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After "The Principles",the
metronome is the most important
practice tool you can use. Used as shown in
"The Principles", it will increase your rate of progress faster than anything
else. Click
below for further info:
Why must I use a metronome?
What type
should I get? |
Cautionary Note: Make sure you are regularly reviewing all
material. Your goal is to be able to play everything in the book to a steady beat with
reasonably relaxed movements. If you cannot turn on the metronome and play each piece with
90%-95% accuracy, you are not practicing correctly. Test yourself by recording yourself
and listening back.
We are going to begin to create harmony now,
which means playing two or more notes at the same time, two or more notes that sound
"good" together. At this stage of the game, all that the word "chord"
can mean to you is just that : many notes played at once that sound good together.
Later on, you will learn that each of these chords has a few particular notes in its
make-up. For instance, a C chord is really just the notes C-E-G. Anytime you play those
notes, in any combination, you are playing a C chord. But, that doesn't mean all C chords
are created equal. Each way you combine those 3 notes will have a different quality of
sound.
For instance, on this page you have a C
chord played G-C-E as in the first two measures, and in "The Builder" you have
E-G-C. They are both C chords, but have a different "texture". This will make
more sense as time goes on.
Mel is giving you the most common forms of
these chords, as appropriate to this level. We have on this page a 3 note C chord, and a 3
note F and G7 chord. But, as mentioned, there are slightly different forms of these
chords in each piece.
| The Chord Waltz |
| Check 1 |
Hold fingers down as Mel tells you. Keep a heavy arm. in
measure 5 you have to switch the 1st finger to the 1st string. Realize when you pick up
the finger you must momentarily engage your shoulder muscles to transition to a Floating
Arm. Do this move with no tempo and posing to eliminate shakiness during this move that
will cause the finger to miss its target. Begin to transition the shoulder muscles
to the Floating Arm slightly BEFORE you release the C note to make the move. |
| Check 2 |
Measure 9: This
is a very tricky chord form to change into. Most people screw it up! Make sure you hold
the F note from the previous measure AS you turn the hand slightly to the left and extend
the 3rd finger to the low F note. At the same time, have the 4th finger reaching for
its note.
Once these fingers are down, release the F note from the
1st string. Also, make sure you keep the 3rd and 4th fingers separated enough to not block
the 3rd string. If you are not getting the 3rd string, check your arm from shoulder
to fingertip for excess tension. |
| Check 3 |
2nd Line, Measure 4: Prepare
the 1st finger on the C note WHILE the 3rd and 4th are still down. Then, release 3 and 4
and shift weight to 1 when going to the C chord. |
The
Builder |
Check
1 |
Measure
1-2: When you place the 1st and 2nd down for the little C chord, look at your 3rd
finger. Is it seperated, held over the 3rd fret near the F note, and reasonably relaxed?
Make sure it is. |
Check
2 |
Measure 3: Hold
the 1st finger down when switching from the C to the F chord. |
Check
3 |
Measure 8: Before
switching to measure 9, touch your 2nd finger to the E note, 4th string. Then lift the 3rd
finger from the F. |
Small Chord Etude
(introducing the half bar) |
| This is the position for the first "small" C
chord. Notice the upright index distal (tip) joint, and the good seperation between the
index and middle. |
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| When switching to the "small" F chord,
follow these steps: Before releasing the C note, touch the 2nd finger to
the A note.
Then, lift the C, and begin to extend into the half bar. |
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| This is a good half bar position. The half bar can be
very challenging. Make sure your form is good, as shown here. Do not allow fingers to be
squeezing against one another. The index may "roll" or lean
slightly back toward the head of the guitar. This helps apply pressure.
Keep a heavy arm to add arm weight through the half bar. |
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