Posted by Ari Eisinger on February 7, 2004, 2:21 pm, in reply to "Re: F chord re-visited" WHEW! --Previous Message--
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Yes, whatever works for you is of course worth doing, but this just isn't going to work! I can't prove it, but I think it would be a shame for people to spend alot of time on this classical technique which is just not suited to this style. If it's your only alternative because you're for some reason positive you'll never be able to get that old thumb F chord technique, go for it, but it shouldn't be regarded as anything better than an absolute last resort. (There's nothing wrong with the classical technique when it's applied to *classical* music, but the classical technique is as unsuited to blues as blues technique is to classical.)
: : Yes, I was kidding. But in the tune I
: mentioned, it could be played with just the
: fingers. It would be harder for me, but
: probably easy for someone with classical
: training. Whatever works for you is my
: philosophy these days.
:
: --Previous Message--
: I know you were probably kidding, but I just
: want to make sure no one gets the idea that
: classical fingering, by which I assume you
: mean barring the first fret with your index
: finger, is an ok way to do this. The only
: way to do it that makes it possible to play
: these styles properly is by using your thumb.
: If you use the barre, you'll have a position
: that's incredibly awkward, and you won't have
: enough fingers left over to do what you need
: to do. For example, try playing John Hurt's
: "Ain't No Telling" with the barre.
: This is not exactly the world's most advanced
: tune, yet it becomes almost impossible if you
: use the classical fingering. Another thing
: to try if you need more convincing is bending
: the B string at the 3rd fret with your pinky
: if you're barring. This bend is used all
: over the place, and is awkward at best with
: the barre.
: So please don't get used to playing an F
: chord without the thumb!
: --Previous Message--
: : The only think that comes to mind where I
: have to play an F this way is a Jourma tune,
: Midnight in Milpitas, where you have to have
: the 1st string open at the same time.
: Just move your thumb back and hook over and
: press down a little. With me, the edge of
: the fretboard is about at the thumb joint,
: and the part that pushes the string down ends
: up being about halfway between there and the
: end of the thumb. The thumb just barely
: pushes the string really.
: If all else fails, do it the
: "right" way with classical
: fingering :-(
:
: --Previous Message--
: Hi Chuck,
: I had an idea on fingering the F chord that I
: posted below. You may want to give it a
: shot.
: all best,
: John
: :
: :
:
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