or power chords, I felt like I must be kidding myself.
I am sure that I will never live long enough to be able to put my finger into position for these cords in less than an hour (if at all) or sound like a human is playing a musical instrument.
To say I am at a low point is an understatement.
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19 Replies
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I am 72.5. I just finished 45 radiation treatments for prostate cancer. Nothing gets easier, but (and this is a big but……there’s a joke there somewhere), you will improve, get better. Yes, I started before you, 68. If you keep it up, you will be surprised, even if it is slow. Keep enjoying what you can do; chip away over time at the tough stuff. If you learn some basic chords (let’s just say G, D, Em, and C); work on them until they become smoother, and transitions gets easier; you will be able to play thousands of songs. Change the order of the chords, the tempo, the type of strumming; you can make a large variety of sounds. Work on what works for you. Keep doing the daily lessons, but don’t limit yourself. Do some skill courses if you haven’t. Pick a simple song and just enjoy strumming it slowly. Keep it fun, keep going, and you will surprise yourself. Consistency will pay off. Be patient with yourself.
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Good advice!
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This week is certainly a hard week for lots of us I am sure. Barred cords are not easy for even experienced players. I am giving it a few minutes and then moving onto something I can actually see myself doing like smoother cord transitions and strumming practice with a metronome. Don’t let this week get you down! It’s just five days in your guitar journey.
Btw.. google “Horse with No Name” , 2 chords. I bet by the end of this week you will be playing along and have your first song under your belt.
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I had fun with Horse With No Name very early in my TAC journey which was this summer. Chords are easy, the strumming is slightly more challenging but you can simplify it by just doing one strum per measure.
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thank you
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paradise5254, you just have to learn to not worry about whether you can do the daily challenge well or not. They are set up to challenge everyone here!!!! So it’s little surprise that they challenge beginners even more.
Remember, if it’s easy you are not being challenged much and growth will be small or non-existent. When it’s hard is when the most growth is happening. The secret is that this growth may not be noticed until months later. If you give up now, then that growth will never meet the light of day!
Keep rockin’ Friend!
Peter
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Thanks
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I been working on the barre F chord for 6 months now. It still takes me 2 seconds to get into it (which is still too slow to use in a song), but I’m getting better. Guitar is hard. Try to enjoy the journey
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One of the hardest things to do is to attempt something challenging for the first time and returning after not noticing progress. One of the ways to get around this is breaking challenges into components. Did you have any success making the staccato notes with the index bar across all strings? If not, that is the place to play around, goof off, find success. When that is nailed down, move on to adding the E shape with the rest of the fingers. Philb nails it with, “chip away, over time, at the tough stuff”. I will add one thing to that…chip away methodically. Hit what you are unable to do so far for a minute or two and go back to what you like to do…,repeat. Do it again tomorrow, or in an hour: whatever works for your effort allotment.
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You have gotten some great advice already in this thread!
Think about this— maybe try to learn the A, E, Am, Em, and maybe the D chord(s)— withOUT using your index finger. The hardest part about barre chords ISN’T the “barre”– it’s learning the fret the other notes with your OTHER fingers. Once you get those “shapes” down– without your index finger– your barre chords may become WAAAAAY easier, because all you have to do is put that index to work- (remember– it’s just sittin’ there doing nothing).
Just my two cents
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by the-old-coach.
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Nice Mark @the-old-coach : I had never thought to tackle the alternative finger placement first without the bar. Even this old dog is still learning. Thanks!
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Thanks!
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You already know the shapes, but playing them with different fingers will be awkward at the start, because they most likely weren’t the way you first learned how to play the open chords. I’m not saying to give up on the way you first learned them, just maybe give some thought to trying this new, different way of seeing and playing these easier chords- E, E, A, Am, and D.
Being able to play those using this additional way—- it’s important to look at this as a second way of playing them—- (with your middle, ring, and pinkie—- with your index just waiting in the wings)….. will pay off BIG TIME in the future.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by the-old-coach.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
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71 is young still. There are many older than that in TAC. Guitar is not an easy instrument to learn,, and everyone has to start at the beginning, which is strife with learning curves. It does get easier with time. Hang in there. You’ve only been at it a month, which is very early in the game. It takes time to learn barre chords. Just practice a few minutes every day. You’ll eventually get it. Many, many people dislike them and struggle with them. Even professional musicians and many advanced players in my jam club outwardly growl and grumble when a song with them is played. Just don’t avoid trying. You’ll be a more versatile player if you learn them.
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Thanks to all. I’ll keep trying.
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If you are just starting out, my recommendation would be to just flat out forget about Bar Chords for now. Get the basics down and keep working on finger flexibility and strength, etc. If you start out trying to do bar chords, you will just drive yourself to drinkand end up throwing the guitar in the trash.
Maybe revisit bar chords in 9 months or a year.
And, 71 is not too old (I am 73, well at least for a few more weeks ) and just got back into it about 4.5 years ago after a 33 year layoff. I started volunteer teaching at Guitar for Vets this year and my very first student was 79.
Hang in there young man and it will come with time.
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thanks will keep trying
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Hiya, I’m back after a long layoff because of treatment and recuperation for a nasty genetic condition that affects the hands (mostly older (66 yo) men of Northern European descent). I’m very fortunate that my fretting hand is almost back to perfect, but the non-index fingers of my picking hand have much reduced mobility and are bent about 15 degrees inwards.
Anyway finger-style and barre chords are a no-no, certainly for now, because I can’t risk a medical relapse. So I’m doing TAC, pick only, on electric until I build up finger strength, AND (as a beginner) I’m using ‘cheat’ chords that are extremely easy to play, all the majors and minors up the neck, NO barre chords, 1 E-shape, using the pinky on either the B or high E. Certainly enough to get one playing tunes and sounding musical.
I HIGHLY recommend you search YT for Ricky Comiskey, a Yorkshireman (English), who has an amazing knack for really simplifying the guitar for beginners – I guarantee that his enthusiasm will give you a massive boost. Best wishes.
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I’m sure if I scrolled enough, I would find the answer to my question. I assume it’s OK to play the power cords using your first finger and your pinky if you can’t stretch your ring finger or would it be better to start with my second finger and Pinky. Dying to know turning 68 and loving this program
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