Video Question: Hotel California Chord Help

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Date: September 7th, 2007 | Length: 2.03 | Instructor: David MacKenzie

Kylehumber asks "how do you know which barre shapes to use when just reading the name F#....in the vid i understand the use a c and a e shape." 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:

Mixed Chords or Slash Chords - February 5th, 2008 (2 minutes, 24 seconds)

Djhectichector says, "I'm currently practicing on backing tracks I've bought and i have noticed on the corresponding chord sheet there are chords such as D/F# etc. How do i work out the notes in that chord? Sorry if this is a bit OTT for my level (Half way through modes) Typical song containing this chord by the way is (Wonderful tonight by Eric Clapton.) I tend to use a D major but it don't sound right. The solo I've got to the tea but D/F# Messes me up. Please Help!" View Response

F#m7 Problems - February 21st, 2008 (3 minutes, 26 seconds)

JZcode says, "To any of the Rock Instructors, I'm trying to learn a David Gilmour song and having trouble with this chord. The way they show it in the tab book is #1 string open, #2&3 string fretted at 2nd fret, #4&5 string fretted at the 4th fret and thumb on the 6th string, 3rd fret. This chords alternate about 6 times between the Gmaj7, the 1 thru 4 string version starting on the 1st string 2nd fret. Could you give me some idea on how to do this or the best alternate to go with. I have looked at the F#m barre chord at the 2nd fret that is almost the same chord except the #1 string is barred not open. The other thing I have been working on is barring the #2 and 3 string leaving the #1 open. It's not easy and it leaves the #6 string open. Since most of us don't have Eric Clapton size hands, how would you guys approach this type of problem." View Response

Unintentional Pull-offs - June 7th, 2007 (1 minutes, 35 seconds)

Vjludovico says "Hey guys, I just joined the site very recently. I'm doing Steve's lessons and starting from the beginning. It's only been about a week since I've picked up a guitar for the first time and my calluses are finally starting to form. However I have one problem that I thought would clear itself up once my fingertips started to harden, and that's when I lift my fingers off the strings to change chords or even stop playing I seem to perform a pull off. I lift my fingers directly off the string, and I've tried to lift them off in different ways (I'm not pulling the string or bending it) but I can't seem to stop this problem. Any suggestions?" View Response

Guitar Action - April 28th, 2008 (2 minutes, 13 seconds)

Jdemail78 asks, "I hear a lot about guitar action but I'm not really sure what is good or bad. I had purchased an acoustic guitar that I believe had very low action (strings were very close to the neck of the guitar) and it was very easy to play but it ended up having some issues with fret buzz and other ringing sounds that I did not like and could not get corrected at the local guitar shop. I've since replaced it with a little bit better guitar and I no longer have any fret buzz nor do I have any ringing sounds but it seems like the action is higher (strings are much higher off the neck of the guitar) and therefore, for me as a beginner, it is harder to play. My question is when it comes to an experienced guitar player (which I am not...yet...) is it good to have a guitar with higher action or lower action? What would one typically prefer? Do really nice expensive guitars come with very low action making them easy to play but don't have any buzzing issues or is it a case where as you get better, higher action is ok because your better at fretting chords and notes? My curiosity with this comes from a hope that the guitar I have now, with it's strings higher off the fret board, will slowly become easier to play as I get better and I'll become ok with the higher action because it does sound better and cleaner than the one I had with the lower action. Also, please correct me if I have the "high action" "low action" descriptions backwards." View Response

Christmas Songs - December 19th, 2007 (4 minutes, 24 seconds)

Juant asks "I bought my first guitar 1 week ago. I bought a Fender DSG starter package. My immediate goal is to learn two Christmas songs by Christmas Eve, so that I may play them for my 11 month year old son. So far I have learned the: E, A, D, C, and G chords, sand I'm transitioning fairly well between them. Please recommend two songs that only use the above chords, and advise if you have lkessons for them, so that I may cram between now and then. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the best in 2008. Thank you in advance, Juan Enrique" View Response