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Need help with a chord change.

M

momodig

Member
This is for guitar chords. I'm having trouble raising my 3rd finger... From E to E7. When I lift my 4th finger (pinky) the 5th string third fret, my 3rd finger won't raise/ (it seems to follow my pinky finger). Is there an easier way to do this? It's a basic blues riff -- first couple of bars are E E7 A Am E B7

E
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1
2
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E7
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3
1
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2
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You're gonna hate me for saying this, but there is no true cure for it but practice. Till your fingers get in the habit of it, your pinky is gonna follow that ring finger wherever it goes. Try this though: Instead of playing that entire riff over and over, repeat the E-Maj - E7 shift again and again till it becomes comfortable. It'll take some time, but it'll be worth it to hold your own, till you get it down.

The most frustrating (but also the most rewarding) part of learning guitar is the amount of time it takes to make real progress, and the only cure is playing every day.
 
So it's possible to eventually train those two fingers so they don't follow? I sat down with the guitar, this is my problem... when I go to move my pinky, I have to lift my 3rd finger (to make that an open string) but I can't lift my 3rd finger.

Sorry I wasn't clear in explaining -- I just sat down with the guitar now to confirm. So what I tried to do, was use the lifted 3rd finger instead of the pinky, but that's a hard stretch.... (but you are right -- my 3rd does want to follow the pinky)
 
Oh yeah, you'll get there, and faster than you think.

The reason that I encourage you to never cheat on a chord is that it actually slows down your progress instead of speeding it up. Think of playing "cheater" chords or cheater fingerings like putting training wheels on a bicycle: They allow you to ride, but at the expense of learning to ride properly. One great way of training your ring and pinky fingers is to play more barre chords and scales. It will wake up and strengthen those fingers until each one can move independently of the other.

Being nosey, how long have you been playing?
 
Any scale in mind? (what would you recomend) -- I've been playing guitar a while -- mostly punk -- but I want to learn some blues stuff now... get a more broder range of music... so most of my guitar knowledge is with power cords.
 
A scale for blues? Try this...

A Pentatonic minor Scale Pattern 1 (A C D E G)

A C D E G A C D E G A C
1 4 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 4 1 4
-------------------------------5--8---------------
-------------------------5--8---------------------
-------------------5--7---------------------------
-------------5--7---------------------------------
-------5--7---------------------------------------
-5--8---------------------------------------------
(also starts at 17th fret)
 
If you want to train your fingers to operate individually, just do a simple pattern like this:


e----------------------
b----------------------
g----------------------------etc
D---------------------5-6-7-8--------------------------
A------------5-6-7-8----------------------------
E---5-6-7-8-------------------------------------

keep your hand in one position, one finger per note. Play it all the way through, up and down a couple times to warm up, then start playing only the notes your 1st and 3rd finger are over (with only those two fingers), then your second and fourth, then your first and second, your third and fourth, your second and third, your first and fourth. Then play the E string with your first and third, the A string with your second and fourth, and alternate between them for the remaining strings. Keep mixing up what you're doing in a similar way, spending about the same amount of time on each finger. Do this for about fifteen minutes or so at it when you first pick up your guitar to warm up and slowly your fretting will improve.
 
You can also make an E7 by lifting your finger off the 2nd fret on the D string so the D (which is the dominant 7th in the chord) sounds. But those other guys are right - practice it tonight, go to bed, try it first thing tomorrow, and I bet you'll have it!
 
fotno said:
You're gonna hate me for saying this, but there is no true cure for it but practice... the only cure is playing every day.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, the "P" word. No way around it, for any instrument. Developing the muscles used (many of which you have never used appreciably before) simply takes time.
 
momodig said:
This is for guitar chords. I'm having trouble raising my 3rd finger... From E to E7. When I lift my 4th finger (pinky) the 5th string third fret, my 3rd finger won't raise/ (it seems to follow my pinky finger). Is there an easier way to do this? It's a basic blues riff -- first couple of bars are E E7 A Am E B7

E
0
0
1
2
2
0

E7
0
0
3
1
0
2
0
Click to expand...

It's true- it takes practice to be able to finger these but it becomes easier. Doing picking exercises before practicing chords may help, especially the ones where you play the scales in all keys, in all positions, starting from a different finger. Practicing sucks, but it makes a big difference.

If it's easier, switch your ring finger from the D string to the A, second fret. If that isn't easier, you can play E7 by adding the D on the B string, with your pinky. It's a little fuller sounding and reinforces the tonic note (E). Here's a link:

http://www.berm.co.nz/chords/#
 
I remember learning to play guitar and how difficult the F chord was for me. Struggled to press those four strings down at once with fingers in the right locations and thinking I would never be able to do it quickly and consistently, but with practice it worked.
 
I've been playing for over 20 years now, and I remember every hurdle with fondness. I play every day, and I still learn every day. Heck, I've been working on Windy and Warm for close to ten years now, I still haven't gotten it down, but I keep on trying...
 
bluelake07 said:
I remember learning to play guitar and how difficult the F chord was for me. Struggled to press those four strings down at once with fingers in the right locations and thinking I would never be able to do it quickly and consistently, but with practice it worked.
Click to expand...

For me, it was/is Bm... I always used to seem, and at times still does, so far away from first position G.
 
I'm primarily a bass player but I've played rhythm guitar in sveral bands and done a ton of acoustic gigs over the years. I still can't play an open F to save my life. I cheat around the chord, I use the barre F - I do anything I can to avoid it. I'll even capo to a different key so I don't have to play that damn chord. And I'm a pretty accomplished player who's made plenty of money playing music!

I guess the point is keep trying. No matter what, you'll have fun and you'll always have a few weak spots. I think you become a better player by learning how to work around your dislikes.
 
there are many ways to make an E7, you can just put your little finger on the 2nd string (b string) at the 3rd fret and it changes E to E7 in tab it would be 022130
 
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