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Old 02-26-2020, 12:47 PM
sloar sloar is offline
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Default Is there a trick to A Major?

I can hit an A Major while strumming, but I'm working on a song that has a couple pull offs and hammer ons with the b string while plucking the ebg strings. I just cant get a tone difference in the sound. Is there a trick to getting all 3 fingers on there with muting? Thanks
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Old 02-26-2020, 12:54 PM
rmp rmp is online now
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No real trick, it is a bit tight you could try using middle ring and pinky?

Check the angle of your hand and come in a bit more level?

You can get a little more mileage out of an A chord with the open strings
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Old 02-26-2020, 01:02 PM
jseth jseth is offline
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There are a lot of "classic" sounds associated with that "pull off/hammer on" B string while employing an A chord... good one to learn!

Even though I don't have big hands or fat fingers, I will use one finger to fret both the D string (E note) and G string (A note) to create a bit more space for that hammer on/pull off technique... especially with a 1 11/16ths" nut width, it's quite doable.

I'll use that "two strings with one fingertip" approach on a lot of different chords, for the very reason that it creates more room for various embellishment techniques...
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Old 02-26-2020, 01:02 PM
Nymuso Nymuso is offline
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Try grabbing the three strings with two fingers. I suggest the middle and ring as it minimizes muting while keeping the index and pinky free for additional tasks that might arise.
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Old 02-26-2020, 01:13 PM
Sonics Sonics is offline
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Bar the index finger across DGBE strings at the second fret. With a bit of practice you can avoid playing the high E string. You can then use the other fingers to hammer on the B string.
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Old 02-26-2020, 01:36 PM
sloar sloar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonics View Post
Bar the index finger across DGBE strings at the second fret. With a bit of practice you can avoid playing the high E string. You can then use the other fingers to hammer on the B string.
This song requires an A without the b string a couple times, so barring all the strings wouldn't work.
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Old 02-26-2020, 01:38 PM
sloar sloar is offline
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So far the best I can get is from playing a normal A with 3 fingers and I'm hit and miss for about 50%. Maybe just more practice?
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:31 PM
ssjk ssjk is offline
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which fingers are you using?

Index / middle / ring straight across on strings 4 /3 /2 doesn't work for me, so I long ago changed to middle /index /ring. It creates a slightly tighter pattern and make it easier for me to play either the 4th or 2nd string open.

Nice side effect is it lets you leave your index finger anchored for a transition to D.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:36 PM
sloar sloar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ssjk View Post
which fingers are you using?

Index / middle / ring straight across on strings 4 /3 /2 doesn't work for me, so I long ago changed to middle /index /ring. It creates a slightly tighter pattern and make it easier for me to play either the 4th or 2nd string open.

Nice side effect is it lets you leave your index finger anchored for a transition to D.
I’ll give it a try, thanks.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:58 PM
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If the played notes are as you described it I would second fret the G string with my second finger and hammer and pull the B string with my index finger.
The D string not being played allows you to crowd it with your second finger leaving plenty of room for the index finger not to bump into the E string.
Have your fingertips perpendicular to the fretboard.
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Old 02-26-2020, 04:39 PM
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Probably would've helped a lot if I would've mentioned the song is Fire And Rain.
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Old 02-26-2020, 06:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sloar View Post
I can hit an A Major while strumming, but I'm working on a song that has a couple pull offs and hammer ons with the b string while plucking the ebg strings. I just cant get a tone difference in the sound. Is there a trick to getting all 3 fingers on there with muting? Thanks
Hi sloar…
No tricks but definitely different fingerings.

Here's the fingering I teach/use, and it's pretty simple to master. Just play the A7 part (fingers 2-3) and drop the first finger behind.

It's really easy to play D to A with this fingering. Just leave the 1st finger in place (after playing D) and lift the other two and drop into place to form the A.



Hope this gives you something to experiment with…



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Old 02-26-2020, 07:30 PM
Paleolith54 Paleolith54 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sloar View Post
I can hit an A Major while strumming, but I'm working on a song that has a couple pull offs and hammer ons with the b string while plucking the ebg strings. I just cant get a tone difference in the sound. Is there a trick to getting all 3 fingers on there with muting? Thanks
You're probably playing the basic open A chord with fingers as noted:

X
O
2 middle
2 ring
2 little
X

Try the same chord but different fingering (it'll feel bunched up at first but you'll get used to it.)

X
O
2 middle
2 index
2 ring
X

I found this to be a much better way of doing what I think you're asking about; easy to pull-off with the ring finger and hammer on with the little finger. I picked this up watching Tom Petty and James Taylor.

EDIT: I didn't read every post before answering but I'm saying the same thing as ljguitar.

Last edited by Paleolith54; 02-26-2020 at 10:33 PM.
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Old 02-27-2020, 04:18 PM
Laughingboy68 Laughingboy68 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ljguitar View Post
Hi sloar…
No tricks but definitely different fingerings.

Here's the fingering I teach/use, and it's pretty simple to master. Just play the A7 part (fingers 2-3) and drop the first finger behind.

It's really easy to play D to A with this fingering. Just leave the 1st finger in place (after playing D) and lift the other two and drop into place to form the A.



Hope this gives you something to experiment with…





And this is the fingering that James Taylor uses while playing that song.

I tend to use an A major voicing at the 5th fret if the song allows, just because it can be awkward in open position. Fire and Rain needs to be played as shown above.

There is a great video online that shows JT instructing all his particular fingerstyle parts for that song. There is a second camera inside the soundhole to illustrate it perfectly.
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  #15  
Old 02-27-2020, 05:11 PM
sloar sloar is offline
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I’m working on it, having trouble getting my ring finger to flex like that.
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