barre chords

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barre chords

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Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

barre chords

I have been working with the classical guitar player Eduardo Fernandez' book about Mechanism, Technique, and Learning recently, and have gotten some incredible ideas about it. One "revelation" that has come from it has come from the idea of really analying and noting the various sensations associated with the various aspects of guitar playing. With barre chords, you should try to "feel" the effort in the back of the hand opposite the index finger. It's more of a "push" than a clamp or a grasping feel. This makes the hand much more secure and will let you hold the barre much longer. Try it, it works! :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 27 2004 15:56:18

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 27 2004 18:10:23

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: barre chords (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Poke your LH index finger into your leg... that is somewhat like the feeling I'm trying to describe. Now use a similiar feeling with the barre chord, except poke the fingerboard with the flat finger (keeping the finger rigid and shaped as you need it is another, but distinct, part of the sensation/action). This is meant to release a lot of pressure on the thumb, but for this action you need the thumb to be there and bracing heartily, although with little muscular effort. Try that! :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 27 2004 20:13:09

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: barre chords (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Mike,
Andy's right about playing with your thumb completely away from the neck for practice purposes.
The thumb makes very little difference IMO, even in barre chords.
I only use the LH thumb to steady the guitar and apply the odd bit of pressure on a difficult chord.
But never actually "grip".

cheers

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 27 2004 21:41:31

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: barre chords (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

I find that practicing without the thumb encourages me to use a kind of bicep "grip." I like to use mostly the hand to fret notes and barres, although the thumb is fairly static and isn't use to exert force. It's the steady side of the jaw, the fingers and hand apply the pressure. But I don't like to use much arm because it reduces my dexterity, and a lot of pieces I play require a lot of hopping to and fro.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2004 4:23:36

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: barre chords (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ron.M

Mike,
Andy's right about playing with your thumb completely away from the neck for practice purposes.
The thumb makes very little difference IMO, even in barre chords.
I only use the LH thumb to steady the guitar and apply the odd bit of pressure on a difficult chord.

Yeah, excellent advice. I like practicing scales without the left hand thumb touching the back of the neck, it helps ensure I am being light fingered.

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2004 11:51:15