Are you kidding?! My fingers don't bend like that!!! Hinge, cringe!!!

michelew
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Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:02 am

daryl wrote:

Tony, Thanks for the upload. You're way ahead of me with that damn A-form bar chord. I can't play them - my 3rd finger won't bend like that.

Daryl

I've said exactly the some thing to several people. I feel your pain. No I literally FEEL your pain (or something similar). I have a theory that people who have never really had too much of a problem making A-shape double barre chords probably started when they were pretty young and supple or pregnant (or both).

I've finally started to get serious about trying to break through because I feel like I'm missing out too much by not being able to play A-shaped barres.

I feel like I'm starting to make a little progress. Here's how I'm approaching it:

- nerve and tendon stretches. I need to do this for some other health issues I have and the more I do it the better my playing is too.
- hinging my fingers against my thumb one at a time while I'm doing something boring like sitting in a meeting or on the bus,
- hinging the third finger only on the fretboard without the first finger barre too, which I find even harder.

I'm starting to feel like I'm making a little progress because I can now hold three strings down with my third finger and get them all to ring properly. Believe me this is REAL progress for me. I'm trying the first finger barre simultaneously too, but I'm really not there yet.

Anyway Daryl. I thought you might like to try this approach too. The nerve and tendon stretches are really important I think.

Good luck.

Shel


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daryl
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Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:11 am

Thanks. Can you explain or demonstrate "nerve and tendon stretches"?


michelew
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Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:24 am

Sure. I'm sure there are a stack of guitarist specific ones. I should look them up. But, the ones I do are as follows:

1) hold both arms up at 90o to your body at your sides, make a T. Then think your arms longer. Literally stretch your fingers out in both directions as far as you can and then visualise them stretching further.

2) once you've stretch for a little while like that relax ,then do the same thing again but this time raise you're wrists up until they are pointing to the ceiling. Keep pushing out with the base of your hands away from your body and flex the muscles in your arms (while they are straight) to help lengthen them too.

3) after that, relax, then do it again starting from 1, then 2, then tilt your head towards your shoulder (ear, not nose) so that you get the stretch in your neck too. Each side. This is effective with one hand at a time too, while sitting and pushing against a wall. You can also use the other hand to assist the head to the shoulder.

It all has to be done gently and slowly. These are the ones I do at home. The Physio does other more extreme ones too. But I can't talk you thought those. :).

Try them. Slowly.

Good luck.

M.


dtaylor
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Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:25 am

Anyone have experience of being unable to barre, and then developing the ability? How long did it take? What did you do apart from playing?

Like you Shel my ring finger joint doesn't bend back at all, unlike all my other fingers annoying!


willem
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Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:34 am

michelew wrote:
Sure. I'm sure there are a stack of guitarist specific ones. I should look them up. But, the ones I do are as follows:

1) hold both arms up at 90o to your body at your sides, make a T. Then think your arms longer. Literally stretch your fingers out in both directions as far as you can and then visualise them stretching further.

2) once you've stretch for a little while like that relax ,then do the same thing again but this time raise you're wrists up until they are pointing to the ceiling. Keep pushing out with the base of your hands away from your body and flex the muscles in your arms (while they are straight) to help lengthen them too.

3) after that, relax, then do it again starting from 1, then 2, then tilt your head towards your shoulder (ear, not nose) so that you get the stretch in your neck too. Each side. This is effective with one hand at a time too, while sitting and pushing against a wall. You can also use the other hand to assist the head to the shoulder.

It all has to be done gently and slowly. These are the ones I do at home. The Physio does other more extreme ones too. But I can't talk you thought those. :).

Try them. Slowly.

Good luck.

M.
I bet you go for a 6 mile run after doing this exercises.. B)


tovo
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Sun Nov 04, 2012 12:33 pm

dtaylor wrote:
Anyone have experience of being unable to barre, and then developing the ability? How long did it take? What did you do apart from playing?
Dean that's everyone isn't it?

From my perspective I definitely feel that initially at least having strong hands was help AND a hindrance. It helped me make the barres, but hindered technique because I was muscling the chord (and probably still do to a degree although I feel that it's less of a problem). To specifically try to address your question, it didn't take long and I really think it's a matter of going for it and practicing until your confidence and technique can match what you want to play. Like anything, tell yourself over and over that you can't....and you won't.


dtaylor
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Sun Nov 04, 2012 12:50 pm

Tony, by 'unable' I meant physically incapable of bending your finger that way. Could you form the hinge from first attempt or did the ability develop?


tovo
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Sun Nov 04, 2012 1:05 pm

dtaylor wrote:
Tony, by 'unable' I meant physically incapable of bending your finger that way. Could you form the hinge from first attempt or did the ability develop?
Ahh I see. Sorry I misunderstood. Yes I could hinge right away, it just got better after a while. It's one of the things I can do without trying too hard...like getting fatter! :)


dtaylor
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Sun Nov 04, 2012 1:09 pm

Hah! That's my specialty.

You're lucky that you're able to do it so easily, it looks effortless.


Catman
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Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:46 am

I can't do a full 5 string A-form double bar either (5 strings = without the 6th string). The best I can do is to mute the 1st string with my microscopically hinged ring finger and play a 4 string form. Then, since I don't really need the entire index finger bar, I relax it and use it just to fret the 5th string.

Not very good technique, I know, but I tend to use it only with fairly heavy (for me) strumming, and then the lack of the 1st string ringing goes largely unnoticed (at least by me).

But I think I will try some of Michelle's finger exercises and see if they help. In fact I will ask my physiotherapist about them too--she is a hand/arm/shoulder specialist.

David


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