AMaj

[TAZZ]

Could I get any pointer on how to hold my finger. I find it very hard to hold three string in between one fret.

[Guitarzan]

Tazz,

I've heard two shcools of thought on this.

1) Barre strings 1 - 4 at the 2nd fret and don't play the 1st (high E) string.

2) Finger the Amaj like a Dmaj

E | |---|---|-
B | |---|3--|-
G | |---|--2|-
D | |---|1--|-
A | |---|---|-
E | |---|---|-

Hope that helps.

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[StoneDragon]

Guitarzan most likely meant this:

E | |---|---|-
B | |---|2--|-
G | |---|--3|-
D | |---|1--|-
A | |---|---|-
E | |---|---|-

That's how I finger the A chord.

That chord has probably caused more headaches than any other chord (except the F chord barred at the first fret).

You just have to keep working with it... it'll happen... it just takes the right combination of relaxation and hand positioning and suddenly that chord will start acting like it is your best friend.

[Guitarzan]

Great Googley Moogley...

I'm gonna have to redraw those numbers on my fingers again. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/movingeyes.gif

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[geoffreyt]

Tazz, keep working at it. A is a hard open chord to play for big man hands. Soon you will be playing a Barre chord in A. Keep at it. The rewards come with practice.

[geoffreyt]

I want to learn about the Key Signature. Ive looked at it and it seems that this is paramount to know. Ive been learning the Major scale modes and I want to be able to identify the Key that the music is played in so my improvising is on key. If I know the sharps/flats in each mode, I can readily tell what key to play in. Is there a place Inside The Music that will teach me about this? Thanks, and it time to short your stocks. LOL.

[geoffreyt]

Here is a little explaination I found which helps make the Key Signature a little easier for me to see. Any one who can use it is welcome to it. I see they corrolate exactly with the relative Major Scale modes.


In a score, if only the notes belonging to the scale of D are used, then all Fs and all Cs will be sharp.
To make the notation less cluttered, these two sharp symbols are drawn only at the clef, that is just after the clef symbol. This informs the performer of the key being used, and in so doing , the default accidentals (notes with sharps or flats).
To determine which key is used in a score (or a part), just count the number of sharps or flats drawn after the clef :
Number of Sharps, Key, Number of flats, Key,
0 C 0 C
1 G 1 F
2 D 2 Bb
3 A 3 Eb
4 E 4 Ab
5 B 5 Db
6 F# 6 Gb
7 C# 7 Cb
The group of these signs placed after the clef constitutes the key signature.

The way to read those columns of numbers & notes. 1st column is number of sharps in the music, second column the Key music is in. 3rd column is number of flats, 4th column is Key music is in. I cant figure the formating out to make it look right.
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