b major struggle

I'm picking up the guitar again after a long absence so started right back at the beginning.

B major reared its ugly head early. I remember my struggle last time around. Not the actual playing of the chord but the switching.

Does anybody have any tips on a method to learn switching. I just play say E then try and switch... E try and switch and try to figure out the best way to move my fingers. It just isn't working for b major.

Not sure which B "form" you are playing, but I find it easiest to go from E to a full barre B. Just move the tip of the index up at an angle to the A string as it moves up two frets, getting the finger straight for the barre, and get that ring finger into position as you are moving.

Depending on the strum or picking you are doing, you could begin the transition as soon as you are down off the G string (G# note), finish off the open strings while you set up the B.

Hey ceefax,
Razbo is right, but depending on what you're playing, you may be able to sub a B7 chord for the B major sometime. You can also play an E formation barre chord in the 7th fret. Even if you do find something to sub, make sure you keep working on the chord that is giving you trouble now. Tell us which chord is giving you problems, and we may be able to suggest something else to help you.

I find that in learning any new chord and switching to it is best done slowly and in a round robin format.

take the chords E, A, F# (or F# minor). Start with B and make 4 slow strums, go to E and make 4 slow strums, then back to B for 4 strums, then to A for a measure and then back to B for a measure then to F# and to B. Take it slow and make sure your B chords and all the other chords ring true. Use chords you can play and add only 1 new chord at once. The reason for this is simple. It allows you to concentrate on that ONE new chord. This is important.... THINK AHEAD... think about where you're going and what your fingers have to do to get there. Are there any fingers that do not have to move, or stay in the same fret moving up or down a string.. or are on the right string but in the wrong fret and can slide. Use those fingers as anchors. In the beginning it is natural to move one finger at a time, as you get comfortable and the fingers know where they are going, they will move faster and all of them will seem to move in unison. It takes time.

If you're speaking about the B chord which is an A Form Barre chord at with the second fret Root, try this. Play an A chord with your 3rd finger placing your first finger behind the nut. Then slide your left hand down 2 frets.

If you're speaking about the B7 chord played like this

e 2
B 0
G 2
D 1
A 2
E x

make sure that your elbow is tucked into your body. I know I have a problem with making this chord ring when my elbow flies out like a chicken wing. This turns my fingers 45 degrees and sometimes mutes the D# and the open B string.

Hope some of these ideas help.

thanks for the help, i got it nailed this morning after 3 nights of frustration. I can play the barred version fine, its the version chris does with all fingers that was giving me trouble. now i can do both im happy.

thanks again