I just bought a guitar last week Thursday...

...And I'm quite excited, but a bit overwhelmed. I'm a worship leader in my Church and I want to know if there's anyone out there who can give me some pointers on how I could learn some simple praise and worhip songs for starters.

I've found it hard to master the F-chord, is there a way around it?

Perhaps I should ask this first: How soon before my fingers will become more fluid in switching from chord to chord? Are there any exercises that I should practice to help me with this? How long should I practice each day? :confused:

Thanks in advance for your help.

Chi.

Originally Posted by: Chi...And I'm quite excited, but a bit overwhelmed. I'm a worship leader in my Church and I want to know if there's anyone out there who can give me some pointers on how I could learn some simple praise and worhip songs for starters.

I've found it hard to master the F-chord, is there a way around it?

Perhaps I should ask this first: How soon before my fingers will become more fluid in switching from chord to chord? Are there any exercises that I should practice to help me with this? How long should I practice each day? :confused:

Thanks in advance for your help.

Chi.

Your fingers will get used to the movements in time. I'd say maybe a week if you practice hard. There IS an easy way around barring the entire first fret for the F chord. I'll show it to you since you're just starting out, but try to avoid shortcuts in the future.

I assume you can read tablature:

e|---1-------
B|---1-------
G|---2-------
D|---3-------
A|-----------
E|-----------

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonYour fingers will get used to the movements in time. I'd say maybe a week if you practice hard. There IS an easy way around barring the entire first fret for the F chord. I'll show it to you since you're just starting out, but try to avoid shortcuts in the future.

I assume you can read tablature:

e|---1-------
B|---1-------
G|---2-------
D|---3-------
A|-----------
E|-----------

thats the version of the f chord that I learned when starting out... and I still use it ocassionally today when it's easier (ie: when changing from Dm to F)

and hey, I play lead electric guitar for my church's worship band, so, if you need any help and/or need to know the chords to a certain song, then you can private message or e-mail me (by clicking on my username)

hi iv only been playin about nine weeks but it took me about four weeks to get used to switching between cords quickly (G, G7, D, d, D7, E, e, E7, A, a, C, C7,) that was with just pickingup my guitar n practicin switching between cord whenever i had some spare time (not alot) or when my brotha was usin the pc (alot) n if ya want to learn power cords thats easy but maybe not the right sort of sound for a worship leader
jus pick your guitar up n practice for at least 15 minutes a day

Originally Posted by: markc2005n if ya want to learn power cords thats easy but maybe not the right sort of sound for a worship leader

are you kidding??? I use power chords all the time in my churchs band!!! lol... only on fast songs though, I've got my own palm muted power chord version of "awesome god" it's awesome! lol
but, if you are playing acoustic guitar, and/or you are the only guitarist on the stage, I would recommend staying away from power chords unless you think you can pull it off (a good fast song that has no parts where power chords would not be needed)

i stand corrected lol

Originally Posted by: 6strngs_2hmbkrsare you kidding??? I use power chords all the time in my churchs band!!! lol... only on fast songs though, I've got my own palm muted power chord version of "awesome god" it's awesome! lol
but, if you are playing acoustic guitar, and/or you are the only guitarist on the stage, I would recommend staying away from power chords unless you think you can pull it off (a good fast song that has no parts where power chords would not be needed)

yeah dude, but on the slow songs, really its best to do the full chords on an acoustic for worship. the praise band im in, we do it directed completely to high and middle school students. so its more of a rock n roll thing. in that since, its better to do powerchords.

and some more advise, i had ALOT of problems with my F chord when i started, but do what jolly said. it helps. on an acoustic, i still dont do the full F. bad habit i guess. but it sounds fine.

Originally Posted by: rockonn91yeah dude, but on the slow songs, really its best to do the full chords on an acoustic for worship. the praise band im in, we do it directed completely to high and middle school students. so its more of a rock n roll thing. in that since, its better to do powerchords.

oh, guess I forgot to mention that I play in the high school worship band, therefore making distorted power chords much more suitable as you were saying...

Originally Posted by: 6strngs_2hmbkrsoh, guess I forgot to mention that I play in the high school worship band, therefore making distorted power chords much more suitable as you were saying...

DEATH METAL!!!

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonDEATH METAL!!!

mmm, I wish, I suggested it, but apparently the band doesn't think it's a good idea... don't know why, since 3/4 of the people that we are playing for would prefer metal over the stuff we're playing anyday... I think it partially may be due to the fact that my girlfriend (one of the singers for the band) can't sing metal, nor can anyone else in the band... I can kind of, but not extremely well.

A couple of points. An acoustic electric guitar with a slightly curved fret board makes bar chords easier. Second, get some really light strings to start with o.10 for bottom E. This means they bend a lot easier being thinner, but you will get less sound. If you're miked or playing with others, it's no problem.

On the chord changes: start by picking just two chords, then count 1,2,3,4 change, 2,3,4, change. Then when you are comfortable and your change is quick enough to stay with the beat, cut the beat down to 1, then change, 2 then change, 1 then change, 2 then change.

When you change, don't try to do it fast. Usually it is easier if you lay an anchoring finger. This is the finger that most easily finds the chord, and the you place the other fingers afterwards. You'll find your anchor finger can become very quick at finding the chord but the other fingers will be slower to start with. The trick is to make sure you focus on doing it ACCURATELY, not quickly. The speed will come with time. If you go for speed first, you train your fingers to make mistakes and your overall progress is slower. If you focus on accuracy, then your final speed will be much quicker and fluent.

If you are practicing F, it might be good to go from F to Bb. F Bb Gm C are a nice chord progression that will really bring on your bar chords (first three are bar chords).