Video Question: Fender Stratocaster

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Date: August 29th, 2007 | Length: 1.3 | Instructor: Jeff Booth

Stachler Says "I really like the strats but I have small hands so im worried about buying one. All of the standards I have seen have the C neck. I did play one at Sam Ash but didnt have enough time (kids) to really check it out. What do you think?? Are they really that big?? What do you think About the mustangs?? I know they are smaller. Plus Cobain liked them. Thanks." 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:

barre chords - May 6th, 2008 (3 minutes, 32 seconds)

Crackspackelpop asks, "I've just recently started playing the guitar and find your site very helpful. However, I'm now at the point where I'm starting into barre chords. When I play these types of chords my hand fatigues rather quickly. My question is this: Are there any types of guitar playing exercises that I can do to build up hand strength? Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the excellent work. Ron" View Response

- August 7th, 2008 (8 minutes, 32 seconds)

Onlythehunter asks, "Hi. I took acoustic lessons as a kid but never completed them, then as a teen and early twenties I self taught well enough to strum and write my own songs, which is my passion. I just bought a couple electrics (one with a temolo, one without) to try to learn to play it and also work on home recording with a newly purchased home studio system. I have two quick questions. First, I know some basics, although I am in the "learning scales is scary" stage. Do you suggest I start strumming my familiar chords on the electric to get comfortable, or to learn lead should I study power chords and scales, which I've never done? What's the best option? Second, one of my favorite songs is Springsteen's Tunnel Of Love. The sheet music has a chord notation of G5 with a slach through a 3. I assume it means a G5 omitting the third, but I can not get it to sound right or figure out what the chord is. Any ideas? Thank you very much, I am recommeding you guys to everyone I know." View Response

Playing Lead and Scales - April 11th, 2008 (1 minutes, 10 seconds)

Larryjfr asks, "I'm just curious to see if I really heard what I thought I heard Steve say? My comment arose because I thought I was understanding the Diatonic Major Scale and Pattern, and the Two Octave Pattern and the Two Octave Pattern on the 5th string. As I was watching Steve's explanation on Scene 5 (Two Octave Pattern) and especially Scene 6 (Two Octave Pattern on 5th String) There were a couple of times Steve was talking about playing the scale on the 5th "fret" and the 6th "fret", yet, I think he meant to say, that he was starting to play the scales on either the 5th string or the 6th string. Because at the time I was watching him, he was playing the scales on 3rd fret, 5th fret and 8th frets also showing us how to always look for the beginning of the scale plus look for what is situated next to it. Also he was explaining how this Two Octave Pattern scale pattern begins on the 5th string, not the sixth string. Yet, he kept saying "playing it on the 5th fret and the 6th fret". I was a little confused ... yet ... I kept expecting him to correct himself ... and ... when he didn't ... I started questioning myself, did I misunderstand him... or ... did I miss something? Steve, thanks for the JamPlay lessons ... I've learned a lot from you is these 14 lessons! Larry F." View Response

C Chord Finger Positioning - April 20th, 2007 (5 minutes, 00 seconds)

I am doing good with the G chord, and the D7 watching Steve. For some reason, my meaty sausages are having a hard time with the C chord. My 3rd finger keeps mashing the D, and I cannot get a crip grip on the B..... View Response

Power barre chords - September 18th, 2007 (4 minutes, 00 seconds)

Jerry Asks "One more question on power chords. In the end of Stev's 9th lesson he goes through power chords useing the barre e shape. It is a little fast for an old fart like myself so I'd appreciate it if you would go through the form Steve goes through when playing these chords. Thanx Jerry." View Response