Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I would bet that over 90% of rock guitarist who are wallowing in money for nothing and chicks for free are self taught. They all learned to play a bar chord. I think the key of G is popular for two reasons. Its a good singing key for a group of people. Its not so high for men and not so low for children or women. A guitar salesman told me that many manufactures build guitars to resonate well in the key of G.
There's a lot of things you will learn to do with individual fingers while you are playing a single chord that will give your hands a good work out. You maybe quite capable of playing bar chords with out knowing it.
I would go further and say that he DOES know how to play barre chords, but just doesn't realize it.
If you can make music, make music. No criticisms, please.
As to dealing with one's limitations, feel free to use a capo to change what chords you can play.
Alternately, consider a four string instrument like a baritone ukulele - easier on the fingers.
4 string variation : tenor guitar
The instrument was initially developed in its acoustic form by Gibson and C.F. Martin so that players of the four-string tenor banjo could double on guitar.
Tenor guitars are normally tuned in fifths (usually C3 G3 D4 A4, similar to the tenor banjo, mandola, or the viola) although other tunings are also common, such as "guitar tuning", "Chicago tuning," or baritone ukulele tuning (D3 G3 B3 E4), "Irish" or "octave mandolin" tuning (G2 D3 A3 E4, like a mandolin or violin but one octave below) and various "open" tunings, for slide playing. The tenor guitar can also be tuned like a soprano/concert/tenor ukulele, using various versions of G3 C4 E4 A4 tuning.
You can convert your six string to a four string by taking off the 2 bass strings.
"Four stringers" meld well with other acoustic six stringers, especially if using non-guitar tunings, like the re-entrant ukulele, or fifths.
If you can make music, make music. No criticisms, please. As to dealing with one's limitations, feel free to use a capo to change what chords you can play.
Alternately, consider a four string instrument like a baritone ukulele - easier on the fingers.
4 string variation : tenor guitar
The instrument was initially developed in its acoustic form by Gibson and C.F. Martin so that players of the four-string tenor banjo could double on guitar.
Tenor guitars are normally tuned in fifths (usually C3 G3 D4 A4, similar to the tenor banjo, mandola, or the viola) although other tunings are also common, such as "guitar tuning", "Chicago tuning," or baritone ukulele tuning (D3 G3 B3 E4), "Irish" or "octave mandolin" tuning (G2 D3 A3 E4, like a mandolin or violin but one octave below) and various "open" tunings, for slide playing. The tenor guitar can also be tuned like a soprano/concert/tenor ukulele, using various versions of G3 C4 E4 A4 tuning.
You can convert your six string to a four string by taking off the 2 bass strings.
"Four stringers" meld well with other acoustic six stringers, especially if using non-guitar tunings, like the re-entrant ukulele, or fifths.
George Jones is a great example of a musical genius who used a capo.
Barre chords are easy, if you only play root-5th-root. Otherwise, a 6 string barre chord is hard for anyone. Ever try to make all 6 strings on an F at the 1st fret actually ring out clearly? Not so easy.
Stick to the 3 string "barre-ette" chords. (Loads of distortion helps too)
Barre chords are easy, if you only play root-5th-root. Otherwise, a 6 string barre chord is hard for anyone. Ever try to make all 6 strings on an F at the 1st fret actually ring out clearly? Not so easy.
Stick to the 3 string "barre-ette" chords. (Loads of distortion helps too)
Root 5th is a fifth, not a barre, barres are major or minor, a fifth is both/neither, and a 5th is also a power chord.
Barre chords aren't hard, you just need the right technique. Even the F (in E standard) isn't especially hard, Flight of Icarus by Maiden uses an F# barre that has a descending arpeggio from the 6th-4th string, it's good as a test track.
It all became incredibly easy when I realized the tip of your index finger doesnt need to be on the 6th String, but you have better leverage with the finger tip above it (so your finger tip is just above the top edge of the fret board), your finger is still barring the 6 strings, but there's no difference between the 1st string and 6th string.
It's an easy fix, and literally no one tells you, because everyone who uses barre chords organically came to it and stopped struggling, but didn't seem to analyze why it lost its difficulty.
Other advice, lay your index finger flat on the fret for your root note then roll it behind. It's slow at first, but in time you'll be able to just drop onto the root position without the rolling step. Your index finger should be fretting with the side on your finger more than the palm side of it.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
