This is killing me.....

[TBman]

DADF#AD tuning, capo 2nd fret: {Miracle Mountain (Kishibe)}

xxxxx4 (qtr note), then to 2xx124 (8th note), then xx0xxx (8th note)


I can do the 2xx124, but I can't do the qtr note before it, without grabbing the full chord, then the 4, lol. My pinky doesn't work that way.

To keep learning the song without this road block, I just dropped the 2nd fret bass note. There's another way to play this while retaining the bass note, but it was clunky, 2x66x4, wrapping the thumb for the bass. I may revisit this though.

[stanron]

Originally Posted by TBman

xxxxx4 (qtr note), then to 2xx124 (8th note),

Are these not part of the same shape? Finger the whole shape then play both bits.

[JonPR]

Nice tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrZ5ExQ86NA
- the part in question is at 0:28.

If you watch the video, and listen to the track (I don't know what your tab shows), he doesn't play the 1st and 2nd strings together. So the ring doesn't need to actually fret 2 at the same time as the pinky frets 4.
-4---4-------------------
-------------2-----------
-----1-------1-------------
---------0-------0--------
-------------------------
-----2--------------------

Pinky stays on 4 over the first open D, but can come off to allow the ring to fret 2nd string. Watch the video, you can see him doing this: he doesn't have both ring and pinky fretting together. At the beginning of that chord, his ring is just hovering (right above the fret, not behind) - although the transition is quick and the pinky note does get its full length. Pinky comes off as ring goes down.

However! - in general it sounds like you need some pinky exercise:

Find some exerciseS which force you to use the pinky in more positive ways - such as:
Eg, pick a scale and play it with fingers 2-3-4, avoiding the index.
For any chord shape using the pinky, put the pinky down first. For chord shapes which need a stretch - like this one - check thumb position: on back of neck, press roughly between index and pinky, not opposite index. (Get the pinky down first, and let the index stretch back.)
When the chord shape is down, try lifting the pinky on and off.
Try hammering-on and pulling-off with the pinky.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by JonPR

Nice tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrZ5ExQ86NA
- the part in question is at 0:28.

If you watch the video, and listen to the track (I don't know what your tab shows), he doesn't play the 1st and 2nd strings together. So the ring doesn't need to actually fret 2 at the same time as the pinky frets 4.
-4---4-------------------
-------------2-----------
-----1-------1-------------
---------0-------0--------
-------------------------
-----2--------------------

Pinky stays on 4 over the first open D, but can come off to allow the ring to fret 2nd string. Watch the video, you can see him doing this: he doesn't have both ring and pinky fretting together. At the beginning of that chord, his ring is just hovering (right above the fret, not behind) - although the transition is quick and the pinky note does get its full length. Pinky comes off as ring goes down.

However! - in general it sounds like you need some pinky exercise:

Find some exerciseS which force you to use the pinky in more positive ways - such as:
Eg, pick a scale and play it with fingers 2-3-4, avoiding the index.
For any chord shape using the pinky, put the pinky down first. For chord shapes which need a stretch - like this one - check thumb position: on back of neck, press roughly between index and pinky, not opposite index. (Get the pinky down first, and let the index stretch back.)
When the chord shape is down, try lifting the pinky on and off.
Try hammering-on and pulling-off with the pinky.

Good points Jon, thanks. I'm going to try your suggestions.