Trying to keep the momentum going after I posted some songs earlier this summer.
Like many others I have really found barre chords to be a struggle. I’ve dabbled in JG Grade 2 and worked on the F shape in it’s various simpler forms and in it’s full barre shape. At first I had a real hard time getting the F to ring out at all - then I spent just about the better part of a year off and on trying to change to it without being painfully slow!
These two songs I have here I learned from the JG song lessons. They have versions of the simpler F chord and then also times where you can use the full F barre shape. They also have a chord change “push” at times in the song so that was something I wanted to practice as well.
Definitely open to any feedback. Thank you for listening/watching.
“The Drugs Don’t Work” - The Verve. Another of my favorites from Richard Ashcroft. I transition to the F barre during the bridge as I think Justin does in his lesson on this song. It’s a beautiful bridge in this song.
“Fields of Gold” - Sting. The F barre happens more often in this song but goes for 2 bars in length which helps. It’s also a slow enough song to transition in and out of the F. And to top it all off it’s with a capo on 2 which makes the F shape easier to manage. This was definitely the song that got me the most comfortable moving in and out of the F barre.
Doing well and sounding good as you maintain that momentum, Andy. Maybe another thing to work at is playing without watching the left hand. Go back to some earlier songs and try record them while mostly watching the camera.
And if possible, would love to see the videos with phone turned into a landscape orientation, but of course that is totally insignficant in the learning and sharing.
Thank you David. Good point about the looking at my left hand. I can see myself doing this in these videos. I will try and go back to some simpler songs and work on looking straight out.
Good point about the camera too. I’d like to get a better recording setup for video and sound at some point. One of my problems is I’m alone in my house so seldom that I just get these quick recordings with the phone otherwise there’s always my family making a bunch of noise in the background
Really nice Andy. Particularly love the verve cover. I saw Richard Ashcroft live in Dublin a couple of weeks ago as he was supporting Oasis. He was absolutely brilliant and left the stage smoldering for Oasis.
What’s been said. You do keep it going smoothly. I’m personally at the “can get the F barre to ring out, but it’s 1/2 second to get the ring…”, so I’ve a lot of respect you’ve made it seem so effortless – and while singing, to boot!
and fot the rest
