Difficult Chord Postions

[Slasher]

Whats everyones most difficult chord to fret while playing?

[TheDirt]

I sometimes have trouble playing bar chords in the G form, such as (5, 4, 2, 2, 2, 5, which is A Major), so I typically avoid them.

[Slasher]

I never use bar chords at all. I dont think they sound too good with distortion, plus thats that 5ths are for. N I see them as an easy way of playing eg. Fly Away by Lenny Kravits. I know power chords are the same but I tend to put leads over 5ths. N they arent the easiest of chords. Although I'm sure some of you are gunna completely say something to contradict that.

[noticingthemistake]

Try this for a fifth chord (1335xx), that's one heck of a chord to play. Especially high on the neck like that. I like to play certain chords with distortion, sometimes the dissonance is what I want. And if you have a lighter overdrive they don't sound play at all. Sometimes I am anal about how the chord is voiced too, like a G7 (320001). So I'll revoice it to have more of a singing tune in the chord progression. Well I usually end up finding some weird one that sounds cool and usually those are pretty hard to play.

[TheDirt]

I've always been weird about my rhythm playing. If I'm going chords, no distortion, not overdrive, period. It grates my ears. When I've got powerchords (5, 7, 7, x, x, x) or powerchords with the 9th (like A5add9 or Asus2 witha widespread voicing, 5, 7, 9, x, x, x), distortion is ok for me. It's just personal preference. I don't mind bands that overdrive their chords, it's just not my style.

[Christoph]

The ultimate 5th chord

0
5
4
2
2
0

Drop the open notes, and you can move it anywhere with the second string as the root. Basically, it's a D5 just moved up out of open position.

[chris mood]

Here's one that will impress your friends:
Cminor9 (865333)

[PonyOne]

http://home.swipnet.se/freakguitar/bighands.gif

sometimes i wish my fingers were just an inch longer.... then i could play all these nearly impossible chord shapes.

[Hammurabi]

Here's a thought-

e-2-
b-0-
g-4-
D-4-
A-6-
E-4- (might wanna use your thumb)

[PonyOne]

i tried it, it does't sound that hot...

[Hammurabi]

Nope, but it is harder to play than a lot of chords.

[Azrael]

well - its not just single chords that can be challenging - there are also some chord changes that realy crack your fingers. here is en excerpt of the definitely most difficult piece i´ve ever encountered in guitar music.
tempo is 109 bpm - look at those changes - its mind-blowing:

Excerpt from "Bagatelle No 1" of William Waltons "Five Bagatelles for Guitar":

http://www.mind-gate.com/diverses/baga1.jpg

i also got the midi for those who are interrested tho it sounds ****ty - there are however great recordings of that piece by Julian Bream and Christopher Parkenning. kudos to those who can play that piece flawlessly. some day i might try to record it and put it in my host section.

[Edited by Azrael on 10-30-2003 at 02:20 AM]

[chris mood]

I like all the time signature changes in the 2nd stanza, 2/4, 3/4, 3/8, 2/4, 4/4..I think it was. Might be a little difficult getting up to the 18th fret on a Nylon.

[TheDirt]

Don't strum this. Hit each not individually.

x, 10, 8, 7, 6, 0

[Leedogg]

Is there some place to see pics of people holding some of these crazy chords? I attempted a few and was astounded. I have pretty long fingers and was still a long way away from reaching some of those.

[chris mood]

Originally posted by TheDirt
Don't strum this. Hit each not individually.

x, 10, 8, 7, 6, 0

Nice!!

Here's a cool one
Bb11b9
(6x6433)
Here's a nice one I found in a Flamenco song
(8x910 07)

[finger_cruncher]

Very very interesting thread guys. Nice way of sharing some interesting chord inversions. Let me add my 2 cents; just random stuff from the trick bag...

Ex 1 Ex 2 Ex 3 Ex 4

-0- -0- -3- -0-
-8- -2- -1- -0-
-11- -4- -4- -3-
-9- -6- -2- -4-
-7- -4- -0- -4-
-0- -x- -x- -2-


Let me know if you like those. I use lots of these regularly.

[finger_cruncher]

Fudge...let me try that again :P

Ex 1

0
8
11
9
7
0

Ex 2

0
2
4
6
4
x

Ex 3

3
1
4
2
0
x

Ex 4

0
0
3
4
4
2