Video Question: A Shaped Barre Chords

Return to Video Question and Answer Listings
Date: November 2nd, 2007 | Length: 17.18 | Instructor: Jim Deeming

Mav67 asks: "I am facing a major obstacle whilst trying to get down these God forsaken A shaped barre chords. My ring finger will not bend at the top knuckle making it impossible to utilise conventional fingering that most other players use. The only way I can get it is to fret an A chord using fingers 2 3 and 4, then using the index finger for the barre. This is uncomfortable and difficult to move in and out of during chord movements. Can any of you please look into your vast vessels of knowledge and shed some guiding light to help me out? Thank you." 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:

Open E Tuning - September 15th, 2009 (1 minutes, 40 seconds)

You tune standard on 5th fret, is there a way to tune open e like that and if not how do I get there? View Response

Ghost Notes - October 10th, 2007 (2 minutes, 25 seconds)

James8 asks, "I have Tabs which include the following notations (starting from low E): xxxx or 2xx4. I searched in the books I have and think that I found out that those notes are called ghost notes. 1. Are these ghost notes? 2. How do I play them? Do you have a lesson showing that? Many thanks for your response." View Response

Circle of 5ths - December 11th, 2007 (1 minutes, 00 seconds)

Sampaul asks, "Hey Folks! I was wondering if one of you guys could explain in a little more detail the circle of 5ths as it associated with the Major and Minor scales. I've watched Matt's 1st Scale video and I can't quite grasp what the heck he's talking about when referencing the diagram. I have looked at the diagram and for some reason I feel like I'm trying to read Japanese. LOL I must be an idiot! :-) Thanks!" View Response

Strat tone Controles and Switches - February 19th, 2008 (3 minutes, 26 seconds)

ndjordjevic asked, "Hi, I got a Squire Strat electric guitar and and there are three knobs (volume and two tone) and a 5 position switcher. What are those, how and when should I use or adjust it." View Response

Tuning - July 11th, 2008 (3 minutes, 25 seconds)

Jdemail78 asks, "I have a pretty simple question, I think, on the correct way to tune a guitar. I have an acoustic/electric guitar with a tuner built right into the electronics but my question would apply to any guitar with any sort of tuner. When you go to tune a string, should you give the string your tuning one good strum and then adjust the tuning peg, or is it better to continue to pick the string while your adjusting the peg? It seems like I can get a slightly different result doing it one way or the other. In the end, I think either way has the guitar pretty much in tune but I'm just curious if one way is better over the other or if it really doesn't matter. Thanks and keep up the great lessons." View Response