How would you finger these chords?

[guitarrob]

Hey guys, just wanted to ask some technique questions from peopel that have been playing much longer.
I am working on a song and one part, has a picking passage that goes from A2->Amajor-Asus4...
I am having issues fingering the transitions from A2 to Amajor and sus4 and keeping it clean with all strings ringing that I want.
I have tried with my ring and even my pinky. Any general tips or is it just a case of I need to work on that passage a bit longer?
I basically just walk up those chords and back down but just getting very frustrated keeping it clean.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

I'd fret the D and G strings with my index and middle respectively, then use the ring for the Amaj and pinky for Asus4.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

I tried that, maybe I will give it another try and see if I can get it fluid. Thanks for suggestions.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

If we're talking about the 'open' A shape ... fret both the fourth and third string with the index finger. Experiment with combinations of the other three l/h fingers to find which works best for the other notes (sometimes whatever comes immediately before and/or after in the tune will dictate that one fingering is better than another in that instance).

 

[guitarrob]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

If we're talking about the 'open' A shape ... fret both the fourth and third string with the index finger. Experiment with combinations of the other three l/h fingers to find which works best for the other notes (sometimes whatever comes immediately before and/or after in the tune will dictate that one fingering is better than another in that instance).

well, the Asus 2 first, then to Amaj and Asus 4 and back down, just doing an arpeggio type thing.
I guess I just need to experiment a bit more to get it right. The guitar I am using has really high action also (acoustic) so it doesn't help much.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

Sounds like it's just a matter of practice. Work slowly with a metronome until you're up to your desired tempo and all the notes ring out cleanly. Patience, grasshopper!

 

[guitarrob]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

Yeah I figured as much. It seems a bit awkward going from the Amajor to the Asus4.
I play the Amajor with either a small first finger barre or using three fingers (classical style?)...the first is useless in this situation.
The second works but that is where the issue is as I am having trouble figuring out if I should just slide over my ring
finger for Sus4 or just add the pinky. You add in the quick arp playing back to the ASUS2 and it is a bit tricky for me.

I kinda knew the answer but I guess I just needed somebody to drill it into my head.

Thanx guys.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

Yeah I figured as much. It seems a bit awkward going from the Amajor to the Asus4.
I play the Amajor with either a small first finger barre or using three fingers (classical style?)...the first is useless in this situation.
The second works but that is where the issue is as I am having trouble figuring out if I should just slide over my ring
finger for Sus4 or just add the pinky. You add in the quick arp playing back to the ASUS2 and it is a bit tricky for me.

I kinda knew the answer but I guess I just needed somebody to drill it into my head.

Thanx guys.

Happy to help. I think your best bet for playing it clean is to use the pinky for the Asus4. If you have trouble with it, then work it into your practice routine. Also switch from Cmaj7 to C to Cadd9, or from Dsus2 to D to Dsus4. Each of those will require similar usage of the pinky and will strengthen it while allowing you to work on ringing everything out.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

Thanx, I appreciate the tips.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

You are perhaps bottled up in your fingering by basing that moving line from the nut/open end. If so, I'd forget using that open B and try coming at it from farther down the board. In other words, use second position instead of first. That said, it can be done in first position, and the benefit of that is that you can have five strings going for all of the chords. In first position, other than the one moving line, the chords are voiced the same through the changes. Kind of drone-like, having the one melody moving through the consistent chorus like that.

To do it in second position, first make an A by barring the index finger across the B-D strings on the second fret. Add the two with your pinky or ring finger on the fourth fret of the G string, and either don't play the B string, or dead out that string by slightly lifting your bar. Then the A is just your bar. For the A4, just put your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the B string. Like so:

1 - X - X - X
2 - X - 2 - 3
3 - 4 - 2 - 2
4 - 2 - 2 - 2
5 - 0 - 0 - 0
6 - X - X - X

Of the two, I think it sounds best in first position, played just like Jay 77 suggested. However, one advantage of second position is that you can easily drone a high A over the changes using your pinky. And it also frees you up to move around more easily and quickly within the key, if you might want to do so.

1 - 5 - 5 - 5
2 - X - 2 - 3
3 - 4 - 2 - 2
4 - 2 - 2 - 2
5 - 0 - 0 - 0
6 - X - X - X

I would probably play it like this, myself:

1 - X - X - X (or 0 - 0 - 0, or 12 - 12 - 12)
2 - 10 - 10 - 10
3 - 9 - 9 - 9
4 - 9 - 11 - 12
5 - 0 - 0 - 0
6 - X - X - X

 

[Jay 77]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

I think it depends on the rest of the song being played. Those are some interesting variations for sure. Plenty to consider!

 

[guitarrob]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

I will try it out as soon as I get a chance, I really like the way that it sounds as that was the way that....it came out when I was playing so I keep going back to it but I will check out some other variations.

Thanx for the suggestions guys.

 

[cream123]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

Just for the record






I always finger A minor








without the g-string

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

Damn does that gif fit great with that. ^

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

Trim yer nails ifinyera gonna do a lot of major fingerin'.

But seriously, the high action is killin' it for ya.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: How would you finger these chords?

Ya, I need a new acoustic, it is old sounds ok though for working out some things.
Nails are clipped short....