moving between chords


tcscotland
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tcscotland
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05/11/2007 8:31 am
Hi all,

Ive just started to learn the guitar (got one for xmas). Ive been browsing this site and theres lots of excellent tutorials and ive been going through the beginners section quite alot.

Ive learned how to play a lot of chords, however, im having problems jumping between chords quickly. going slow is no problem, but even slowly, my third finger seems to not want to cooperate much. For example, jumping from a D to a C, or jumping from a D to an E, my third finger seems to miss the string or not hit it completely :(

Does anyone have any excercises that could help me build up on the coordination of my left hand?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated :D
# 1
tcscotland
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tcscotland
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05/11/2007 8:54 am
Hold a minute, ive just noticed a thread on left wrist position and im finding it easier already lol
# 2
hunter60
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hunter60
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05/11/2007 11:04 am
Yup. Good left wrist position will help. But, at least for me, just doing it over and over and over...develop some good muscle memory so that your fingers just go where they should without having to 'think' too much about it will help a lot too. The only way I know of for that is practice. :)
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# 3


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05/11/2007 11:31 am
One good exercise you can do is hold a chord for 2 seconds, then release while spreading your finger a little bit (so that you don't keep your finger into the chord position) wait 1 second then make the chord again. Don't try to change chord right away, do the same chord.

Do this for about a minute, then change chord.

Do the whole thing three times. (total 6 minutes, alternating one minute on each chord)

The next step is to hold one chord for 2 seconds, then change chord but keep it to one second. So it would go D (hold two second), release (one second), C (hold 2 seconds), and so on.

I'm sure with this simple exercise, you're switch will get better and better.

Let us know how it goes.
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MAVERIC777
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MAVERIC777
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05/11/2007 12:33 pm
I had a touch of the same problem when I first started (actually I still have a tad of it now when im really trying to switch very quickly). I dont know what I did but just seems to me the more I do it the better I get at it. Guess im just trying to say muscle memory is what im going to chalk it up to with mine getting better. :rolleyes:
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tcscotland
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tcscotland
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05/11/2007 1:00 pm
Thanks :)

I'll start doing the excercises that Benoit mentioned, and hunter60 and maveric777 both seem to say that the more i do, the better i'll get.

Thanks for all your help ;)

TC :D
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KirkD
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KirkD
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05/11/2007 8:06 pm
I second the exercise for muscle memory that Benoit mentioned. I do it this way:

For whatever progression I'm working on - today it is Am C G Em - I place my fingers for the first chord as close to perfect as I can. I make sure each string sounds with no muting, and then lift my fingers up slightly, then back down. Repeat this 25 times for the first chord, then 25 times for the second, etc. Then, I'll start back at the first chord and to 20 repeats for each chord, then 15, then 10, then 5. I will stop myself a random times and make sure my body position is right, make sure all the strings sound clearly, and check my wrist postion - that was my thread on wrist postion. 8^)

I've done this a few times and for most of the basic progressions I've tried, I usually can do 60 bpm within a day or two using straight strumming.

Let us know how it goes for you!

-Kirk
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Scotttaylor72
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05/12/2007 2:08 pm
Originally Posted by: KirkD

I've done this a few times and for most of the basic progressions I've tried, I usually can do 60 bpm within a day or two using straight strumming.

-Kirk


What Kirk eluded to, but didn't outright say is "use a metronome." Start slow and go only as fast as you're comfortable with and then slowly turn the speed up. There should be plenty of free software based metronomes out there (if there's not one already on this site).

I know when I started playing I really wanted to play Nutshell by AIC, but couldn't get the chord progression to save my life. I played it over and over again until the fingers and wrist knew what to do next and about a month later I found I had to start slowing down because I was changing chords too fast!
Good luck and keep practicing.
# 8
KirkD
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KirkD
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05/12/2007 2:27 pm
Yeah, I guess I made a big assumption there. Like I always ask my wife - can't you read my mind?? 8^)

To clarify, I do my muscle memory exercises, give my hand a 5 minute rest, and then start working on the chord progressions using a metronome. I usually do some no tempo work first just to get my head in the game and then start stumming to the metronome, starting REALLY slow and increasing by 2-5 bpm as I get comfortable with the current speed. Most of the chord changes I've worked on I can get up to 60 bpm within a week or so.

Being an extreme newbie myself, I was really impressed at how this muscle memory exercise helped.
# 9
leaf
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leaf
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05/13/2007 9:59 pm
Dude, I know what you saying but its hard to switch for all beginers. Just keep at it and you will have it down. Somtimes it may feel like your not geting anywere but if you keep playing you will get better. Oh just keep switching back and forth thats the best way to get better at it. :D
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LloydW
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LloydW
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05/14/2007 4:28 pm
In my early days what I did and it did help. I quit strumming. and just practiced switching chords, sort of hammer on, only all the fingers of the chord. Also most songs have a chord pattern. I didnt when I started and still dont switch between chords that I wont ever use.. And as everyone else has said here, just keep practicing it will come.
# 11
ZekeBot
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ZekeBot
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05/15/2007 12:18 pm
:D Thanks Guys, Useful information. Just wanted to add that practicing scales and spiders also help building finger strength. i find spiders queit helpful. Happy Guitaring. :cool:
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hunter60
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hunter60
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05/15/2007 12:25 pm
Okay, dumb guy here - what are spiders? ( I know the bug kind but not in the guitar sense.)
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EPISODER
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EPISODER
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05/15/2007 5:10 pm
Spiders aren't bugs!

(arachnids)

No offence intended of course!
;)
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fr3ak
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fr3ak
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05/15/2007 6:11 pm
Great information in this thread. One question though, what are "muscle memory exercises"?
# 15
hunter60
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hunter60
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05/15/2007 11:13 pm
Originally Posted by: EPISODERSpiders aren't bugs!

(arachnids)

No offence intended of course!
;)



I stand corrected. Thank you for pointing out my error. :D
[FONT=Tahoma]"All I can do is be me ... whoever that is". Bob Dylan [/FONT]
# 16
hunter60
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hunter60
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05/15/2007 11:17 pm
Originally Posted by: fr3akGreat information in this thread. One question though, what are "muscle memory exercises"?



I'm sure there are better descriptions, but it is essentially rote training. You just keep doing the same movement over and over and over, concentrating on form and not speed or strength (not at first) but the movement. You do this until such a time is reached where your fingers are already moving to a, say, C chord, without you having to think about how to form it and moving your fingers to it.

You'll have muscle memory. Your subconscious will move your hands before your conscious mind 'thinks' of the movement.

You do a lot of this training in sports. It's HUGE in martial arts. You have to throw a thousand front kicks before your leg will kick before you order it.

Or so my instructor told me. :cool:
[FONT=Tahoma]"All I can do is be me ... whoever that is". Bob Dylan [/FONT]
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KirkD
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KirkD
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05/16/2007 12:02 am
Only 1000 kicks? I was told 10,000. Wasted years. 8^)

Anyway, from an earlier post, here's my example of muscle memory exercises:

For whatever progression I'm working on - today it is Am C G Em - I place my fingers for the first chord as close to perfect as I can. I make sure each string sounds with no muting, and then lift my fingers up slightly, then back down. Repeat this 25 times for the first chord, then 25 times for the second, etc. Then, I'll start back at the first chord and to 20 repeats for each chord, then 15, then 10, then 5. I will stop myself a random times and make sure my body position is right, make sure all the strings sound clearly, and check my wrist postion.
# 18
hunter60
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hunter60
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05/16/2007 12:30 am
Originally Posted by: KirkDOnly 1000 kicks? I was told 10,000. Wasted years. 8^)

.



Don't feel bad. I was in a magnet program. :D When I was teaching, I always told my students that muscle memory comes with repetition. There is no short-cut. Some people could perform a move quickly and retain it. Others took longer. It's all about dedication to practice. I don't think there's that much of a difference when it comes to guitar.

At least I'm hoping.
[FONT=Tahoma]"All I can do is be me ... whoever that is". Bob Dylan [/FONT]
# 19
KirkD
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05/16/2007 3:10 am
I saw an interview with Joe Satriani and he defined "talent" as practice, practice, practice, and practice.

Anywho, spiders, as I understand them and assuming no one else has explained them, involved moving your fingers from string to string at various positions on the neck of the guitar. The specific verison I saw was to start with all fingers on low E, move fingers 1 and 3 simultaneously to A, move 2 and 4 to D, move 1 and 3 to G, and so one. Looks like a spider.

-Kirk
# 20

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