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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2   |
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| Struggling with B chords - Beginner Questions - Ukulele - Ukulele - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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divrom Approved
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I'm trying to play 'All my loving' by the Beatles, and I've noticed that my heart starts to beat more qucikly whenever I see a B chord; in this case, a Bb. It's a simple case of panic and dread - knowing that the song will be too difficult for me. I can just about strum a decent note, eventually - but I can't get to it or play it cleanly enough during the song. Is this a common problem? Do any of you use easy/cheat versions of B chords?
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scrooner Approved
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3211 Finger 1: bar the E-A strings Finger 2: C string 2nd fret Finger 3: G string 3rd fret Is that how you're playing it? Last edited on Mon Mar 10th, 2008 05:43 pm by scrooner |
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divrom Approved
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Well, that's how I'm trying to play it!  However, I find it difficult not to get a muffled sound, because my barring first finger seems to bring my other two down onto the strings.I also find it really difficult to change into or out of this chord without a lot of fumbling.
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Charlie Approved 
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I have had the same struggle with it for a few years and what I do now and it has solved the problem for me is to strum just the top three strings and not fret the E string and just use your three fingers. Been doing it for 5 years now. There is always a way to over come these problems. I have tried playing guitar alot and could never cover the strings and get a good sound from it , so I went to a 4 string tenor guitar and the ukulele for that reason. Hope this helps Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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scrooner Approved
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My wife used to have trouble with this chord shape too. I actually find it quite easy (I have more trouble with the E chord) and I use the same shape for the C chord quite often. I think the angle of the wrist plays a significant role here. Try changing the angle of your wrist....left, right, in, out. You might want to angle your fingers downward across the fretboard to make this work. Once you figure out the correct angle of attack, it should be easy.
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artcrocker Approved
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During my first few months of playing I felt the B was somewhat impossible for me to ever play clear. Also getting in and out of it also a great problem. I was sure others were getting it by using a neck strap, tried that but no real help there. A few Months later the magic happened, I noticed I was playing it with no real problem. Looking back, my advice is 1st- practice of course, 2nd- try to keep moving thru the song without stopping and accept the bad and fumbled B, 3rd- Have confidence that your fingers will learn it soon, 4th- After you master the B you will many other difficult ones to replace it. Good Luck
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scrooner Approved
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Charlie wrote: I have had the same struggle with it for a few years and what I do now and it has solved the problem for me is to strum just the top three strings and not fret the E string and just use your three fingers. Been doing it for 5 years now. Do you mean the A string? The shape used for Bb is a good moveable chord form for making chords up the neck, and will be worth learning eventually. Here's a fun example. Take a song that finishes in F. Play the F chord the normal way (2010) then immediately play 10-9-8-8 (this is that Bb chord shape being used to play an F chord one octave up). It adds a nice touch.
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Charlie Approved
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Thanks Scooner for correcting my strings, Yes it is the A, I have my baritone mixed with my tenor uke. Yes it can be accomplished with pratice and should be as it is a very important chord to use and move around with. Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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honu Approved
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Divrom, There is a Hawaiian Bb cheat chord: 0211 It's the same Bb chord, except the "G" string is not played - it's open. Play the Bb chord for your first three fingers and just drop off the third finger for the G string. Depending on the song, I usually play the Bb chord normally, but if there is a fast chord transition, I will use the Hawaiin Bb cheat chord. For the E chord, I usually cheat and barre all the strings on one fret. I know an uke player who bars the G chord like a D7. Last edited on Tue Mar 11th, 2008 06:59 pm by honu |
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scrooner Approved
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Ok, I took a look at my hand position when I play the B chord. Here's how it looks: I'm sitting down, with the uke at a 45-degree angle. My thumb is planted on the back of the neck, in the center. It is directly opposite my index finger, so that if the neck wasn't there, I could pinch my thumb & index finger together. My wrist is below the neck, and out away from it, about as far away from the neck as I can get it. My index finger is straight, from the 2nd knuckle to the tip, and parallel to the surface of the fretboard. My middle finger & ring finger are arching over the top of the fretboard.
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Dr. E Approved 
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Would 321x work as a cheater's Bb by playing just GCE strings? The regular 3211 shape is really hard for me--though I know it is an important one for moving up the fretboard.
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ezmember Approved
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Yes, just leaving out the 1st string would work, you just wouldn't have that high Bb sound. If you could just flatten your index finger enough to also play that 1st string fretted.... There are 2 ways to form the chord, and I find one better than the other. If you have the neck fully in your palm when you form that chord, I think it's harder to play. But if your thumb is pressing against the neck, keeping your palm out and away from the neck, the chord is easier to form and make ring out. Try it both ways and see what you think. I believe the general rule is that if you try to make it a habit to keep your thumb on the center back of the neck, you'll have better luck forming the chords. It's when your thumb gets lazy and the neck just lays in your hand that trouble starts. Just my 'umble opinion'.
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Dr. E Approved
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I definately hold the uke with the neck cradled down between my thumb and index finger. So if I hold it with the pad of my thumb against the back of the neck I should get a better reach on the frets, right? If I did that I'd worry about holding it steady--is that where a strap could come in handy? I just had a revelation--I struggled for a long time getting a clean-sounding B7 shape (2322) but finally got it by barring the 2nd fret with my index finger and using my middle finger for the 3rd string. I could do the same thing, but bring up my ring finger to cover the 4th string to make the Bb. But I'm stuck uke-less at the office right now, so I can't try it out.
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ezmember Approved
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You sure could bar that first fret, and not have to worry about pressing down really hard on any strings except for those first two strings...then you'd have to play the 3rd string with your middle finger and the 4th string with your ring finger. Straps always come in handy, and are more of a problem where Ukes are concerned because there's usually no place to hook the strap at the fat end. If you are ukeless, I only hope you can survive, because that's a terrible way to go. 
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scrooner Approved
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Well, yes, that's the best way to play it. Bar the E-A strings, then middle finger on the C string & ring finger on the G string. I don't know how else you'd do it, unless you're trying to use all 4 fingers or something....
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divrom Approved
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Thanks, folks. That's some really helpful advice. I'll keep practicing - and in the meantime, I'll resort to cheat chords, when I have to!
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leakydesk Approved
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Another option (just what you need) is to bar all four strings with your index finger. It's especially helpful when transitioning between Bb and G, or Bb and Bbm. I do it both ways depending on the song but I'm usually barring all four strings. How long have you been playing? What is the chord progression you're having trouble with?
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Alba Approved
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I'm glad I am not the only one who has problems with getting a clean sound on first string (A) when any sort of barre is applied .I still have to press hard to get the A anywhere half decent so I know it is a technique problem . My "solution" to get a clean sound has been a contorted use of four fingers which is uncomfortable especially on a soprano .This excecerbates my next problem that if I switch from soprano ukulele to banjo, it takes me at least 20 minutes to make chords shapes on the correct fret ,I always hit 4th fret instead of 5th and slides start and end in the wrong position. I may have to have ukulele days and banjo days
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leakydesk Approved
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It may also be a problem with the action on your ukulele. How high are the strings above the first fret on your ukes?
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HowlinHobbit Approved 
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Alba, divrom, et. al., Assuming the action on your ukulele isn't overly high try this. Hold your fretting hand a few inches in front of you, palm toward your chest. Look down at it. The side of your index finger that you're looking at is somewhat less fleshy (or more boney) than the palm side, and it doesn't have those grooves where your knuckles bend. When you barre, roll your fretting hand back just a bit so that more of that side of the finger comes into contact with the strings. I learned barre chords on a steel-stringed guitar and that bit of advice helped me a lot.
____________________ Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke? MySpace ezFolk UkeLand |
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| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > Beginner Questions - Ukulele > Struggling with B chords | |
