My barre-chord transitions are a bit sloppy...help!

gtnichol

Hello there,

As I have been learning to play over the past year and a half or so, the one major thing I often still have trouble with is smoothly transitioning between barre chords. When I first started teaching myself I couldn't even get my hand into the proper configuration. I'm well past that now, but I sometimes still have trouble consistently going up and down the neck maintaining proper finger position and planting them down on the fret positions without being sloppy. Do any of you have suggestions. I know practice, practice practice, which I do, but I am looking for any tips for consistency that I may have missed...since I am teaching myself...blind leading the blind and all.....thanks ahead of time....

Rolling Eyes

Yoda · Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 1:06 am Post subject:

Are you talking about sliding up or down the neck but not changing the basic chord shape? Or are you talking about changing chord shapes?

Examples:

3-5-5-4-3-3 to 8-10-10-9-8-8 (same shape, diferent neck posistion)

or

3-5-5-4-3-3 to X-3-5-5-5-3 (different shape, same neck position)

The second example is obviously more difficult to get used to than the first but either way I can't really think of any tips or tricks other than plenty of practice.

Hoser Rob · Sea Monkey Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 11

I could suggest a couple of things. First, your thumb and elbow may not be in the right position. Try moving your elbow around as you change position and see if this helps your hand relax. The position of the thumb when playing barre chords has a big effect on flexibility too. If the fretting hand is in first position it should be behind your 2nd finger, or even between the 2nd and 3rd fingers. As you move up the neck, say the 5th or 7th fret, it should be closer to behind the 1st finger. For example, if I'm in the middle of the neck and have to go to Bb maj7, 1st fret, I simply can't do it without adjusting my thumb.

Also, when you practice, you should slow everything down to the point where if anyone walked into the room, you'd be embarrassed. This is really the only way to play fast cleanly without becoming one of the Nigel Tufnels of the world. Do it at 1/2 tempo, if not less, cleanly, not moving your fingers any more than you have to. When you can do this, then speed it up. It may be frustrating to try this at first, like the first time you try a metronome, but as the saying goes, "if you can't play it slowly, you can't play it fast either". It's all about muscle memory and economy of motion. If you program your hands with sloppiness, that's what you'll get.

Billstrum · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2004 10:33 pm Post subject:

i agree with slow motion technique and also try doing the CAGED sequence barre for each chord. This is from Fretboard Logic video/book if you dont have it- get it. Its not a guitar bible but it does fill in some gaps. It helped me a bit.
Also get your hands on a guitar with low action ,if you have an acoustic, try elixir or coated strings- I am not totally in love with them but they are easy on the hands.
and practise with out a computer in front of you- unless you are just looking at chords or tabs- you will get distracted and go looking at sites.
one more thing- Smile

get a rigid chair or stool- i get screwed up when I sit in the wrong position.

gtnichol · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 7:37 pm Post subject:

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I have been practicing every day for a couple of weeks and have seen dramatic improvement. I started with easy songs like 'All Along The Watchtower" (Am G F G Am) to practice switching from minor to major and back. I'm still a bit sloppy going from an E-based chord to an A-based one, but am improving.

Thanks again all,

Greg

austin · Not So Newbie Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Posts: 9

If you are new to guitar you should concentrate on triad forms first. Get to where you can find them in all positions. You would be surprised how many greats use triads. The best book for this would be "The Bead Method of Fretboard Mastery." Now after you have your triads down try to play them as bar chords. Caged works swell but there are seven triad forms and only five major bar chord forms. The only way to get over the "sloppies" is to practice.. practice.... practice. But, knowing the triad forms will make you much more versatile. You should know your major, minor and diminished triad forms well.

austin