• bodie
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-04-10
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Changing between playing notes and chords

Hello there.

On and off beginner for a few years now. I am pretty good at chords however when I try and play something where I have to play chords and then play single notes and vice versa, I can't really do it very well. I think some of it is to do with my right hand position as when strumming my hand is over the strings but when I play chords but when I play notes I rest my hand just behind/on the bridge and changing between the two is awkward and difficult.

1. Should I be resting my hand on the bridge while playing single notes?
2. Are there any exercises that will help?
3. Are there some good songs that will help with this?

Thanks very much guys

  • From: carson,washington
  • Registered: 2009-09-22
  • Posts: 350

Re: Changing between playing notes and chords

Hey Bodie, Welcome to Chordie! This is the place to get help for questions like yours. Other

Chordians will probably give you a link to help out but I don't know of one myself. However

my advice is to try getting an "anchor point" on the pickguard area just below the high E

string using your pinky and ring fingers. This keeps your hand centralized in just that area.

Later on in the learning process you'll be able to use the right hand anywhere you want

thru practice! Good luck,     Mike

Our intuitions serve us well
  • Astronomikal
  • Astronomikal
  • Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Texas
  • Registered: 2009-11-01
  • Posts: 644

Re: Changing between playing notes and chords

bodie wrote:

3. Are there some good songs that will help with this?

A few that I use to practice this are:

1.  Behind Blue Eyes (The Who) - simple (strings) 4-3-2-3-1-2-3-2 picking pattern over the chord changes in the verses.

2.  More than a Feeling (Boston) - I finally learned the pattern/tab after watching tutorials on YouTube and practicing it until I drove my family crazy.

3.  Love Hurts (Nazareth, et. al.) - same pattern as Behind Blue Eyes above.


I usually pick the verses and find a spot (bridge or chorus) where it makes sense to start strumming.

Papa is right about the anchor point, but I would recommend just using your pinky to anchor and keeping your ring finger free to pick (i.e., pick with thumb and three fingers).

Bottom line:  The only "preferred" way is your way.  Find a style that feels semi-comfortable and then practice to perfect it.  Eventually it will feel natural.

'Nomikal

"Just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid." - Despair, Inc.
  • zguitar
  • Don't call me Sir
  • Offline
  • From: Mentone, Ca
  • Registered: 2009-01-10
  • Posts: 1,367

Re: Changing between playing notes and chords

Welcome Bodie!!!!

I am in the same boat as you. I'm learning Wild World by Cat Stevens. It has 2 riffs in it that are picked. I've been working on the change for awhile now and I do see improvement. You just gotta keep after it. Papa is right on point. I use my pinky and ring finger to anchor when picking.

Maybe give this a look:
http://justinguitar.com/en/ST-301-WishYouWereHere.php

It's the intro to Wish you Were Here by Pink Floyd. It has more picking than strumming, but it does mix. And it's slow too, so you can get a good feel for it.


Keep practicing!!!!

Keep Rockin!!!!!!!!!!!
  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: Changing between playing notes and chords

where you pick the strings depends on what kind of tone you desire,at the bridge it will have more treble toward the neck it will sustain longer with more bass this is true for acoustic as well as electric smile

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • bodie
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-04-10
  • Posts: 2

Re: Changing between playing notes and chords

This is great. Thanks dudes.

  • Registered: 2006-11-24
  • Posts: 29

Re: Changing between playing notes and chords

Hi,

Ref strumming and embelishing with riffs. I struggled with this for a while, but what helped me was learning scales, particularly
majors, minors, blues and pentatonics.

Try to learn the patterns rather than the notes other wise it can be baffling. Learn the notes on the 6th and 5th strings helps with root notes.

Lastly, find a song you like on CD, find what key its in by playing root notes at the beginning as most songs start with the chord for the key it is in. Lastly, play a scale in major or minor to work out which one it is. Then you can play scales and riffs over the track. Its good fun and its a bit like playing with someone else, which I always encourage anyone to do.

Suffice to say in the end its about practice, practice, practice!!!

Happy pickin'