[jorgemac]

In the skills section There is a lesson on Hybrid picking that you can practice on the week end. It combines both Pick and fingers and is a lot of fun. it has become my favorite way to play the lessons involving using a pick.

[jorgemac]

“No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists, check it out 1st.

[jorgemac]

Personally I would wait until I had developed some guitar technique an could smoothly complete chord changes and had some fundamental skills in Barre chords. I would purchase the “No Bull” guitar fretboard 1st of 3 books and get a fundamental knowledge of the fret board so I wouldn’t feel lost if i decided to take the course.

[jorgemac]

I think Jimmy Hendricks played a right handed guitar using left hand techniques, Didn’t he?

[jorgemac]

I’ve been using the Steel Chinese hand exercise balls for a week now and have started to gain some control over them. Left hand clockwise direction makes me definitely feel like a beginner and my palm, thumb and fingers have much more to learn about each other before it will a be perfectly smooth exercise. The same with the clockwise direction of the right hand. I am doing a 100 revolutions in each direction in sets of 3. So 300 clockwise and 300 counter clockwise for each hand. both hands are exhausted after I complete those exercises. Last night was the first time I did that many reps. It definitely has to help build something up and hopefully will help with hand/finger co-ordination.

[jorgemac]

Too Bad, A good one would Clapton’s i shot the sheriff. Thanks Guys

[jorgemac]

Loraine introduced me to the Chinese steel hand exercise balls. I’ve used a therapeutic squeeze ball for a few months and that does help strengthen the tendon in the forearm that can become painful especially after picking a lot of barre chords. The Chinese exercise balls seem to help strengthen and stretch the fingers of each hand. I’ve started using them today so don’t have any data yet but from what I have read about them they do strengthen, help coordination and stretch the fingers. Google them and check it out. any thing that helps is appreciated.

[jorgemac]

Loraine, just ordered the Baoding balls and should have them Monday. I ordered 1.5 inch size as I don’t know which size to start with. The information I was able to gather supports their use as a great hand strengthener and good for dexterity. Thank you for sharing that info.

[jorgemac]

If you compare the 2 different ways to do a pull off I think the slight bend and then a aggressive release of that finger has more mojo that just a straight release of the string. Just did both versions and the slight bend version just seems to have a little more “flavor” to it.

[jorgemac]

I was a much more advanced player so took the 30 day course on A sunday and started Brown eyed Girl on a Monday. I think the 30 day course is a great idea but take it at a speed you feel comfortable with. If it takes you 2 months to get comfortable, so be it. If you are full of impatience like me take at an more accelerated speed. just be sure to understand what you are learning.

[jorgemac]

On a pull off I do bend the string slightly and then Throw the string away from me. It is a Suttle throw but it does help generate energy so the releases string has new energy to vibrate and make a joyful tone.

[jorgemac]

Thanks for your post.

Lorraine, Your perseverance is remarkable. I’ve followed your posts and do not have half of the courage you display every day. I know what the guitar means to me, especially how it fortifies my mental well being. I would hope that I could continue to pick and play if something unfortunate would happen to either of my hands. I do play the harmonica, mostly on a neck rack so I, at least, have that to fall back on. I will look into the chinese balls as I’m always looking for ways to add strength and suppleness to both my hands. I do use CBD cream for pain in my hands, when needed. Being retired does allow me to practice much more that I could when working full time. Just went thru the A minor7 shape and the 3 string E7 shape up and down the neck. Then threw in the 3 and four note C7 and D7 shape centered on the 3rd and 5th frets. then added in the 4 string G barre chord as the 1 chord and messed around with those chords. never know when you’ll want to use some of those different positions.

[jorgemac]

Thanks Albert. I do change it up every day regarding the chords. I might do more minor chords or maybe 7th chords in a few progressions and like all of us I hate the barre chords so I force myself to do that at lease once a week in different shapes. the A shape up to the 10th fret, the f shape up to the 10th fret and both minor shapes – E and A minor up to the 10 the fret. That has probably helped me more than anything else especially because you are forced to us the pinky . The E shape is done with a thumb over the top bass string and I usually only do the E,A,D and G string or the index finger over the E and B strings from the treble e string position. That would usually be the 5 strings minus the the top Bass strings. Sometime only 4 strings on that one. Some times only the actual 3 note major or minor chord shape just to get used to the positions of each chord as I walk it up the neck.

[jorgemac]

A barre chord can start as simple as the top 3 strings. if you play a c barre chord on the 5th fret and use the top 3 (E,B,G) strings it is E 3rd fret, B and G strings held down on the 5th fret. move up 2 frets and you have D chord playing the same finger positions. The dreaded F barre chord can just be the E and B strings fretted with the index finger. The G string fretted at the 3rd fret and the D string fretted at the 4th fret . I still play it this way a lot but for a long time I fingered this chord this way but only played the B, G, and D strings as the pesky E string barre always made noise, yukkkkkk . it does play clean and clear now and the barred G and A also play clean, plus the pinky holds down the a string cleanly. I guess my index finger finally strengthened enough to hold that bottom barre position. I use my thumb on the bottom E string for a full barre chord now.

[jorgemac]

Greg, when I was learning the fundamentals of guitar picking. I did buy a couple of smaller bodied and shorter scale length guitars that I used for lessons while learning to stretch my fingers to another fret. I still use My Taylor mini guitar which has a 24 inch scale length and a great tone for a small bodied guitar. You can go to a music store, realizing that there job is to sell you guitars, lessons, etc. You could also try a parlor size guitar. You will find as your technique improves that you will probably want the fuller sound of a larger body and longer scale length. If you are on a tight budget just gut it out until your fingers stretch out. Older guitar players that have some disposable income are always looking for a different guitar. Old guitar players say the next guitar they buy will always be the perfect guitar for them.