Faster Chord Changes?

wirt · 2012-11-21T09:32:47+00:00

So, as my sig says, I'm still pretty useless at guitar. Mainly right now I'm trying to get the basics down. My biggest problem is that I can't get my chord c...

Faster Chord Changes?

arjunmenon

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Fingerpicker wrote: One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that a lot of guitarists get into the habit of placing their fingers in to place sequentially and not simultaneously when changing chords.
I have to differ with you on that one. Particularly for fingerstyle or classical players, who think in terms of individual notes rather than chords. I'd go as far as saying it's an integral part of my playing (heck, sometimes I make it a visual feature ?). As long as the right note is fretted at the right time, sequential placement actually lets you cope easier with faster tempos, helps break players of the "strumming all strings at once" habit and helps them visualise the chord as a collection of notes.

Agree with your point, Alan. My chording is also very sequential at most times. The sequential thing is great for layering intervals and for sound-on-sound stuff. To be devil's advocate though, if you're hoping for Holdsworth-ian almost-piano-like chord changes, then Fingerpicker's advice is spot on.

wirt

Attila wrote: One to add is not to make playing a burden. MUST be fun

Amen to that! I found it hard to see exactly why I needed to learn these chord changes until I found the tabs for "Rumble" by Link Wray and The Wraymen. Those D-A-E changes seemed much more worth the effort and fun after that.
Now I just need an amp with kick-ass reverb... and a Les Paul... and maybe a couple of pedals and there goes that GAS that everyone's been warning me about ?

AlanRatcliffe

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with simultaneous placements, just that there is nothing wrong with sequential either. Both have their place and I use both a lot.

Arjun Menon wrote: if you're hoping for Holdsworth-ian almost-piano-like chord changes

The "hoping for" part of that is duly noted. ? I once tried a few examples from "uncommon chord" and found that having fingers that are all 6" long and can operate at 180o from each other would improve my chances of getting some of those voicings right. ?

Fingerpicker

Re sequential vs simultaneous placing of fingers
I guess it also depends on whether you play in a band with a couple of guitars with bass and drums or whether you are under the lights on your own a meter and a bit from a very attentive audience. Chord speed is essential to keep a clean sound and to recover from a mistake. In the time the audience takes to say "wtf" you can hit 3 or 4 chords to get to where you have to go.
There are some chords that I will never be able to play instantaneously, such as a D shape with the little finger, the ring finger and the finger you use in the traffic, with the index finger looking after bass. There are others, but all the majors, minors and sevenths are pinned down. Don't tell me it's not necessary, it's taken me 51 years to get it right!

DaFiz

Fingerpicker wrote: There are some chords that I will never be able to play instantaneously, such as a D shape with the little finger, the ring finger and the finger you use in the traffic, with the index finger looking after bass.

That's something I've never even dreamed of trying. :-[

Fingerpicker

I've been using the C-A-G-E-D system for chords across the fretboard and they seem to favour that shape.(eg D shape on 5th fret gives an F etc). I generally just use 3 strings or make a C shape out of it to make it easier to play.

DonRoos

Fingerpicker wrote: There are some chords that I will never be able to play instantaneously, such as a D shape with the little finger, the ring finger and the finger you use in the traffic, with the index finger looking after bass.

Easier to play the D chord with normal fingering and hook the thumb over for the bass.

wirt

Don't mind me, I'll just be sitting here furiously scribbling notes ?

Fingerpicker

Sorry wirt, we're going off course here.
Don, it is easier your way, but they teach it their way.
Enough from me....

DaFiz

DonRoos wrote:
Fingerpicker wrote: There are some chords that I will never be able to play instantaneously, such as a D shape with the little finger, the ring finger and the finger you use in the traffic, with the index finger looking after bass.
Easier to play the D chord with normal fingering and hook the thumb over for the bass.

Pardon my ignorance but I just tried that and the thumb can hook over and play the F or F# must It sound funny and I would not know where to use it ??? :-\

DaFiz

On the subject of faster chord changes, it was suggested to me a week ago to take some steel wool to the back of the neck to make it smoother.
I was absolutely horrified ??? He assured me it will speed up chord changes. :-\
I would never attempt something like that on my new Takamine, but I'm tempted to try it on my old Ibanez Concord.

Norman86

it takes the "stickyness" of the finish away ?
then your hand / thumb can travel smoothly on the neck!

Neon-Gecko

DaFiz wrote: On the subject of faster chord changes, it was suggested to me a week ago to take some steel wool to the back of the neck to make it smoother.
I was absolutely horrified ??? He assured me it will speed up chord changes. :-\
I would never attempt something like that on my new Takamine, but I'm tempted to try it on my old Ibanez Concord.

Steel wool can work, but it can leave deeper scratches then one would like if the wrong type is used. Rather go for a fine sandpaper like 1500-2000 grit and should you change your mind further down the road simply polish the back of the neck up to the original shine using a polishing cream. Remember though, that simple wear will polish the surface up again over time and it will need to be done periodically.

Bob-Dubery

DaFiz wrote: On the subject of faster chord changes, it was suggested to me a week ago to take some steel wool to the back of the neck to make it smoother.
I was absolutely horrified ??? He assured me it will speed up chord changes. :-\
I would never attempt something like that on my new Takamine, but I'm tempted to try it on my old Ibanez Concord.

A lot of modern acoustics have a matt finish, sorry SATIN finish on the neck. My Larrivee has a thin gloss finish on the back and sides and satin on the neck. I've just had the neck on my Morgan refinished and I discussed the matter with Neon Gecko but
a) too late
b) I decided it was best to match the original finish

NG offered the sort of treatment that is being referred to here, a very fine sanding of the back of the neck.

The theory is that players prefer the matt neck, that it's less sticky. Some makers persist with the gloss neck, but it's hard for the likes of Martin and Gibson to change now - certainly on their famous models. The other part of this theory is that with playing your neck will get a natural polishing and become less sticky anyway, though I suppose that depends on what is used to finish and how thinly it is applied.

Wizard

Tried the Jody Fisher "hold hard for 30 seconds" technique.
It really works.
Thank you.

Finally used steel wool on my (sticky) strat neck.
It really works.
Thank you.

vic

DaFiz wrote:
DonRoos wrote:
Fingerpicker wrote: There are some chords that I will never be able to play instantaneously, such as a D shape with the little finger, the ring finger and the finger you use in the traffic, with the index finger looking after bass.
Easier to play the D chord with normal fingering and hook the thumb over for the bass.
Pardon my ignorance but I just tried that and the thumb can hook over and play the F or F# must It sound funny and I would not know where to use it ??? :-\

Playing D with the thumb at F# produces a beautiful harmony that's very useable. You get the same when eg playing in A and you go to E with the bass guitar playing the A flat note instead of E. Try it sometime.

guidothepimmp

Hey bud,

I'm in centurion too, if you like we can meet up and I'd be happy to help where i can..

Cheers

DonRoos

DaFiz wrote:
DonRoos wrote:
Fingerpicker wrote: There are some chords that I will never be able to play instantaneously, such as a D shape with the little finger, the ring finger and the finger you use in the traffic, with the index finger looking after bass.
Easier to play the D chord with normal fingering and hook the thumb over for the bass.
Pardon my ignorance but I just tried that and the thumb can hook over and play the F or F# must It sound funny and I would not know where to use it ??? :-\

Try playing the first line from While my guitar gently wheeps and listen to the walking bass note. You will be sold. (btw the note after the / is the bass note)
Am Am/G D/F# Fmaj7
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping

wirt

Fingerpicker wrote: Sorry wirt, we're going off course here.
Don, it is easier your way, but they teach it their way.
Enough from me....

Not at all, Fingerpicker. I like listening to the more experienced guys, one always seems to glean knowledge one wouldn't otherwise ?

guidothepimmp wrote: Hey bud,

I'm in centurion too, if you like we can meet up and I'd be happy to help where i can..

Cheers

Thanks for the offer, mate,if I really hit a wall I'll be sure to take you up on that, but for now just practicing seems to work ?

DaFiz

Thanx youz :yup:
I'll be trying The D with the thumb hooking the F# after some steel wool to the back of the neck on the Concord later today. 8)

DUH!!! ??? I'm using an iMac and the keyboard shows 3/# but when I use it it gives me a £ instead... :-[
I have to go into another part of the thread and copy and paste the # whenever I need it >☹