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I appreciate both the little bit of theory thrown in as I know its slowly growing that understanding for me. And I love the punk reference at the end. Awesome. the pinky stretch is brutal still for me
Definitely a stretch for me.
I really appreciate Tony’s teaching method. He is so patient and explains so well. But sometimes I just listen very well. I have improved so much over the almost year since I have been here. But I haven’t consistently done the finger stretches or the pinky exercises. I haven’t done the warm ups most of the time except on Mondays. So it is no wonder I struggle with this exercise/rhythm. I hope to do better. đŸ™‚
I must have done this lesson at least 2 or 3 times before and I don’t remember it at all – must be that I don’t want to because I find it extremely difficult to fret and very painful – I nearly always mute the high E with my pinky or the knuckle end of my index, and I can’t find a position for my thumb where it can do its job without causing pain. And on top of that I very often miss the base string with the flat pick which isn’t my favorite at the best of times. Maybe the next time Koda rolls around……..
That darn pinky stretch. It seems to curve away from the headstock on these strech chords.
And it’s tough on my wrist!
Good old power cords.
I like that way it sounds as Tony plays it, but not so much when I play it! As someone else commented, it is really tough to just touch to mute with the middle finger, but fret firmly with the other three. And then there is that lovely stretch! I can see the usefulness though, so will try to keep on! Now to get back to Goodnight Irene.
That’s a heck of a stretch!
this chord shape wasn’t even close to possible for me
I don’t know why I can do these chords when i had a difficult time in Goodnight Irene trying that stretch with the pinky on the 5th while hitting the 2nd fret with d and g etc. maybe because these chords are so movable and my hand does not have to adjust from the previous chords/different notes/shapes. still working on transition speed but pretty good.
Having trouble keeping my fingers in position as I work my way back up the neck of my guitar. It went better than yesterday when trying the backing track. fingers aren’t as limber as I would like and my pinky gets bunch up with my ring finger. In time, all in time.
Will use this at my next jam, whenever that might be. Don’t have to worry about major or minor. Just find the root for the chord that is being played and add the V and another I note. Always looking for ways to be another voice in the room and this looks as it will work as long as I don’t overwork it. Thanks Tony….
Heading down the neck seems pretty straight forward but I find myself pulling my pinky up to far when I reset to the first position.
Shredding my pinkie, with all the practicing! Appreciate Mike’s experience with this!
It’s a great little progression but the ol’ fretting had is a little sore .
but to be fair I forgot to do my stretches before starting today it makes a big difference
these weeks have been a real challenge for me but the stretches are actually slowly improving …Yea!
I can make this pinky stretch easily except for the one that starts on fret 4–i found that I can make the power chord there okay if I start with the pinky, then the ring, then the index–slows me down, but i can do the other 3 Index first just fine–sliding back to the E5 chord gets my fingers in position, too. Did someone tell Alan B where to find the pinky exercises? I think tony did a “best pinky exercise” on AC some time ago but don’t know how to find it
End of my 4th week here, I Finally see the connection between this whole 4 weeks of seemingly ‘random’ exercises! ( And, I Have been looking for it.) The Monday Warmup is critical (and I have, as always, sorta ‘just got it Over with’, Barely!!) and then, the rest of the week aims at More of the same Stretching idea as the Warmup! Doh! And, thrown in are various Other ideas about Alternate picking, Theory, Scales etc. (probably More stuff that I do Not see yet?) So, Now, I Know that ‘The Warmup’ is critical to success with all of the rest?! And, “If I keep on doing…What I have Always done…I Will keep on Getting…What I Always …..!” (uh….Got!) “Amidst chaos, ‘I’ Now see Order!!” Bububut, My hand still hurts ‘Ma!!’ (Well, it Does get ‘Tired’?)
Congratulations, you have seen the light! And after just 4 weeks. Impressive. Settle in and enjoy the ride.
Stick with the system and you’ll soon have much more endurance before your hand gets sore.
I am just past my 4th week as well and You have lit a big light bulb ! My fingers do not stretch like that. But..
Stick it out with the tired hands, comfortable hands do not progress.. stay the course.. đŸ™‚ Hands will follow.
Great observation Stephen. I’m at then end of my fourth month in TAC and I am just now getting some of the relationships. One thing I started early this month that has really helped is to work on the Monday warmup lesson for at least a few minutes every day. Another thing that I now enjoy is reading the comments after I view the explanation and get familiar with the exercise but before I begin practicing at the 3 tempos. There are so many incite full comments that enhance my practice experience. Thanks to all of you brilliant TACophiles!
Great lesson with theory and a thought reminder of fretboard “geography”. đŸ™‚
Really appreciate the reminder if the definition of a power chord (sans the 3rd).
OK, got it. Thanks for the Hendrix example Terry O!
OK, I’ll go back and work on Irene…
The challenge for me in this exercise is in the muting. It’s tough for me to go ahead and firmly fret with some fingers and just touch with others, but I can see how this will be a useful skill.
Agree Scott. Me too!
The muting is very difficult to master. I just try to carefully play the 3 strings without hitting the others, same as with an E or A string power cord.
Those pinky exercises are really paying off on this one. About half of my daily warmup these days focus on that finger, and after some weeks of that, I’m gaining some strength and agility and independence, and the stretch has increased by a full fret. Not there yet, but it’s starting to happen!
I am new to this, so where do I find these pinky exercises. I don’t know my way around this site at all, and this is a very painful stretch for me.
Alan, Here’s where you’ll find the stretch exercises. Click on Roadmap at the top of the page, then #2. Improve Consistency. There are several videos at the bottom of that page. You want Daily Stretch for Guitarists. There are 8 steps. #6 is the hands and fingers stretch.
thanks Pamelee, I am in the same boat as Alan. I am on Day 6 and still searching for things.
Thanks for the peer pressure you guys. I had happily left Irene behind and moved on to this weeks lessons, but now I see my weekend being spent improving on the finger-picking waltz.
I kinda just use Irene as a warm-up now. Of course I warm-up before I tangle with her. But now I just play her with no pressure. Just nice and relaxed. đŸ™‚
Koda the Pro Napper (E – Rhythm – FLP): I first saw this lesson 2-7-19. I remember how the stretch was a bit much for me. I could eventually do it, but not with comfort. This time? My fretting hand just laughed at it. I think it got cocky after taming that Good Irene A5. đŸ˜‰
Actually, it just helps show that every little bit adds up over time. We don’t always see the positive results right away, but we will đŸ˜‰
–M
that is so encouraging Michael, cause my pinkie is struggling in painnnn.
I just wrote about my struggles with this, its nice to see I am where you were. Thanks for the vote of confidence even if you didn’t realize it.
Easier for me a year later as well – although more laughable than laughing at. Laying the middle finger down on the 5th & 6th string was a no go a year ago, now makes the position more comfortable.
So inspiring!
OK here’s a stretch for a song, but it will require one fret fingering change.
first power chord position-open D, ring finger second fret G, pinky third fret
second power chord position-index first fret D, ring third fret G, pink fourth fret (Standard chord position as in lesson)
third power chord-slide above standard chord to second fret D.
Play all three one strum
Repeat standard power chord position in this lesson starting at 12th fret and then go 12, 13, 14
Hendrix’s Wind Cries Mary (or at least the opening bars)
Just when I thought the pain in my pinky from playing the A5 chord in Good Night Irene would subside we learn this new power chord progression completely of 5 chords! It has a very nice sound though. I to had never seen this chord shape so I tried to think of how it fit into the CAGED system we just learned in the fretboard wizard class and I realized this is just a partial D chord shape without the high note on the E string.
Just like Howard, I’m still working on Goodnite Irene.
This is the first time I come across today’s power chord shape. Fairly easy to play.
I will keep practicing this on so that I have it in my Power Chord arsenal.
This is what I enjoy about TAC, something new every day. I am still working on “Goodnite Irene” and enjoy everything. I hope all is well with everyone as we move to “normal.”
Seemed to go pretty well. It’s funny how I remember the name of the exercise, but even though I’ve done this lesson a couple times now, this chord shape does not stick with me because it’s not something that has really worked its way into my vocabulary. I’ll have to find a way to work it into some practice sessions so that I start to retain it. Perhaps if I discover or create a song into which I can incorporate it.
I completely agree. I have never encountered this chord shape and I wish we had a song or example of how to use it.
Howard, here’s one I think will work. Play the I-ii-iii-IV chords of an E major scale : {E-F#m-G#m-A} then play the same chord progression in reverse: {A-G#m-F#m-E}. Sounds like “Lean on me” to my ear. So if my theory is correct, you could play over the above progression using E5-F#5-G#5-A5 and let the other person cover the major and minor chords, since power 5’s are neither major or minor since the defining 3rd interval of major or minor is not present. Hope this helps.
You are correct about the Lean On Me progression. Just runs right up and down the scale with one strum on the V toward the end.
As @peter m comments, it’s the CAGED D shape without the first string.
These are really just a slight modification to the standard 3 finger power chord shapes that are played on strings 6-5-4 and string 5-4-3. The only difference is that when you move that shape up (tone) one more set of strings to 4-3-2, you need to make a slight fretting adjustment on string 2 (B string), by shifting the fretting finger one fret higher (tone). This needs to be done because there are 5 semi-tones between each ascending (tone) set of strings, except there are only 4 semi-tones between G and B.