Video Question: Clean Sound with Barre Chords

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Date: June 9th, 2008 | Length: 2.316 | Instructor: Nick Greathouse

nepatsfansc asks, "I have gotten pretty good at playing barre chords and I can get a good clean sound while playing the chord. My problem is moving between chords, whenever I do, the strings make a loud screeching sound from my fingers rubbing along them. How to I fix this? Thanks, this site is awesome- Stephen" Another benefit of being a member of JamPlay is the video response section. Our expert staff fields questions from our members and provides video responses each week.

Other Video Responses:

Guitar Theory - April 11th, 2008 (2 minutes, 33 seconds)

Brentald asks, "Hi Steve, I am greatly enjoying your lessons...have always wanted to learn, and am making progress. I have tried in the past on my own, but I found that all I was doing was learning by rote. Someone would show me exactly what to do, and I could do it... but that was the extent of it...I couldn't improvise or put anything together on my own. I was also a bit impatient and wanted to sound like Eric Clapton after about two weeks!! Well, I know that's not going to happen sooo...I am on lesson five with you and have made great progress, just strumming chords and enjoying moving them around to produce the simple songs we've strummed so far. However, I can't read music, and in the past when chord theory has been explained to me, or I have tried to read about it, I become utterly lost and confused. I really want to do this....I am 50 years old and don't want to get discouraged again by my inability to understand chord theory....I don't consider myself an idiot...(though some may disagree!!)....I make my living flying Captain on a corporate jet....My question is this....does your experience show that things will eventually begin to make sense as I progress? I am doing fine with the physical aspect of learning, however the theory right now is like trying to drink water from a fire hose. Any advice would really be appreciated. I just don't want to get discouraged as I have in the past. I am really enjoying your lessons, and you make learning the playing part of it easy. Thanks a bunch, Brent" View Response

- July 11th, 2008 (3 minutes, 50 seconds)

Kenstyle asks, "What is proper protocol for playing eight notes or faster on the same string when using fingerstyle? are you supposed to develop "same-finger"speed with each individual finger? or should another finger sneak on to the string and do a two-fingered run? It seems i cant go much faster than quarter notes (obviously this depends on the tempo of a song) if i use only one finger, i.e. i can only use "upstrokes". Apologize in advance for my confusing question. This question might be appropriate for Steve or Jim D." View Response

Strumming - February 11th, 2008 (2 minutes, 15 seconds)

Erk1024 asks, "Hi, After trying out several other teaching web site, this is by far my favorite! When you are strumming up and down, do you turn your hand a little bit on the up-strums? It seems like my down strums are OK, but when I up-strum the pick seems like it wants to catch a little bit. It seems to work better with a thinner pick. Do you roll your hand a bit so the pick is at an angle to the strings, or do you always keep it perpendicular? Thanks! Eric" View Response

- April 22nd, 2008 (1 minutes, 44 seconds)

Bpruett says, "I bought a handmade classical guitar in Mexico before I knew about nylon and steel strings. My question is can I restring this guitar with steel strings? If so would there be a great difference in the sound if I couldn't put steel strings on it why not?" View Response

Major and Minor Barre Chords - August 2nd, 2007 (1 minutes, 57 seconds)

Kris Weller asks, "I was taught to use the aminor shape on major and minor barre chords the only difference was the majors root is on the 6th and the minor on the 5th and barring the the remaining i saw an example in the chord library using the amajor shape and muting the 1st string how is that done and which is correct?" View Response