Originally Posted by: Dougmnez@fission
I am a 50 something who plays with the guitar.I have played a long time but not very well.I have never spent any time trying to learn any type of picking and am sorry for it now.I have large hands (size 14 ring) and find it hard now trying to get used to barre chords and even some major chords without the barre.Maybe your suggestion about practicing up the board will work for me as well.Any one else who has any ideas that may help this ol' timer,please do.By th eway I like mostly the old country or old 50's and 60's rock music.

Hi Doug
As far as the bar chords if your having trouble with them i suggest learning,
the open string Chords first .(Mainly the open E chord !plus what ever chords you already know.Try getting them nice and clear when you stum down!
You need to experment with your left hand fingerings.
Now as far as bar chords, I teach the open E open A open D 5-chords by just just useing the first finger (index finger on your left hand then adding
the third finger for a shuffle beat.
When i do teach the Bar chords i still start by teaching a G5 index third finger ect .Now why i said the E chord first is because really it is a bar chord
the Nut on your guitar is takeing the place of your index finger .
The main thing doug is have fun thats what its all about .
So your in the big 50s ha ha i just turned (65) i'm still on the road with my
band 2 or 3 times aweek . Plus i teach when i have the time.
I started playing guitar in 1962 .


(Keep Picking but have fun)

skee1=Mark Toman