Point number one -- It is clear that you all call to a higher standard, and I'm not going to maintain my old sloppy playing habits. "Can't get away with #%&@!" It is going to be a real challenge to not use my thumb to wrap up and over to mute the 6th and 5th string. Probably a compensation for inaccurate string striking on my strumming. It's been easier to mute with the thumb and flail away rather than to get the pick to the correct bass string.
Point number two --- Slow it down! Message received loud and clear. I had no idea I was going too fast for comfort.
Thanks Bob, Tony, Chas, Willem, Brad, Chris, BigBear.
Willem, thanks, capo at second fret it will be.
MarkM -- yes, that thing I do on the G chord is just a blues type bass line. I can drop it if is annoying. Just something I sort of felt a natural thing my fingers want to go to. Not at all in keeping with the recording.
BigBear wrote:
Thanks BigBear. Nothing escapes your attention. So many years of ingrained bad habits. I know the advantages of correct hand posture, but when I try even elementary chord shifts doing it the correct way it feels like my fingers have gone blind, and don't know where to find the place they need to go. Just my complaints, and resistance to change. I will make an effort, but it feels like I am going back to a very unskilled and elementary place in my ability to play.- slow down!! You are playing at an almost frantic pace! This song has a rolling, bouncy feel that requires extra emphasis on the first note of each measure.
I might add that you should work hard on getting your left thumb behind the neck and not on top of it. Neil has several lessons on this bad habit that we've all had to break! Your turn! lol! Seriously, I had the exact problem you are having until I improved my hand position and it just went away! It's always the simplest things that have the greatest impact.
If you rotate your wrist down a little and form a gap under the neck and your palm you will not get all those clanker, dead notes. This is really important when picking out melody notes with your pinky!
I really liked your alternate chording on the chorus but at the speed you are playing it's getting the better of you and causing several missed chords. It would be better at this point to forget the embellishment and just focus on the Dm-G-Dm-Em7-Am7 standard version (as I recall from my desk).
I think it's critical that accuracy always wins out over speed. You can play this song dead slow while getting the melody perfect before you increase the tempo.
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Thanks to all for your help.