RH-021 • Basic Funk Chords

[justinguitar]

Questions...

[Stolen Identity]

Whenever I try the 2nd E9 chord, with the B on the high e string, I can never get the G# to sound, and sometimes my finger actually presses it down on the 7th fret(A), so it ends up being x77777. From this, I can still go to the E13. Is this a problem? To me it sounds fine, but I'm not sure if its okay.

[sophiehiker]

I am also struggling with the fingering of the 2nd E9 chord.  My G# is usually slightly muted.  If anyone has any tips, I'd appreciate it.

Here's a quote from another teacher. "These chords may be difficult to finger because the three top notes must be barred by the 3rd finger alone. In order to do this, the first knuckle of the 3rd finger must actually bend backwards.  It may take some time for your knuckle to become limber enough to do this.  Keep at it, but if you encounter any pain in the joint, stop and rest it."

[sophiehiker]

More thoughts on gripping the second E9 from a newbie:

1.) Must really cross second finger over third.  Second finger must be on top of third.  A good stretching exercise for this is shown 1:00 minute in this Offspring video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLkIB5l-OlM

2.) When gripping the chord, use the index finger to move the D string up and down ever so slightly.  Up and down toward the ceiling and the floor.  Feel the string touch middle and ring finger.  Pluck the string while moving it up and down.  There should be a position where the note rings out clearly.

[erimb]

A question about the first E7 shape (the one where you don't play the 1st or the 6th string) - how do you mute the two strings you don't play?

I can sometimes mute the first string with my first finger, but can't seem to mute the 6th unless I bring my thumb over.

[sophiehiker]

Again from a noob:

I move third finger up (toward the ceiling) a little to touch the 6th string.

Same with 1st string.  I move first finger down a little to touch the 1st string.

(I mean move the finger with the string up and down a little.  Third finger with 5th string up.  First finger with 2nd string down.)

[erimb]

Thanks, that seemed to help a bit!

[justinguitar]

test

[justinguitar]

Thanks, that seemed to help a bit!

test 2

[Muffinz]

Okay, I'm getting quite frustrated with that "full" E9. The problem is the joint on my third finger just won't bend backwards. I can bend all my other fingers in this way (espescially my pinky), or well at least a little, but my third finger just gets stuck when straight. Both my hands are this way. Also, with my other fingers it feels like it could be just an issue of stretching because they do bend a little more if I kinda force them, but with my third finger it feels like it would break before bending..
I can't make the chord ring out when barring with my third, but if I bar with my pinky I can get it, but then I can't jump to the E13. The way I do it atm is ignoring the root and just playing it with my index finger on the fourth string and barring the top 3 strings with my middle finger, but I sure would like to get that root note in..(although in a band situation it wouldn't matter too much since the bass player probably would be playing the root anyways)

So am I doomed to never be able to funk out or is there some practical way to get over this problem?

Thankful for answers!
//Muffinz