Posted by John Miller on February 8, 2004, 3:48 am, in reply to "Re: F chord re-visited" Hi,
67.75.195.25
--Previous Message--
: : Yes, classical technique and the whole
: classical concept is as far away from blues
: as you can get. It would be as big a mistake
: to learn classical guitar in order to play
: acoustic blues as it would be to study opera
: in order to sing "Come On In My
: Kitchen."
: If what we're calling classical technique
: isn't suited to blues and ragtime, what are
: the special demands of blues and ragtime?
: Are we just talking about freeing up a finger
: other than the 4th to make a bend? I'm
: totally self-taught so I have to get
: information this way :-)
:
: --Previous Message--
: 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.)
: WHEW!
: --Previous Message--
: : 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
I'm deeply hurt that no one commented on my incredibly helpful technical advice on fingering the F chord with the thumb, posted below. I will have to live with the disappointment, I suppose. For what it's worth though, if you look at films of Rev. Davis playing, he is holding the guitar at the beneficial angle I described.
All best,
John
: :
: : :
:
Responses: