Video Question: Open Chords

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Date: April 9th, 2009 | Length: 2.28 | Instructor: Jim Deeming

Aquariarty asked "Hi Steve, I've noticed quite a few open chords where one or two of the strings are x'd out (not included) on the diagram of how to play the chord. My question is how do you play these chords ? Especially if you're strumming, it seems impossible to miss out strings other than the 1st or 6th ? 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.

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Bad Habits - September 15th, 2009 (2 minutes, 58 seconds)

Hi, Let me start by saying that I'm so glad I found this website. It has reunited me with my guitar and I have had a lot of fun learning from all of you. My question is regarding bad habits. I am an originally self-taught guitarist who had absolutely no direction form a mentor and because of this I picked up a slue of bad habits and bad technique. It has been extremely difficult to get away from some (ex. I will anchor my pinky on the high E string while playing lead and if any of you saw my left hand technique you will cringe), while some have had uses (ex. I play barre chords with the ring and pinky inverted which allows for some cool tension-building chords when I move my pinky up a fret, etc). There are many many others, but throughout the years I learned a lot of cool songs and learned them with bad technique. I don't want to sit and relearn how to fret and pick all over again because I will get bored. At the same time if I keep playing the songs I learned with bad technique I will keep reverting to my old bad habits every time I play. Any advice on how to overcome this? Thanks! -- Vase View Response

Pentatonic Scale Help - March 17th, 2008 (6 minutes, 25 seconds)

Rsherman1980 says, "Hey Brad, Great videos! Is the a minor pentatonic scale the only 5 position scale? Can you play minor pentatonic in different keys? If so do they follow the same pattern?" View Response