B chord problems

GeoNjules · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 7:41 pm Post subject: B chord problems

Been playing for 7 months now and I have the open chords down pretty good. I'm working on the B chord for over a week now with no improvement. Its really holding me back on alot of songs and I'm getting very discourged. Is there a way to "cheat" on the B chord?
I know most of you will say "practice, and it will come", but so far its not. The F chord is a problem too.That barre stuff is very tough, and I've read all the tips without too much luck. I also feel like I'm in a rut, playing the same old stuff over and over. I can't seem to get over this hump. Maybe Its time for lessons, but I screw up alot more in front of people, so Iv'e been reluctant.

lee_UK · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 2:45 pm Post subject:

Index finger holds down the A string on the 2nd fret, your little finger holds down the D,G and B strings on the 4th fret, you just press your little finger across those 3 (DGB strings) together, and then only play those 4 strings, thats the easiest way to play a B chord.

mapdude · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 1

lee_UK wrote:

Index finger holds down the A string on the 2nd fret, your little finger holds down the D,G and B strings on the 4th fret, you just press your little finger across those 3 (DGB strings) together, and then only play those 4 strings, thats the easiest way to play a B chord.

I agree but I use my ring finger across the D-G-B strings. It is basically the "A" chord moved up the neck 2 frets. You can move this finger positioning up and down the fretboard to make many other chords. It is a great tool for your inventory of chords.

lee_UK · Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 11:00 pm Post subject:

Little finger is more comfy for me, if i use my 3rd finger i have to stretch a bit, i start using my 3rd finger for this chord position around the 5th fret (D) upwards, unless im doing those little hammer on's, what are they 7ths? you know the 'Start me up' riff, you hear them in any song by 'The Faces'.. 11th?

glw · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 8:58 am Post subject:

I too prefer the little finger option.

shakedown_04092 · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject:

One "cheat" that I know of is playing a portion of the chord. You're covering the same notes as the guys stated above (on the DGB strings), but rather than playing the "full" chord (i.e. x24442), just play a portion of it (xx444x) with your index finger.

I would recommend you just keep practicing though, because "cheating" is only going to set you back further and make it that much more time to get it down the "right" way. Trust me - it'll come in a couple of months work. Whenever you get in a rut, it's the worst feeling and you can never see the light of day on how to get out of it, but they always only last a month, two or three, and before you know it, you're out of it and impressing yourself again. Just practice those barre chords everyday, for as long as you can. Hell, I used to press my fingers against the fretboard with my right hand (strumming hand) just to make them stick so I could play the chord for a brief second.

Also, do are you familiar with any other chord formations? Are you familiar with the CAGED theory yet? This is a good way to play chords in different positions, which'll open up your eyes to a whole 'nother world. The idea or concept behind this theory is that the chord formations are set up as the "open" chords that you probably already know.

You can play a B chord in a number of different positions:

Here's the B chord in the "C" form in the CAGED theory:
(one of my favorites:)
e 11
B 12 <~see the open C form here?
G 11
D 13 <~see the open C form here?
A 14 <~see the open C form here?
E x

This is the "A" form:
e 2
B 4 <~see the open A form here?
G 4 <~see the open A form here?
D 4 <~see the open A form here?
A 2
E x

The "G" form:
e 7 (pinkie) <~see the open G form here?
B 4 (barre these 3 with your index)
G 4
D 4
A 6 (middle) <~see the open G form here?
E 7 (ring) <~see the open G form here?

The "E" form:
e 7
B 7
G 8 <~see the open E form here?
D 9 <~see the open E form here?
A 9 <~see the open E form here?
E 7

(here's the "shortened" or "cheating" version of the above chord, just barre the little e & B strings with your index finger:)
e 7
B 7
G 8
D 9
A x
E x

The "D" form:
e 11 <~see the open D form here?
B 12 <~see the open D form here?
G 11 <~see the open D form here?
D (13) (optional or not played at all)
A x
E x

These are all different ways to play a B chord on the fretboard. Not the only ways, but a bunch of different and common ways. Hope that makes sense!

vitaminE · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject:

I’ve been enjoying your questions because you’re trying to overcome obstacles common to all aspiring guitarists. I too had a hard time with the B chord – it took me a long time to play it properly using my index finger as the barre on the 2nd fret and forming the A-shaped chord with my ring finger on the 4th fret. In the interim, whenever a B chord came up, I’d fake it by playing it as a two note chord; first finger on the A string 2nd fret and ring finger on the D string 4th fret.

Don’t be so quick to look for ways around these problems – just keep hacking away and you’ll eventually get it right. Good luck and keep it up!

Pipster · Joined: 27 Dec 2009 Posts: 1

I am a multi intrumentalist..I play sax. trumpet, harmonica,Trombone. guitar, banjo, tin whistle, tenor horn, baritone horn, euphonium and flugel horn.. I sing as well and do harmonies and backing vocals, but primarily I am a drummer. I learned to read music when I was 7 years old.I started playing guitar back in 1980... I started with three chord CFG or GDE chord songs. the first 4 chord song I learned was You've got to hide your love away by The Beatles which had a D in it... I have even played in bands on acoustic guitar but I STILL can't play a B chord after decades of gigging..so ... practice makes perfect clearly dont apply in this case... ANY IDEAS?

lee_UK · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject:

Pipster wrote:

I am a multi intrumentalist..I play sax. trumpet, harmonica,Trombone. guitar, banjo, tin whistle, tenor horn, baritone horn, euphonium and flugel horn.. I sing as well and do harmonies and backing vocals, but primarily I am a drummer.

Tim · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:58 pm Post subject:

lee_UK wrote:

Pipster wrote:

I am a multi intrumentalist..I play sax. trumpet, harmonica,Trombone. guitar, banjo, tin whistle, tenor horn, baritone horn, euphonium and flugel horn.. I sing as well and do harmonies and backing vocals, but primarily I am a drummer.

Lmao, good to see you back man Very Happy

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