Barre Chord Practice - Smooth Transition When Changing Chords

[thereshopeyet]

I have been working on barre chord but still struggle to get a
smooth continuous sound when changing.

Initially I was following Sister Golden Hair but now I am practicing.....................
AGS - Practice Partner - Excerise 22 - Key of E - Ballad Pattern

I have tried using an open up strum when changing chords but it sounds terrible.
Chord changes just doesn't seem to melt together!

I've spent some time on this exercise... so if some light can be shone on how to practice this exercise that would be great.

[Lavallee]

Hi Dermot, I assume you are referring to the transition between chords. Could you explain what is happening? If you have one chord per bar for 4 bars, with 8 eight notes ( 4 beams) per bar ( one up one down per beam), changing chord on beat one of the bar. The transition is on the last eight note when going up . The release of the chord is while your strumming hand strums up and you have to be on the next chord when your hand goes down on the first beat of the next bar. Do it very slow to get the hang of it. If it still sounds a little squarish, maybe you change your rhythm in the transition zone, either you go to fast (afraid to miss the next beat), or too slow (looking for the chord position or not comfortable enough with the chord that you are landing on (if it is the case you could make the chord change without the strumming for a while until you can land the smoothly, just going from one chord to the other).

I saw your last videos and I thought you were doing very well, has anything changed?


Marc

[thereshopeyet]

Hello Marc

Thanks for the reply
I am doing as you describe..... open strum on the last up..... but the noise of the open strum always sounds wrong.

I know I keep asking this question .... similar problem to my Tambourine Man question.
It could be that I just need to get more familiar with the chords.

Of all the Practice Partner exercises..... exercise 22 .... Kay of E is the most difficult.

I'll work on it some more, if I don't improve I'll post a video for feedback.

[BigBear]

Dermot- Marc is correct. And you have the right idea too. Use that "dead" or open stroke between chords. Every guitarist who ever played uses this technique.

But it's not an equal stroke, it's a phantom stroke. All it really does is buy you time to make the chord change. And keeps your timing going. But if you hit it with equal weight to the chord you are changing from it will sound really bad. And it will vary from song to song depending on the tempo and the type of attack. In some cases it will just be a skip chord, almost like a fake stroke just to get back to the correct strum pattern (if that makes any sense).

And remember too that if an open chord won't work Neil teaches us to lay down your fingers in the order you will play the notes of the new chord. I have a devil of a time with that but luckily barre chords don't impact me at all anymore. They just seem like regular chords. But the advantage to Neil's technique is you don't have to "slam" (as I call it) into the next chord. You can smoothly and calmly make the transition.

This topic is relevant to all guitarists so please keep us posted on your progress and if you find something that works particularly well. We might all gain from your experience. And very soon you won't even think about making chord transitions anymore.

Good luck my friend!! :cheer:

[Lavallee]

Good point Rick, I did not realize I was doing that, the phantom strum or weak strum during the transition. As I was trying that, I also noticed that, I sometimes mute the strings between two chords, by relaxing the fingers enough to keep them on the strings but loose enough that it does not give a slide sound.

Marc

[willem]

Hi Dermot...I prefer the dead(muted) strum on the last up stroke of the measer,,I learned in the Beatle song ''and I love her'',,, It goes a bit like this(you have to prepare on the transition),when you do the last upstroke from the measer let say frome F#m to C#m you lift your grip a bit(this is the prepare) so its dead(you strum it but it is muted) but you have to go to the next chord also and land there on the first beat...its more that you stay with your fingers lightly on the strings,,don't let them fly!!!!.. I try to make a vid and try to show what I mean...and posted it here...

Willem

[willem]

Well Dermot here's my attempt to help you...

[thereshopeyet]

Hello Bear Willem and Marc

Thanks again for the comments.
From everything you explain I think I am practicing correctly but just need to work on it more.

Oddly sometimes when playing the exercise 22 progression ..... I do it and think that sounded okay :ohmy: .....
but have no idea what I did and don't repeat it on subsequent plays through the progression.

I think when I do it correctly there are varying reasons.
I don't sometimes think the full technique is 100% the same on all chord transition.
It seems to vary from what chord I'm on and moving too.... a sort of more dynamic technique,
which is a combination of all the elements you all mention.

Right and Left hand independence
Left hand perpetual motion
Chord application to strings
Open up strum
Muted up strum
Timing
Listening

That said.... I still haven't put my finger on it (excuse the pun)!!!
It's knowing that I'm practicing the progression chord changes correctly that gets to me.
That inner voice constantly defeating me.... "You should be able to do this by now......etc" :S :S

Willem
It would be great if you could so a video.... maybe the Exercise 22 progression
Thanks again

Dermot

[thereshopeyet]

Willem
When did you sneak the video in there?

Thanks for the video.... I can hear what your doing.... I think
more practice is needed.....

I mean.... I think I need more practice....



Cool video :laugh:

[willem]

thereshopeyet wrote:

Willem
When did you sneak the video in there?

Thanks for the video.... I can hear what your doing.... I think
more practice is needed.....

I mean.... I think I need more practice....



Cool video :laugh:

Well Dermot ,,I need also more practice,,I find it difficult to let all the strings ring on a bar chord..they often sound totally muted..