I’ve realised that more often than not, when I play a D-chord, I hit the 5th string so its almost always played with an A-bass. I wish I’d realised this earlier when I was first learning the chord…
Any advice on how to just hit the bottom 4 strings, other than just be more accurate? Is it just about accuracy or do people mute the 5th string somehow as well? I mute the low E with my thumb so haven’t really focused on accuracy when strumming as it hasn’t sounded THAT bad while learning with the A string sounding, but want to get rid of it now.
Honestly - it is all about training your picking hand to physically move correctly and hit only the four strings needed. This will take re-training and you are going to have to slow things all the way back down and watch yourself. Make sure the swinging arc of your arm as it strums is narrow, not wide and wild.
Good luck with it.
I’m sure Justin mentioned in one of his lessons on the D chord - as the note A is in the chord, it won’t sound awful but may sound more ‘correct’ with the chord starting on the root note D.
Probably why you’ve missed it up to now.
Picking accuracy will come with time and practice, don’t stress too much and remember trust your ears.
Try learning to play the D chord with an alternating bass - beat 1 hit the D string, beat 2 strum the chord, beat 3 hit the A string, beat 4 strum the chord again. As Justin says, “practice makes permanent”, so start really, really slowly. You will find that, by the time you can do it reasonably quickly, you won’t have the problem you posted about.
Hi all
just thought i would share my “habit” when playing D.
If general strumming i dont bother if i hit the A. I only target the D string on chord changes or arpeggio. To my ( old ) ear’s I can only hear very slight difference,if any, if I know I hit it. It’s a very loose way to play guitar and probably not for all.
But I only play for fun
For instance, I’ve just uploaded a tune which has a Dm chord in it and I must’ve strummed the A string 99,99% of the times. My hand is small and the only way it can reach that string is if I move my shoulder backwards A LOT and it isn’t practical at all. I’m gonna try that exercise of alternating D and A string and see if it helps me get accuracy but, as you can see. Thanks for posting this, thanks to it I decided to grab the bull by its horns after several years playing.
I often times do a D/F# chord. Thumb goes over and frets or mutes F# on the low E and can even mute the A string if you have the mitts for it. When you’re “feeling it” and in the pocket, and banging away, it can serve you well. Still try to hit the right strings but in this case you have some margin for error. When it comes to accuracy, sometimes when you’re thinkin’ you’re stinkin’.
It is one of those things that are painful to correct once you learn them wrongly.
I have exactly the same problem, did not pay attention at the beginning as it sounded ok.
Now I am noticing it and started working on it, but it is harder to unlearn things than get them right the first time. Practice makes permanent…
and remember trust your ears.
