#1
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Help with smooth transition from open A to D
Friends, I would appreciate any suggestions as I try to improve the transition from open A to D. I find that, as I make the move, my ring finger tends to follow my middle finger (echoing the A fingering) and "falls" off the fret board . And I end up dong a two point landing - the index and middle finger at the same time, and then the ring finger in tow. This definitely slows the transition. I have tried slowing things waaaaay down. But mostly, that just seems to make the phenomenon more obvious and frustrating. I have tried having the finger follow the string down, but I do not want to develop a skidding habit. I also focus to keeping my hand more parallel to the fret board to keep the finger positioned over the string.
Thanks for any words of wisdom. Such a simple thing..... David |
#2
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How are you fingering your A chord?
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Guitars: Martin 000C-16RGTE Guild GAD-50 Epiphone Sheraton 2 Pro Gibson Les Paul Studio Fender Stratocaster MIM w/ noiseless pickups |
#3
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Index - 4th string
Middle - 3rd string Ring - 2nd string All stacked on second fret. Last edited by Deliberate1; 07-27-2019 at 02:38 PM. |
#4
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#5
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Quote:
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#6
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Quote:
Index - 3rd string Middle - 4th string Ring - 2nd string All on the 2nd fret of course. In transitioning to the D chord, the index finger doesn't move, leave it be. The middle finger drops down to the 1st string 2nd fret and then the ring finger moves to the 2nd string 3rd fret. In this way you're only moving 2 fingers instead of three. Plus it's a little easier fitting all 3 of you fingers on the 2nd fret for the A chord. When transitioning from the D back to A just move your middle and ring fingers to bracket the index finger which is still on the 3rd string and hasn't moved at all. |
#7
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Slide ring up 1 fret - don't take it off the string. Middle goes behind to 1st string, index to 3rd.
__________________
"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen. |
#8
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And you could half barre the D chord (index barre on strings 1-3 and middle finger on string 2.
Also try forming the chord shapes in the air. So for example fret the D chord. Then lift off the D chord 1" and then fret the chord again without looking. Cycle that. Then go for a two inch lift off cycle again without looking. If you can pre form chord shapes in the air it won't much matter what chord came before.
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above Last edited by rick-slo; 07-27-2019 at 06:52 PM. |
#9
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Quote:
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#10
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As a matter of technique, or etiquette, is it considered bad form to slide the finger in that way? A crutch, if you will.
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#11
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I've always played:
Middle - 4th string Ring - 3rd string Pinky - 2nd string |
#12
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Not at all; on the contrary, that is a valuable technique in many applications.
__________________
-Gordon 1978 Larrivee L-26 cutaway 1988 Larrivee L-28 cutaway 2006 Larrivee L03-R 2009 Larrivee LV03-R 2016 Irvin SJ cutaway 2020 Irvin SJ cutaway (build thread) K+K, Dazzo, Schatten/ToneDexter Notable Journey website Facebook page Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art. - Leonardo Da Vinci |
#13
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Quote:
It might depend on whether a slide is audible, and whether you like that sound or not. In any case, if that is a problem (I can't see how it would be) it's easy enough to release the pressure a little without taking your finger off the string. Of course, one is not always to changing from one chord to the same next chord, which is why it's good to have different fingering options for each chord where possible. As I say, whatever gets the job done easiest. In fact, all guitar technique - including the strictest classical technique - is designed for maximum efficiency. There's no sense in making things unnecessarily difficult.
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"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen. |
#14
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I play my A with my index finger covering the 4th and 3rd string and my middle finger covering the 3rd and 2nd string. That way, my ring finger is already free to go right to the 3rd fret, second string and the index finger barely moves. While the middle and index only have to move over a little bit. Works well for me. I have only ever played my A that way -- or play a barre A at the 5th fret.
If you can get away with D5 instead of D, just use the 5th fret. Major barre shape is your A, while just playing the 5th, 4th and 3rd strings of the minor barre shape will give you D5.
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As my username suggests, huge fan of Yamaha products. Own many acoustic-electric models from 2009-present and a couple electric. Lots of PA too. |
#15
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Just pick a chord shape/technique (like the one you're using) and practice, practice.... practice. Muscle memory comes from......you guessed it......practice.
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