guitar tabs, guitar chords and lyrics

My hand is big enough that I use a "thumb-over" technique, especially if it is just a quick beat.  My buddy that got me started in this git thing showed me this technique.  He's been at it for over 45 years playing in quite a few good bands.  My thumb goes over the top to get the Low-E string while my index finger takes on the Hi-E and B strings.  The E-shape still slides up the neck as in a full barre.

Zurf wrote:

F chord is illegal, but B chord is evil.  EVIL!

I agree... The B chord is evil!

I'm with you guys. F chord has never been a problem, I use all four fingers to play it. But that doggone B chord. I've been playing for 40 some odd years and still the quickest way for me is to Barre it. I shold make it my goal to get it worked out.
Hang in there people, we can get it.
  Joe

mekidsmom wrote:

Ha ha ha!  Tommydone... while I agree, a good work around helps!  Try this:
http://www.chordimages.com/ramimages/i4 … 3210_1.png
That's the "F" I use when a song calls for one.  It's close enough for me, for now anyhow.  Someday I'll visit the mutant research facility and get zapped with some of that special serum to allow me to play a real F and get a B7 fretted quickly!

That is a great work around now if you will rolll your hand just a little bit so your first finger can hold down the high E string on the first fret it sounds a bit fuller.

Welcome to the forums steelystrings.  There are some exercises you can do away from your guitar to build up your finger strength.  I'll press my fingers against my thumb for five seconds at a time, changing to the next finger after each.  I'll go through that cycle ten or twenty times (whatever I have the time for).  It's one of those things that's easy to do when you're driving or walking about.  You can do the same thing, except instead of pressing down as if you are trying to curl your finger down into your palm, start with the finger curled, press it against your thumb, and try to extend it.  Same thing with rotation and five seconds at a time.  This will strengthen your fingers, and though it's not exactly the same motion as making barre chords, it will help.  I do it with both hands.  I find that it helps my endurance on my picking hand and helps with fretting strength on my fretting hand. 

- Zurf

Hi all i am new to the site, about 3 weeks, I just went from 2010 to 2012 and read all the post's on the F cord. WOW 2 years and people are still talking about that cord. How intersting it is to read older post's and compare them to the new post. Really have not changed much. It must be a GREAT chord if people are still chating about it. My brother-teacher made me play a G, F,&G over & over while he practiced his finger picking.That was 30 years ago. Really great to hear people still playing the F!
Rick

auxi wrote:

Good to have you joining us, Steelystrings. I totally agree with what you said. My hands were so twisted and cramped the first time I tried a simple C chord, but practice makes perfect. The best advice I ever got was to not cheat on my F. (But I'm a stanch rule follower )

I began as a cheater and gradually worked my way up to a barre F. At first, all I could manage was an F#7. Then I began to try to do an F where you use  your index finger to fret the B and high E. After at least a year, I finally began to try to do a fully barred F. For me, the F seems to be easier to do than a Bm--my nemesis!

Man when I was learning my chords F did give me a hard time, first time my friend showed me the major and minor forms with the Emaj standard shape, that was it!  or just play the root 5th. 2 fingers is all it takes all the way up and down the neck.  As for B its a root 5th  (index on A string 2nd fret and 3rd finger on D string 4th fret)  and Bm is the full bar chord)  powerchords are great you all and pretty easy once you can get your head around it.

Again I would treat it as a seperate exercise. Play four beats of E then drop the pinky on to make it E7 for 4 beats and repeat over and over. As it gets easier, drop to 2 beats on each and then 1 beat. It will build up strength in the pinky and get it used to dropping in the right place.

Roger

M.B. wrote:

So Roger, is it the case that over time, doing the kind of exercises you describe, I'll be able to not only get greater strength in my pinky, but be able to separate it farther away from my index finger?

MB,, for spreadability, you can use wadded up paper with masking tape or a raquet or squash ball.  Just incert itbetween your fingers and use the mussel to go back and fourth, and let it sit there and slowly strech your tendons.  oh and check your mail Ill send you a pinkey excercise that will really help in addition to what Rodger has told ya.

edit>>>>
Ok this mailer wont let me do an attachment,  If you would like this and some more, please e-mail me at beamerstrumpet@gmail.com,, Ill send you back some great finger excercises.

Last edited by beamer (2012-03-28 00:00:12)

beamer wrote:

MB or anyone else for that matter, I just posted up all my basic stuff on FB..

......but you forgot to post your Fb link so we cannot find it....

Rpger

oh I thought i was the only one that avoided the F  .. nice to see and hear all the advice ... thanks so much