Stretchy chords

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Stretchy chords

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flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

Stretchy chords

Can anyone suggest exercises or techniques to find chords when changing position or
the chord is stretchy.

Despite lots of practise I’m struggling to find with a high degree of accuracy
or consistency Bb9 (5th at 2nd, 4th at 4th, 3rd at 5th). (Not terribly difficult
I'd imagined

).

I’m coming from D7 and finding it tough to find the position cleanly – especially as I
have to play all three fretted strings and the open 2nd. Happy to put the hours in
doing chord progressions but equally happy to grab any little methods that might
click with my brain.

Cheers

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2019 19:30:09

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: Stretchy chords (in reply to flyeogh)

playing some granainas right? 😛 I deal with stretchy chords in a rather unconventional way... i grab my fingers and stretch them until they are where they're supposed to be and hold them there for some seconds or even minutes sometimes. it's really painful, like stretching tense muscles, but it pays off after a couple weeks. what I also found useful with stretchy chords is to position the palm of your hand parallel to the fretboard rather than below the neck. it gives you more leverage and clearance for the fingers to stretch further without getting into each other's way.
hope that helps... i'm just an advanced beginner myself 😅

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My name is Jalal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2019 20:39:50

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Stretchy chords (in reply to flyeogh)

Couple quick ones, it’s usually ONE finger causing all the trouble, figure out which one that is and only think about that finger when your switching chords.
Also, what’s your thumb doing? Is it where it’s supposed to be? Could it be somewhere more ergonomic?

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\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2019 22:13:36

Ricardo

Posts: 14801
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Stretchy chords (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

ORIGINAL: flyeogh

Can anyone suggest exercises or techniques to find chords when changing position or
the chord is stretchy.

Despite lots of practise I’m struggling to find with a high degree of accuracy
or consistency Bb9 (5th at 2nd, 4th at 4th, 3rd at 5th). (Not terribly difficult
I'd imagined ).

I’m coming from D7 and finding it tough to find the position cleanly – especially as I
have to play all three fretted strings and the open 2nd. Happy to put the hours in
doing chord progressions but equally happy to grab any little methods that might
click with my brain.

Cheers

A lot has to do with what the right hand (or the non fretting hand if you are Zurdo) is trying to do. By “cleanly”, it depends on the timing. For example if I was strumming rumba between these two chords, I would allow for the final stroke to catch the open strings as my hand moseys along to the other chord. Sometimes I might only get the index down while strumming, gradually forming the other notes in the chord one at a time as the open strings ring out, or only play that bass note and let it ring as I get the other fingers down.

Now in cases where I don’t have the time to mosey along, and dont’ want any open string noises, such as moving from one chord to the next as contra beat accent hits, well that takes more practice. Even for pros it can be tough. We all use the metronome and slow the tempo way down until we get the feel for it. The idea is to loop the right hand pattern that is involved (be it strumming or arpegios or tremolo whatever it is), slow, and keep going back and forth between the two positions until it is clean. Then gradually increase the tempo.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2019 22:18:15

rombsix

Posts: 7807
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Stretchy chords (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

Now in cases where I don’t have the time to mosey along, and dont’ want any open string noises, such as moving from one chord to the next as contra beat accent hits, well that takes more practice. Even for pros it can be tough. We all use the metronome and slow the tempo way down until we get the feel for it. The idea is to loop the right hand pattern that is involved (be it strumming or arpegios or tremolo whatever it is), slow, and keep going back and forth between the two positions until it is clean. Then gradually increase the tempo.

Don't you have a secret / short-cut, Ricardo? Hypnosis, maybe?

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 13 2019 23:00:41

JasonM

Posts: 2054
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Stretchy chords (in reply to flyeogh)

If it’s an arpeggio on the b chord (like pima for example) then it gives you time to stretch out the pinky while you are playing the first two notoes on the 5th and 4th strings. This is another example of what Ricardo is talking about where it depends on what you have to play. Sometimes it takes practice to get this movement syncing so that it’s a fluid 2 operations happening at once.

Sometimes you have to think about what the most effecient way to switch chords is. An obvious example would be if you are coming from a d7 at the 5 fret then I would leave my index on the 5th and slide it down without lifting it all the way off the fretboard. Sometimes you really have to think like a racing pit crew

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 14 2019 0:19:31

kitarist

Posts: 1715
Joined: Dec. 4 2012

RE: Stretchy chords (in reply to JasonM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: JasonM
An obvious example would be if you are coming from a d7 at the 5 fret then I would leave my index on the 5th and slide it down without lifting it all the way off the fretboard. Sometimes you really have to think like a racing pit crew

If it is a 5th position D7, isn't it simpler to focus on the 3rd finger (on 4th at 7th) - which stays on the same string for the next chord - I'd just "slide" it back 3 frets to 4th at 4th while keeping the same spatial arrangement between it and the 1st finger which now lands on 5th at 2nd; and finally just place the 4th finger on 3rd at 5th. Improves shifting accuracy a lot, I find (vs. complete lift and relocate).

The reason I am suggesting it is slightly simpler (easier?) than your version is that 1st was in a barre and has to adjust, whereas the 3rd finger does not have to do any adjustment. But the spatial relationship between 1st and 3rd finger is the same in your version.

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Konstantin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 14 2019 2:11:32

JasonM

Posts: 2054
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Stretchy chords (in reply to kitarist)

quote:

If it is a 5th position D7, isn't it simpler to focus on the 3rd finger (on 4th at 7th) - which stays on the same string for the next chord - I'd just "slide" it back 3 frets to 4th at 4th while keeping the same spatial arrangement between it and the 1st finger which now lands on 5th at 2nd; and finally just place the 4th finger on 3rd at 5th. Improves shifting accuracy a lot, I find (vs. complete lift and relocate).

You know he did say 4th finger on 3rd at 5th. I was thinking of 4th finger on 3rd at 6th which is more of a stretch and my focus goes on getting the 4th finger out there while the 1st and 3rd slide down. Who’s on first?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 14 2019 3:12:50

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: Stretchy chords (in reply to JasonM)

Wow, as always guys very much appreciated. I’ll suck all the ideas out of each post
and see how I progress. Lots to look at.

I know in the past that some ‘blocks to progress’ just get removed by simply seeing
the thing differently. Other times a change of technique does it. So I’m hopeful
a nugget of gold is in them there posts above.

It’s a Granada type exercise but even when I played it badly my Spanish
step-daughter (not a guitar player) said “That’s beautiful” so I really
want to perfect it.

Cheers

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 14 2019 3:46:52

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: Stretchy chords (in reply to flyeogh)

OK guys cracked it. And while I’m not sure there was a nugget your suggestions
certainly got me there.

I checked thumb/left-hand position. I built the chord a finger at a time.
I built the chord starting with different fingers. I played the chord – lifted, played
the chord …….. I played it as Em ignoring pinkie. Finally last night watched a football match for 45 mins alternating
first position chords (D7, C, B7 and F) with Bb9 just listening for errors but not
focussing too much. And now it is 95% perfect and 5% close enough to get away with
a buzz or two.

Maybe it was just a mental thing as thinking about it I do a few more complex
changes without concern. Seems crazy looking back.

Anyway, onwards and upwards. Cheers

ps: Does watching Watford count as hypnosis???????

With one shot on target in 45 mins maybe.

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2019 3:30:01

Tav

Posts: 6
Joined: Jan. 26 2019

RE: Stretchy chords (in reply to flyeogh)

For me, when there is problem in the connection I found that pressing my fingers harder into the fingerboard before moving to the next chord improves the flow .

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2019 16:31:06