This bar chord is a real "pain" for many players, even if they can do it! To be able to do it, AND keep the rest of the arm and body relaxed is the key. The way to get this ability is to make sure you observe the 3 details below.
If you are trying and trying, and still can't get it, your hand simply needs further development (are you doing The Foundation Exercises from "The Principles", hmmm?)
IMPORTANT! Your entire arm WILL tend to tense up as you begin to apply pressure with 3. You must have the heavy arm, and let it's weight come through the 3rd finger, pushing in the distal joint as shown. The middle knuckle being up DIRECTS the weight properly through the finger. NOT having this knuckle up as shown is a common fault, which forces the arm to tense up.
Practice Posing and relaxing the entire arm and body while going into, and maintaining, this form. (Fingers 2 and 4 are NOT touching the strings).
Copyright ©1999 Jamie Andreas. All rights reserved.
Fundamental aspects of technique, illustrated using classic songs you know and love (according to The Principles, of course!)
Powerful Secrets! to improve your playing!
Important info on reaching with the index or pinky, and its relation to arm position.
These are essential, and basic, techniques for the rock guitarist. Many people do them wrong, find out if you are one of them!
The classical and casual positions with electric, acoustic, and classical guitars.
There are always lots of questions about how to apply The Principles to a standing position. Here are pictures of me standing with an electric, and using different strap lengths.
Pictures of good left hand positions for various playing situations.
Video clips of the Walking Exercises from "The Principles".
Video clip of Foundation Exercise # 10, The 6 note Arpeggio".
See the proper form of this difficult chord.
There is much confusion as to the "correct" left hand position for guitar. That is because there is no such thing as THE correct left hand position for guitar!
Find out why you need to have those distal joints in shape for this chord, and also why you don't!
In 30 years of teaching, I have rarely (perhaps never) seen a left hand that wasn't crippled with bad form in one way or another, especially when it comes to doing major scales. This workshop student was no exception......
A common error in technique for students, and contributing factor to a lot of playing problems.
What does good tone and bad tone on an acoustic guitar sound like anyway?
Often, we must squeeze our fingers into some rather unaccommodating positions on the guitar. We know we are supposed to strive to get our fingers "right behind the fret" as we play, but, like so many things in life, we have to bend the rules sometimes (it ain't a perfect world!).
