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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Acoustic → Have been playing for about 6 weeks...
By far the hardest part seems to be chord changes. I practice for about 30-45 minutes a day. Was just looking for some feedback about different people's experiences taking up acoustic guitar and dealing with the challenges. Thanks!
Hey...
Well,i haven`t played guitar for long either-about 5 months and a half now- but i dont have problems with switching chords anymore(except of course for barr chords...they`re just killing me but it will get better with time... <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile"> )anyway...
The only advice i can give you is what helped me deal with switching chords...
Here it is : try to find your own rythm...listen to an easy song if it helps....For example,- i`ll explain a rythm -full strum down twice...the second a bit shorter than the other followed by a strum up a little pause then another one up then another one down then another one up.Try this on a D then switch to a G then to an A and so on...
This is just an example ,try to find or even make up your own rythm,i could be better for you to understand if its your own work <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink">
It helped me a lot with this problem... hope it helps you too!
Patience !! And have fun... <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink">
oh and yeah...almost forgot...try to give your guitar a little more of your time.That could help too <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">
and another thing....
PRACTICE!!! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy"> <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_razz.gif" border=0 alt="Razz">
And Happy New Year everyone...!!! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile"> <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">
Practice till your fingers hurt, and then some. Its what I did, mostly cause I couldn't bring myself to put it down. try printing of a chord chart from t'internet and just working your way through it, hitting each chord till you've got all the strings pressed correctly, then move one to the next, it'll help point out the problems you have when pressing strings and will help with hand movements.
when your happy with it then select a chord progression and play it through several times, also vary the chords improvise chords you know.
Keep practicing.
<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>cobyhak wrote on Mon, 01 January 2007 01:18</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
By far the hardest part seems to be chord changes. I practice for about 30-45 minutes a day. Was just looking for some feedback about different people's experiences taking up acoustic guitar and dealing with the challenges. Thanks!
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To Cobyhak, You mentioned that you practice that is a good thing. When you chose a guitar what led you to an acoustic as your first choice? (let me qualify my question before all the hate email) The action on an acoustic guitar is higher and requires more hand stregnth to press the strings down. (this can be rectified with a guitar action set up depending if the guitar you bought is worth it. ie:the value of the guitar)
Henceforth harder to form correct chords and changes (progressions). But with practice you tend to build up hand stregnth allowing you to form correct sounding chords and with time correct chord progressions. You'll have to go through the sore finger pain until you build up calloses on you finger tips but in the long run it is well worth it. The same is true with an electric guitar although the action set up remedy is quicker due to the design of your bridge (acoustics have fixed bridges and electrics ajustable). You'll still have to practice and go through the sore fingers.
(Note: There are also tonal qualities and amplication issues to consider when chosing an acoustic over an electric guitar as well as cost.)
Good luck <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">
Bootleger.
I still remember my first weeks... I hated them!!
But after some time, you just start getting the hang of it, and you start making up small rythms with the most difficult of all chords (and some easy ones.
once you can play some easy songs, the rest will come without any problem.
All I can advise you is to hold on, the fun will be coming soon!
Chord changes get can be a challange at the begining. Having to change a chord at the right time and play it clean is an art form that will come to you with lots of practice. Exercising your fingers will go a long way in playing the chord clean especially if your guitar is not setup with nut and saddle adjustments. Keep practicing and you will not notice at first but every time you pick up the guitar your fingers will get a little faster and then you will eventully have the speed and precision that you need to play well.
Thanks, everyone, for taking the time out to answer my query, and for making me feel a lot better. I just wanted to be sure that I was facing the same challenges as everyone else out there, and you've assured me that's the case. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">
Have a wonderful new year...
PS in answer to the question about acoustic vs. electric, the answer is that I prefer the richer sound that an acoustic provides.
Guitar chord forum - chordie → Acoustic → Have been playing for about 6 weeks...
