Old Swanner you told me on reddit to join you. Although you posted it about a month ago and I'm just seeing it now.... here I am hoping you can help.
(Here is the original post you replied to)
I've been playing guitar since February 3rd of last year and I still cant play a single damn song. I use yousician and rocksmith and you tube. I generally only have 2 or 3 hours after work to play approximately 3-4 days a week and sometimes practice before work as well. I can easily play the basic chords (e,em,a,am,c,c@9,d,dm, f, g and some power chords) and switch between them with some ease but not with speed. I practice my pentatonic and diatonic scales daily for a warm up. I can play some basic riffs but that's about it!My strumming sucks although I try to do Erich Andrea's strumming pattern practice a couple times a week. My strumming is getting better but just at a painfully slow pace. I seem to always lose the strum once I 'get going'. I was going to a guitar teacher once or twice a week for a couple months but I really wasnt progressing more then I would on my own and also needed to start saving money...What am I missing guys?
Here is to hoping you can make a guitarist out of a lifelong wanna be.
Your new hopeful student
Chris
Did you catch my latest post? Covers it all hopefully and we can work through any problems here. https://www.taplature.com/single-post/2020/02/24/How-to-Practice-Guitar-Chords-Definitive-Guide
Sounds like you're as keen as anyone I've ever met ... looking forward to your next video!
If it feels tough experiment with hand position ... check the position of my palm. Finger 3 should be pretty flat across the strings; that lets you get the pinky at a comfortable angle. Don't worry too much if you mute the A string with finger 3. Even without that note it's still a good G chord.
Man that 'new' G chord is going to kick my butt tonight
Try this: https://www.taplature.com/blog
Yes I have played with a metronome and I was doing chord changes before with a metronome I've just been so focused on learning a song that I've been neglecting that aspect of my practice routine. I think something else that would be really helpful would be how to practice, what to practice and how long to practice each thing. This morning I only practiced for 30 minutes but it was
A couple minutes of thediatonic scale.
A couple minutes of the pentatonic scale.
A couple minutes of chord changes.
And the rest of the time was spent strumming and trying to get my darn camera to work.
Nice one Cj! I'd say once you get into it you're actually not too far off there. That video will serve well as a "before" snapshot.
Perhaps the biggest issue is the low E string ringing and spoiling the sound of your chords. You can mute it with your thumb when playing the D chord (string 5 won't cause the same problem so don't worry about that) and either with your thumb or the tip of finger 3 when playing the C chord. Of course this will involve slowing way down to begin.
A remake using only 2 chords, G & D alternating and played in time with a metronome or backing would make a good next challenge.
(http://www.chordpulse.com/lite.html is great and free to download if you have a Windows PC)
As chance would have it I've just today published a blog article in which I use exactly that pattern and here you can see me playing it in time with a backing from Chordpulse Lite:
When you play the G your pinky finger collapses rather than staying arched when the pressure goes on.
That looks awkward and could use some attention ... normally hand position is the issue but a different fingering will probably work better. From 13:31 in the same video I demonstrate what I think is the best fingering for a G chord and talk about why.
There's plenty more in the article and video that relates so a good look through should help. When you can get the 2 chord sequence sounding perfect you'll also have the understanding to do the same with more complex sequences.
So ... how about posting a regimented run-through of the G and D sequence at different speeds? 50bpm, 75bpm and 100bpm would do but go higher if you can. Have you played with a metronome before?
Paul.
Cold feet? Don't worry about the quality of your first post ... the more problems on display the more there is to work with!
Right .. action stations! Are you able to post a video to show the issue?
"I seem to always lose the strum once I 'get going'"
First port of call ... how's your strumming when you don't have to change chords?
This blog post may be of use and should give you a taste of how we're going to turn you into a guitar playing machine:
https://www.taplature.com/single-post/2019/01/30/Fix-Your-Strumming-Problems-Today
Wow, 2-3 hours daily? Lucky soul. I’ve been playing on and off for 40 years and hitting chord tones or notes to emphasise chords on a chord change has just made sense. I’ll never be Rory Gallagher or a Yngwie but I learn a little more each lesson (or forum post) and I’m hoping to do the same here. Good luck, I think you might be in the right place.
Welcome Chris, good to see you on board. It's pretty quiet round here (for now) so you have my undivided attention as well as an exclusive "Founder Member's" forum badge (7 remaining as things stand)! 2-3 hours daily is a load of practice time ... there'll be some jealous onlookers! A few weeks should be enough to radically change your position and outlook.
Are you a CCR fan? To strum confidently through "Fortunate Son" would make a very suitable and achievable challenge plus you'd then be equally able to do the same with about 100,000,000 other songs too!
Paul.