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I want to play guitar
Ninny:
Eileen,
I just happened to remember something! I haven't thought about this for a long time! I used to play the baritone ukulele. It tunes just like a guitar without the two bottom strings! That might be something you could do, too. of course the sound isn't as full as the guitar, but pretty close. Those two missing strings are those two little tiny strings that cut your fingers to death on the guitar! Ha! You chord the baritone uke just like a guitar (without those two bottom strings) :D
I loved my baritone uke, my little niece and nephew got hold of it and broke it one day and it was not fixable :'( (I was going to buy one not too long ago, but it was very expensive) I still have my soprano uke, I play it occasionally, but I really loved that baritone!! When you think of the uke you always think of Hawaiian music, but the baritone doesn't have that same sound as the regular one. My baritone was about the size of that "Little Martin" you talked about! :D
Kathy ;)
roundbellygroove:
--- Quote ---Daywalker, I have been practicing switching between Em and D chords. It takes me a long time to "set up" my fingers on the strings. I am getting better at reading the tabs though. I can't wait for my "Little Martin".
--- End quote ---
Eileen the D chord happens to be one of the toughest open chords and the Em is probably the easiest. Take your time learning these chords. Its OK to "set up" you fingers at first. You want to use your finger tips when holding your chords not the fleshy part of your fingers.(there will be exceptions to this rule later) Keep your thumb firmly behind the roundest part of the guitar neck and make sure your fingers are arched when pressing a chord. Pretend that your have a golf ball inside your fretting hand to insure the best finger arch.
Another thing to watch for is you posture. Are you standing or sitting? If you are sitting and playing right handed(you strum with your right hand) then make sure your guitar sits on your left lap not on your right. Having it on your right will cause you to have bad posture along with developing awkward form to playing your guitar.
Now here is the encouragement part. Take your time working out these chords. You are working with motor skills that you have to develop. You don't want to waist your time practicing bad form that will later hold you back from progressing or having to relearn it. You have to work harder and longer to break bad form than it is to just do it right the first time. I still have a couple of bad habits that show up from time to time in my playing that I practiced 15yrs ago. So its OK to TAKE YOUR TIME!!! Now about that D chord. It took me about a months worth of practice at about 20 to 30min a day to move to and from the D chord. As you will notice your hand "shifts" a different position for every chord that you play. Practice going to and from these following chords, C, G, D,and Em. These four chords sound good together in any combination and have completely different shifting patterns that will help you step up to other chords later. Also practice A, Am, and E. Again all of these chord "shapes" will help you in the future when expanding to other keys.
So go get em.
roundbellygroove
EKnight:
Roundbellygroove,
Your advice about putting the guitar on the left is priceless. I have been doing the opposite and I have been playing totally hunched over. My back was hurting. Hopefully this will solve the problem.
You've got me wondering if I am doing the D chord correctly because it's easier for me to switch from Em to D because two of the fingers remain on the same fret.
Thanks for the encouragement and mini lesson. I am on vacation this week while my bathroom is being re-done so I have a lot of time to practice. I am anxious for my fingers to stop hurting though.
Kathy,
I will consider the uke. I would like my daughter to play as well and maybe that would be enticing to her too.
Thanks again.
Eileen
Ninny:
Hey Eileen,
I was reading what you said about your size..I am a shorty, too! I am just at 5' tall and (well I ain't gonna say what my weight is!) :D BUT one of the things that I like about playing that smaller instrument is the size of it of course! I have played an acoustic guitar before and wow! It is kinda hard to get your arm around it and still be able to stretch to get the chords! My son has a big acoustic, well big for me! I think he has a Takamine kind of like this one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wRkI8UXuc0&feature=related
My older son can play like this guy, but the younger one who has the Takamine can only play rhythm. My older son took guitar for several years and is quite accomplished, but he has carpal tunnel and doesn't play much any more. Note the expression on this guy's face! I know a lot of guitar players and every one of them has these funny facial expressions! I think it has to do with passion for the instrument, love of music, and maybe a little pain!!
Talking about size you know Dolly Parton is barely 5 feet tall and probably has the longest nails of any guitar player ever and she can do it! You'll notice when she plays she uses mainly bar chords!
Well, just have fun learning, if you get your little Martin, you're gonna love it!!
Kathy :)
Amrhrasach:
--- Quote from: EKnight on April 21, 2009, 08:22:08 AM ---
Kathy,
I will consider the uke. I would like my daughter to play as well and maybe that would be enticing to her too.
Thanks again.
Eileen
--- End quote ---
Eileen,
For that matter, you may want to consider the mandolin. Much smaller neck (width/depth) and a much smaller fretboard to work with.
Gary
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