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  • Leading with the Index to the Bm Chord

    Posted by N-lightMike on May 21, 2021 at 3:32 pm

    The first time a saw the “Quinoa Quickness” lesson, I was excited by the wonderful suggestion to lead with my index finger when I go to a Bm chord. I was trying to play a song in fingerstyle where I had to move from a D major chord to a Bm chord and I had to hit that bass string (B note on the A string).

    Turns out, I couldn’t do that no matter what I did. Speed made no difference. I simply didn’t have the finger independence to do what Tony does so easily.

    The next time I saw the Quinoa Quickness lesson, I was reminded of this neat trick, and decided to try again. I was still trying to play the same song and I had gotten much faster at moving from the D to the Bm. Unfortunately, a pretty significant percentage of the time, the Bm was not clean. Lo and behold, I was able to make the chord after moving my index finger because I had done finger exercises that gave me better finger independence. However, I couldn’t do it easily enough to ever be able to do it in a song. One more time, I put this on the shelf.

    Yesterday was the 3rd time I saw the Quinoa Quickness lesson and I tried again. It took some really effort playing the video on slow speed and stopping/rewinding to understand how Tony’s hand was moving before I could do it cleanly and easily. But I did, in fact, start moving to the Bm chord by leading with my index finger and placing the other fingers right behind it so I could do it fast enough to play a song. In fact, way faster than I would probably ever use it in a song.

    This type of improvement in my guitar skills literally feels like magic to me. I was sure I would never be able to do this. And this is not the first time I have gained the ability to do something I previously thought would be impossible. Way Cool! 😋

    MG 😀

    N-lightMike replied 3 years, 8 months ago 4 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • Loraine

    Member
    May 21, 2021 at 10:25 pm

    That’s as cool win @Mike-Gaurnier . I can’t lead with the index finger on the barre chords, because I can’t get the correct pressure or angle I need to play the chord. i have to start with putting my pinky and ring finger down and then followed with the middle and index.

    • N-lightMike

      Member
      May 25, 2021 at 8:01 pm

      Yes, exactly @Loraine . I played my barre chords like that for years. I got to the point I was literally leading with my three fingers, middle, ring and pinky all at once, but the index was last. And the first time I tried to do this I was sure there was no way it would ever happen. But lo and behold, guitar progress does happen. 😆

      MG 😀

  • Moonhare

    Member
    May 22, 2021 at 3:29 pm

    Guitar skills like this seem to creep up on TAC members over time. Great to hear this from a more experienced guitar player as it makes me realise we can all get there eventually.

    • N-lightMike

      Member
      May 25, 2021 at 8:03 pm

      Yes, I believe that. I was sure I would never be able to do this. So it must be possible for others, including you @Moonhare.

      MG 😀

  • the-old-coach

    Member
    May 23, 2021 at 8:40 am

    Thanks Mike for your detailed description and insight.

    Sometimes I think our minds work kind-of the same🤨- (don’t know how you’re gonna take that- but it’s meant in a good way!).

    This AM, I’m gonna try this “short-chunks-of-slow-video” method for this transition- (with your “index-first” thoughts in mind). I have trouble with a clean/fast transition between these two. But to me there is just something about this particular transition that sounds awesome- (love that Bm chord!)

    Loraine & Moonhare- you right on the money!

    Thanks- MJ

    • N-lightMike

      Member
      May 25, 2021 at 8:06 pm

      That’s great @Mark, I hope you can get this down. And I completely agree about this chord transition sounding awesome. Let us know how your efforts go.

      MG 😀

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