This week I decided to try a new tactic in my quest for guitar-goddess status. Instead of starting at the beginning of my 'teach yourself guitar' book, learning three chords and then not touching the instrument for months and starting back at the beginning again, I resolved to choose a song I actually wanted to learn how to play and then learn it. The idea was that I would be more inspired by my own selection than by an endless repetition of the chorus of Yellow Submarine.
So I picked 'Caeldonia', which has been stuck in my head since hearing it on Al's playlist at the weekend, and duly googled and downloaded the chords and lyrics for it. So far, so good. But unfortunately Caledonia relies heavily on the chord of F, which only some sort of mutant with 18 fingers and possibly an extra arm can hope to be able to play. Even leaving out the top couple of strings left me with my fingers in a knot.
It's shame because the other three chords are fairly straightforward. Al assures me that the trick is to play 'bar chords', whatever they may be. I must get him to show me next time I get my guitar out. In about three months' time.
1 comment:
The trick is, indeed, to play bar chords. However, since I have yet to be able to figure them out either, I recommend doggedly sticking to figuring out the regular ones. The F chord I play is index finger on first and second string (1st fret), 2nd finger on 3rd string (2nd fret), 3rd finger on 5TH string (3rd fret) and 4th finger on 4th string (3rd fret). Don't play the bottom E.
I'm afraid it just takes time and practice, but it will come eventually.
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