So, I can make barre chords...

Guitars+gems · #1 04-20-2016, 08:23 PM

but can I change to them smoothly during a song? No! I still need a second or 2 to think about where my fingers go and how they should feel, to make the chord cleanly. And even then, there's no guarantee! Changing to and from a single barre, like the Bm which comes up often in songs I want to play, is killer. So I thought I should probably try to play more of the chords in a tune as barres, to reduce the distance between chords. I've been working on that. The Beatles' 8 Days a Week has a G Bm G Bm E. So I've been playing the G as a barre.

The thing is, I accept that it will take time to develop facility at this, and I get that I just have to keep plugging away. But what I don't understand is why some days it goes well, I feel hopeful about it. Other days, I can't do it at all! I can't seem to consistently hold on to the skill.

Any advice for me?

Looburst · #2 04-20-2016, 08:26 PM

Not really, just keep at it. It takes some time and focus for you to go there effortlessly. Might even take two or three months. Everyone is different.

Ditch · #3 04-20-2016, 08:28 PM

When you find the answer let me know. I can make them great when I practice them. When it comes to a song, who knows. May sound good may not. Like you I keep plugging away.

WSR · #4 04-20-2016, 08:44 PM

I hear ya. I've been playing for almost 2.5 years, and these are only starting to come more easily for me . . .

fazool · #5 04-20-2016, 08:48 PM

(typing on tablet which stinks so my answer will be short and ull of typos)

Its really about creating muscle memory which is more than just a catch phrase.

One theory is that you should practice the same thing over and over for 20 minutes and no more. Then sleep on it and your brain will replay and reinforce the new neural pathways it formed/found.

And total inconsistency is 100% normal and to be expected.

As hard as it seems just dont get yourself discouraged. When youhaev a bad practice day simply take a break to do something else.

TBman · #6 04-20-2016, 09:23 PM

Playing the guitar is just like every other exercise.

Stress + rest = improved performance.

A day off once or twice a week helps a lot.

rick-slo · #7 04-20-2016, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitars+gems

Any advice for me?

On this forum there are a couple of hundred prior barre threads you could read through.

Guitars+gems · #8 04-20-2016, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazool

Its really about creating muscle memory which is more than just a catch phrase.

One theory is that you should practice the same thing over and over for 20 minutes and no more. Then sleep on it and your brain will replay and reinforce the new neural pathways it formed/found.

And total inconsistency is 100% normal and to be expected.

As hard as it seems just dont get yourself discouraged. When youhaev a bad practice day simply take a break to do something else.

Thank you, fazool. This is helpful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-slo

On this forum there are a couple of hundred prior barre threads you could read through.

Yes. I've read several of them. And made use of a lot of the advice. Which is partly why I've gotten as far as I have. The question I was asking was about retaining the skill.
If the only questions that were ever asked in this forum were brand new ones, I doubt there'd be many asked at all.

frankhond · #9 04-20-2016, 11:43 PM

In your mind, be one beat or so ahead of what you are playing now. In the words of Pierre Bensusan, always think about the next note. If the next note is a barre chord, prepare your mind in advance. This idea helps in general to make your playing smoother, but can feel weird at first if you never tried it before.

rick-slo · #10 04-21-2016, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankhond

In your mind, be one beat or so ahead of what you are playing now. In the words of Pierre Bensusan, always think about the next note. If the next note is a barre chord, prepare your mind in advance. This idea helps in general to make your playing smoother, but can feel weird at first if you never tried it before.

Yep, one needs to be thinking ahead of where one is - even more so when the autopilot of muscle memory is not firmly established.
An interesting article: http://actu.epfl.ch/news/how-the-bra...in-time-slice/

JonPR · #11 04-21-2016, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitars+gems

but can I change to them smoothly during a song? No! I still need a second or 2 to think about where my fingers go and how they should feel, to make the chord cleanly. And even then, there's no guarantee! Changing to and from a single barre, like the Bm which comes up often in songs I want to play, is killer. So I thought I should probably try to play more of the chords in a tune as barres, to reduce the distance between chords. I've been working on that. The Beatles' 8 Days a Week has a G Bm G Bm E. So I've been playing the G as a barre.

The thing is, I accept that it will take time to develop facility at this, and I get that I just have to keep plugging away. But what I don't understand is why some days it goes well, I feel hopeful about it. Other days, I can't do it at all! I can't seem to consistently hold on to the skill.

Any advice for me?

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