need a shuffle explanation (left hand fingers position)

Hi Matteo!

I'd say that you're probably better off not lifting your index finger. I play with index and ring finger while not moving the index - except when playing barres - probably middle / pinky then. If you're having problems reaching the fourth fret with your ring finger you can probably use your pinky instead - or pratice some stretching - it should be possible unless you have very small hands

but what do I know :-)

lars

hi Lars

thanks

but (sorry for my english), if I do not lift the index how can I play only the fourth fret and not the second one?

Matteo

If you press down on two different frets on the same string, only the fret further down the fretboard, nearest the bridge will play. Holding your index finger on the second fret, whilst playing the fourth fret is not necessary. It just makes changing between the two, easier and faster.
I'm sorry if I misunderstood your question, but this seems to be what you are asking.

Though I learned to do this on mandolin, I suppose it is the same for guitar. Be lazy and practice economy of movement. If you are already fretting a string and need to play another note on that string, closer to the bridge, don't lift the previous finger unless you can't reach the next note. Reach is not much of a problem on mandolin, but will be more often on guitar. Anyway, don't move a finger that is already down until you need to. Not only is it faster, but it keeps the previous note from being cut short by lifting your finger too soon. It sounds smoother.

Melisa

Do you have a link to the tutorial?

It sounds like what your after is a 12 bar blues in E, maybe this will help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceUI6Fr4wPU

Scott

Matteo

I agree completely with MMDM, do not lift your index finger to play the 4th fret on the A string with the ring finger. Only the note at the 4th will sound. If you are hearing the note at the 2nd fret, you do not yet have good coordination between your picking and fretting hands. Just go slow, your picking speed should match your fretting speed. Hope you know what I mean.

There are lots of extra things you can do with this. For instance, when playing this same riff in A on the 5th and 4th strings, you can barre the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings with your index finger. You will still be able to play the shuffle using your ring. But you can also add the A chord itself.



e------------------------------------------------
b------------------------------------------------
g-----------------2-----------------------2------
d--2--2--4--2-----2-----2-----2-—4--2-----2------
a--0--0--0--0--0--------0-----0--0--0--0---------
e------------------------------------------------
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
d u d u d u u u d u d u

Here I am only adding the notes on the D & G strings from the A chord, but you could play the note on the B string as well. This is a very common riff in Blues and Rock especially.

But keep your index finger down and fretting the notes on the D, G, and B string at the 2nd fret all the time on this riff.

Hi all

thanks that's the explanation I needed!!!!! I did not know that if I play two notes on the same string only the one nearest to the bridge would sound! By the way I tried a couple of times to play the shuffle with the index down and the resulting sound sounded me quite right but, not knowing the "2 notes on the same a string" principle I tought: "it could not be possible, surely it's my ear's fault!

cheers

Matteo

Good for you! :-)

sorry - appearantly I didn't really understand your question ...

lars

hi

first of all thanks to everyone, with your suggestions yesterday I played an E-shuffle blues a lot better than before.

A thing struck me: if I have to play the shuffle in another position like a G

e : 3
a: 5

and

e: 3
a: 7

can I leave both the finger and the ring down when I have to play the E note on 5th string?

If the "2 notes on the same string" principle is true, only E note would sound

Thanks

Matteo

Hi Matteo,

It's correct, you can leave both fingers. Note that when you pick the string, it vibrates from your finger to the bridge and that vibration generates the sound. On depending the length of the free part of the string, it sounds in a note or in another. All the fingers (or "things", ie. the capo) between you last finger and the neck do not disturb. Ok?

Nuno

PD. The same is applicable if you pick the string "above" your finger, so between the neck and the finger. If you put you finger on the 12th fret, the note will be the same "above" and "below", there is the same distance between the two points: neck-finger and finger-bridge.

thanks Nuno for your enlightning explanation! Now I can understand how it is (of course with a bit of excercise) possible to play shuffle-rock like in Chuck Berry style!

Matteo