Following this thread quite closely. (I’m on Grade1 Mod4). I’m also having difficulty with the 124 fingering for Dm. I am comforted by all the comments and advice of @Richard_close2u. Keeping Justin’s advice in mind “it’s gotta work for you” and “it’s gotta be fun” tempered with his advice that it can be hard and you just got to work at it I have decided to switch back to 123 fingering (for now). Like some others, I found that 124 caused my fingers to flail around and clash. Changing to 123 has caused my quick-change figures to improve (but not that much, as 123 is still quite tricky). However, I can play Chocolate Jesus much better and playing along to the app’s Gary Moore/ All your Love is a whole lotta fun.
However, I agree with the advice that, ideally, you should learn both fingering(s). And why not - I already find myself using different fingering for Em depending on the circumstances - sometimes 12 works and other times 23 is better - just horses for courses. Learning both needn’t be confusing - just think of it as a different chord that is a direct substitute to be used whenever required. By the time I need it to play more advanced stuff I’ll have it in my kit-bag.
Richard’s advice, above, (pressing but not strumming) is great and is really helping - so simple.
I started on module 4 today. But I really struggle with the Dm chord. Justin says to use fingers 134. But when I put finger 3 on G, there is no strength left in the pinky to push on B string. Been using 123 for now. Maybe need some more practice and stretching.
Another thing is that I find it hard to write down the tabs of the riffs he uses. He goes to fast for me. Even if I rewind a few times.
Why not put the tabs in the video?
Dm fingering is usually 124 not 134, but use what feels best for you!
We just did tabs but they’ll be on the lesson - butting them in the video makes for copyright problems! If you write them yourself you might find the YouTube slow down feature helpful too!
Ok, I get the copyright part.
Just need more practice. Module 1,2 and3 went smooth. This module 4 gives me some challenges. But that’s ok.
I find myself always want to go to fast, trying stuff I’m not yet capable of. That is my pitfall.
Hey Toni, I know the feeling with using fingers 124 vice 123. I got to this twice in the classic course using 123. But I started Dm again and slooowly practiced the 124 fingering. Tonight I got a much better time on my OMC’s involving Dm than I did the first 2 times!! You will get it, I know it!! I don’t know about you, but I’m closing in on 66 and my fingers were flailing as well. Between Chocolate Jesus and Ain’t No Sunshine, or other songs, we can nail this chord, keep at it!!
Me again Toni. Regarding the Riff’s, I slow Justin down as much as I need to, to get the tabs. If it is dead slow, so be it. But I still manage to ‘muck it up’, as they say. Use the gear at the bottom of his lessons. Hope this helps!!
@wayne56 I know I will get the Dm chord done when sticking to it.
On the riffs. I use the app, and there is no slowing down the video. Only 10 sec rewind. Or a 2x fast forward. So maybe I have to use the videos on the website for that.
Good advice, Dave, did the same. Had some trouble with the Dm, not to grab the chord, no problems with the 4th finger, but to change from Am or Em back to Dm after several strums in a song. Seemed as if my fingers were stucked on the strings. Had no idea, why I was able to do up to 60 changes from one to another minor chord, but sticking after 4 strums in a song. So I didn’t force it too much any more. When I came back after doing some other stuff, it was much better. Not perfect yet, but it gets better by constant practicing.
This is the first chord where my muscle memory from 25+ years ago isn’t automatically working. I know the chord, can picture the chord, know its sound and the sound of the individual strings, but it’s the first time my fingers haven’t been on autopilot so far.
And that’s probably good because I didn’t spend long on Module 3 (a couple of days) so this will make me slow down and focus on automating these chord changes as much as I can.
I can’t do 124 fingering though. I learned it originally as 123 and unlike with adapting my finger order as with the A Chord (from 123 to 213, which wasn’t so hard) this one seems carved into my brain.
I prefer o231 which may be what you mean. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Using the 4th finger is a suggestion and may be beneficial to people whos stretch doesn’t quite accomodate the “regular” (I use that term with caution ) grip at first.
It is always a good idea to expore all alternate fingerings, and sometimes worth persevering with but not all will suit. There is no right and wrong, just what you can make use of.
that Dm (1 2 4 fingers) has been and still is tough. I use it with “choclate jesus” (Great song , thanks Justin) at 50 BPM and I don’t why it sounsds weird.
If I play each strings they are usually OK but the whole chord sound bad when I switch chords during the song.
Been spendning about two months on it with my boomer brain.
Seems I keep forgetting about it and automation of my fingers don’t work. Any suggestion?
thx
It’s a real grind but you’ve just got to keep going with one minute changes etc.
I’m only on Module 4 of the Grade 1 Beginner course and Dm is “giving me the opportunity” to slow down and graft my way through some practice.
I’m just repeating a chord change sequence of D > Dm > A > Am > E > Em and mixing it up now and then to try and automate the finger placement to and from Dm. Every single other transition is fine but to / from Dm is a pain for me for anything other than to / from D and A.
I feel glimmers of progress but like you it isn’t committed to muscle memory yet. I can generally nail the chord as a one off but putting Dm in a sequence of changes is hard for me. And all we can do is practice to rewire our brains!
Will have to give this a go thank you. I have struggled with Dm for years and it never seems to get better. I can change with no problem at a certain speed but as soon as it speeds up it all goes messy.
Not saying this is not effective, but (purely my opinion) I feel it’s better to work on changes that you are likely to come across in a song context at this point in the course.
If it works for you, great. It is also good ear training to hear the major next to the minor. But as a progression in itself it’s not really musical. Nothing wrong with that, just saying
Not at all dude.
Trying random stuff to get the muscle memory going is not necessarily a bad thing, and like I said if it works for you then that’s brilliant. Don’t let me or anyone else drag you down for trying something
) grip at first.