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  #1  
Old 11-23-2019, 07:23 PM
Pickles Pickles is offline
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Question Embellishments behind/under chord?

Hi how can you play embellishments behind or under the chord you're on?
Like if I'm strumming on a bar chord on the 5th fret, and I want to play a note on the 3rd fret, how do you do that right?
If the notes above the chord, it's just a quick finger flick, but under, it's a different story, and I can't figure it out 🤔

Thanks all.
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Old 11-23-2019, 07:37 PM
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rick-slo rick-slo is offline
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Nothing if you want to be holding the barre continuously with your index finger.

Of course you could play say an Am chord shape barre on the fifth fret and keep the 2nd, 3rd and 4th string ringing while you lift off the
index finger to get some lower notes (say fifth string open and then fretted on the fourth fret).
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Last edited by rick-slo; 11-23-2019 at 07:43 PM.
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Old 11-23-2019, 07:52 PM
srbell srbell is offline
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Think of alternative places to play the same notes such that they are above the chord. Remember, the strings are tuned to 4ths (or a 3rd for the B string), so for a note two frets down you could play the same note a few frets above the chord but a string lower. You can also change where you are playing the chord.
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Old 11-24-2019, 06:03 AM
stanron stanron is offline
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I've no wish to detract from previous contributors but what you describe exposes a problem inherent in bar chords in the first place, and explains why they are not used all the time by more advanced players. Bar chords tie up too many fingers. They often contain duplications of notes that may not be needed and, as you point out, cut you off from the bass end of the instruments range.

Unless you have entered guitar playing through the Classical Guitar route you will probably have started playing by learning chords. Modern guitar playing is largely 'chordcentric'. Other forms of music differ. For the beginning guitarist bar chords are likely to be the most difficult thing that they have encountered but in terms of music rather than 'guitaring' bar chords are a dead end. In jazz and in folk music bar chords are rare, in rock they morph into power chords which are a different thing again. There is a lot more to music than chords.

There are vast areas of music outside guitar playing where chords are far less defined. An awful lot of orchestral music is melody, bass line and, sometimes, counter melody. The interaction of these can describe chords but they are not defined. Think of string quartet music. Not a notated chord in sight.

To sum up, well done for spotting the problem. How you solve it will part of your musical journey. Good luck.
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Old 11-24-2019, 08:35 AM
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Mr. Jelly Mr. Jelly is offline
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I use my right foot. It's a bit of showmanship that usually gets allot of attention. I have to keep my toenails clipped as well. Good luck!
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Old 11-24-2019, 08:35 AM
JonPR JonPR is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pickles View Post
Hi how can you play embellishments behind or under the chord you're on?
Like if I'm strumming on a bar chord on the 5th fret, and I want to play a note on the 3rd fret, how do you do that right?
Well, obviously, you can't. Are you thinking of some specific example in a song? Presumably tabbed badly?
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Old 11-24-2019, 09:36 AM
Brent Hahn Brent Hahn is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pickles View Post
Like if I'm strumming on a bar chord on the 5th fret, and I want to play a note on the 3rd fret, how do you do that right?
As a general rule, that same note will also appear on the 8th fret. Different string, though, but at least within the realm of possibility. :-)
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Old 11-24-2019, 09:49 AM
RustyAxe RustyAxe is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by srbell View Post
Think of alternative places to play the same notes such that they are above the chord. Remember, the strings are tuned to 4ths (or a 3rd for the B string), so for a note two frets down you could play the same note a few frets above the chord but a string lower. You can also change where you are playing the chord.
This ^ ... I was gonna post the same thing.
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