Try this guitar challenge
STEP 1: Watch the video to learn the bite-sized piece of music
STEP 2: Click the “PLAY” tab below the video to play along with Tony until you can do it on your own.
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Responses
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Responses
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this was hard and my notes sound terrible; will keep at it
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UGH! That was doable but not painless. One to work on!
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This was actually easy. No problem with the barre chord.
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My hand is not big enough to reach the bar chord.
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I found it really helpful to practice with just my ring finger on the 3 strings and then added the index after. Very challenging…challenge…lol!
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I’m trying that as well. Both fingers are certainly not happening right now.
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My fingers are too short to do the A-shape barre. I can get the A shape, but then I can’t reach the base note. Any alternatives for short fingers?
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my bar chords are pretty good
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I’m having trouble with the B string; it is always muted I make an E shaped barre chord.
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I’ll stick with the E-Shape, thank you! This shape is torture for me…..it can wait until I get big-boy fingers!
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I found my little finger naturally helping the ring finger apply pressure. This practice routine is a great way to patiently build finger muscle to get those darn barre chords ringing out – very helpful!
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First time trying this chord shape. Yikes!! Couldn’t get B string to ring. First attempt so I’m sure it will get better with time
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Tony, I hope it is OK to make the A Barre Cord with my Pinky Finger instead of my ring finger, I get much cleaner A Barre chords that way, good exercise though!
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I’m finding it near impossible to pull all these strings down at the same time to get a clean sounding barre. I’ll keep working on it but I think I may try switching to lighter strings. Perhaps that will help!?
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I don’t think my fingers are especially large, but I cannot fathom how people can play the A chord with 3 fingers in a row – I’d need a much wider fret for that! I fret the G string with my index and sandwich it with the middle and ring ones ( as I have seen Tony and many other guitarists do). But lately I’ve been finding it quicker and easier to just bar those 3 strings with either index or middle finger, though it usually means muting the high e string. Which of course translates nicely to playing the B bar chord with the ring finger bar. The tricky part is trying to avoid that first string when strumming, especially on the up strums. Maybe it doesn’t really matter that much?
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Toni I hope it’s okay to use my 2nd,3rd and 4th fingers rather than the semi bar of the 3rd finger
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That’s how I do it, too
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Lots of snaps, crackles and pops on these arthritic fingers. The joints in my pointer finger are complaining the loudest.
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I love these shapes I play around with them a lot they are a lot of fun
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Got it
Thanks -
I found this to be the easiest barre chord as I help my ring finger keep pressure pressing down slightly w/ my index and pinky on top of that ring finger. Makes it less painful and sounds great!
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Typo – should should say: on the ring finger keep pressure by pressing down slightly w/ my MIDDLE and pinky on top of that ring finger
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It’s still so much clearer for my fretting hand to use the index finger fully barred, and make the A shape with the rest of the fingers. Old habits are hard to break… but my ring finger feels like it wll fall off.. XD
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I found that if I user my pinky on B and ring on D and G and SUPER stretch the index over to A I can get good consistent sounds. But my hand feels like a pretzel!!
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Hi @Dawndawnf
Thanks for your suggestion! which is working for me, too.
If I barre using my ring finger, I can get a clean sound with D, G, B, but the stretch to A is too long and A sounds muted. I’ll keep working on Tony’s recipe, too.
😀
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I’ve really been working on this shape, and it’s getting better. I can play it clean now. Tomorrow I’ll move on. Stick with it….it has taken me almost a year of playing and then ignoring this difficult shape.
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Yeah, spot on everyone who has commented. I can do it, but it’s hard. This shape comes up routinely in the Friday chord progressions. I will keep on going. I started this class a year or so ago, and never got past this part. At least I can do it now.
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This chord has been the bane of my existence for 15 years, but for the LIFE of me I cannot play it barring with my ring finger.
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Neither can I
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A long time ago when I tried learning to play I think this was one chord that made me wanna give up. This is a good exercise, I’m trying to experiment using ring, pinkie and 3 fingers approach, ring finger maybe more consistent
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great exercise but i get arm pain when i do it?
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this is totally not the way I learnt to play A family at all! I am using all my fingers to press the A shape rather than just one finger… it is a matter of preference I suppose but it is totally confusing
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I can make this with the ring finger easier with pinky. I’ll keep working on it.
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That’s a lot of responsibility for the ring finger. Not sure if mine is ready for it.
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I’m really glad I opened up this 5 day class. I can see light at the end of the tunnel and need to remember focusing on string pressure and not putting a death grip on fingers..
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This was a struggle. Ring finger very fatigued on this one. Definitely need to develop some strength, but was able to get decent tone. Just hope I dont run into this chord too often:)
Congratulations, !
Challenge complete
Come back tomorrow for your next challenge
this was hard and my notes sound terrible; will keep at it
UGH! That was doable but not painless. One to work on!
This was actually easy. No problem with the barre chord.
My hand is not big enough to reach the bar chord.
I found it really helpful to practice with just my ring finger on the 3 strings and then added the index after. Very challenging…challenge…lol!
I’m trying that as well. Both fingers are certainly not happening right now.
My fingers are too short to do the A-shape barre. I can get the A shape, but then I can’t reach the base note. Any alternatives for short fingers?
my bar chords are pretty good
I’m having trouble with the B string; it is always muted I make an E shaped barre chord.
I’ll stick with the E-Shape, thank you! This shape is torture for me…..it can wait until I get big-boy fingers!
I found my little finger naturally helping the ring finger apply pressure. This practice routine is a great way to patiently build finger muscle to get those darn barre chords ringing out – very helpful!
First time trying this chord shape. Yikes!! Couldn’t get B string to ring. First attempt so I’m sure it will get better with time
Tony, I hope it is OK to make the A Barre Cord with my Pinky Finger instead of my ring finger, I get much cleaner A Barre chords that way, good exercise though!
I’m finding it near impossible to pull all these strings down at the same time to get a clean sounding barre. I’ll keep working on it but I think I may try switching to lighter strings. Perhaps that will help!?
I don’t think my fingers are especially large, but I cannot fathom how people can play the A chord with 3 fingers in a row – I’d need a much wider fret for that! I fret the G string with my index and sandwich it with the middle and ring ones ( as I have seen Tony and many other guitarists do). But lately I’ve been finding it quicker and easier to just bar those 3 strings with either index or middle finger, though it usually means muting the high e string. Which of course translates nicely to playing the B bar chord with the ring finger bar. The tricky part is trying to avoid that first string when strumming, especially on the up strums. Maybe it doesn’t really matter that much?
Toni I hope it’s okay to use my 2nd,3rd and 4th fingers rather than the semi bar of the 3rd finger
That’s how I do it, too
Lots of snaps, crackles and pops on these arthritic fingers. The joints in my pointer finger are complaining the loudest.
I love these shapes I play around with them a lot they are a lot of fun
Got it
Thanks
I found this to be the easiest barre chord as I help my ring finger keep pressure pressing down slightly w/ my index and pinky on top of that ring finger. Makes it less painful and sounds great!
Typo – should should say: on the ring finger keep pressure by pressing down slightly w/ my MIDDLE and pinky on top of that ring finger
It’s still so much clearer for my fretting hand to use the index finger fully barred, and make the A shape with the rest of the fingers. Old habits are hard to break… but my ring finger feels like it wll fall off.. XD
I found that if I user my pinky on B and ring on D and G and SUPER stretch the index over to A I can get good consistent sounds. But my hand feels like a pretzel!!
Hi @Dawndawnf
Thanks for your suggestion! which is working for me, too.
If I barre using my ring finger, I can get a clean sound with D, G, B, but the stretch to A is too long and A sounds muted. I’ll keep working on Tony’s recipe, too.
😀
I’ve really been working on this shape, and it’s getting better. I can play it clean now. Tomorrow I’ll move on. Stick with it….it has taken me almost a year of playing and then ignoring this difficult shape.
Yeah, spot on everyone who has commented. I can do it, but it’s hard. This shape comes up routinely in the Friday chord progressions. I will keep on going. I started this class a year or so ago, and never got past this part. At least I can do it now.
This chord has been the bane of my existence for 15 years, but for the LIFE of me I cannot play it barring with my ring finger.
Neither can I
A long time ago when I tried learning to play I think this was one chord that made me wanna give up. This is a good exercise, I’m trying to experiment using ring, pinkie and 3 fingers approach, ring finger maybe more consistent
great exercise but i get arm pain when i do it?
this is totally not the way I learnt to play A family at all! I am using all my fingers to press the A shape rather than just one finger… it is a matter of preference I suppose but it is totally confusing
I can make this with the ring finger easier with pinky. I’ll keep working on it.
That’s a lot of responsibility for the ring finger. Not sure if mine is ready for it.
I’m really glad I opened up this 5 day class. I can see light at the end of the tunnel and need to remember focusing on string pressure and not putting a death grip on fingers..
This was a struggle. Ring finger very fatigued on this one. Definitely need to develop some strength, but was able to get decent tone. Just hope I dont run into this chord too often:)