In this video I'll show you three simple but excellent exercises to tame that
awful sounding B chord, let's do it.
Hi I'm Tomas Michaud from Real Guitar Success where I help you learn guitar
and to love your guitar playing journey. The B chord is one of the most difficult
chords for beginners to learn to play smoothly and clearly but even the
infamous B chord gives way to focus methodical practice. Here are three
exercises that will work every time.
There are many forms of the B chord but they all involve somehow or another
playing three notes side by side to each other. When the easier forms is to play
the B more like this but even if you play bar chord you'll still need these
three fingers. The other technique is to use a partial bar which is even more
difficult for most people. We're gonna focus on learning to put these three
fingers side-by-side before we deal with the bar chord part. This first exercise
prepares those fingers in a way that's actually fairly easy but you'll be
surprised at how effective it is. I call this exercise to triple finger workout.
And even though it's fairly simple you'll be amazed to how effective it is.
Let's start by putting your second finger on the third fret on the fourth
string. Now right next to it, the third finger on that same third fret and then
the pinky right next to it. You won't be able to place them exactly even with the
fret but get them as close as you can. Now start by plucking the fourth string
with the pick and then release the finger so you're making a staccato sound.
I pressed down with my left hand, strike and then release. What you're doing is
pulsating. You're popping the string and then letting go getting a clear sound.
It's much easier to get a clear sound this way than to worry about all three
strings at once so it sounds like this - fourth string, third string, second string
then back to the third string and back to the fourth string, third, second and that's one round. Faster
it sounds like this...
Now move up a fret, same thing and another fret. Now I normally go up to the
seventh fret but you can go higher if you want and if you're really ambitious
you could go ahead and practice coming down. Do it a little bit at a time maybe
three five minutes max and possibly several times a day if you want to
progress even faster. Exercise number two is called Moving Up to B. Go ahead and
place that second finger on the fourth fret fourth string. Next to it on the
fourth fret, the third finger and the pinky. Again get as close to the fret as
you can without actually touching it. Now we're leaving that first finger
available. Start with a fourth string, third, second, fourth
second. Now we're going to the first string and as I go to the first string
I place my first finger down on the second fret. So first I strike the
strings in the pattern of four three two three four three two. Listen.
I'm letting them ring.This is not a staccato. The next part strikes four
three two and then goes on to the one string. Open first then first finger on
the second fret and then open and back to two. Listen. Four
three two open first. First finger down open and back to second string. Now we
move the whole thing up to the fifth fret
that far and then back to the fourth fret.
Half and half of the pattern one on the fifth fret and one on the fourth. Do it
again. Fifth fret and fourth fret.
Now you repeat that first part again just like we did but we're going to end
different. Watch.
Same. Watch. Now coming down
and I hit the fifth string. Put my first finger on the second fret and that's
actually preparing you for the more complex B chord.
The third and final exercise builds on several of the elements of the first two
exercises. I call it Easy Does It because it's important to stay relaxed and not
to tense your muscles too much. Go ahead and follow along. Second finger goes on
the fourth string seventh fret. Put the third finger and pinky right next to it
all on the seventh fret. Now your first finger stretches over to the fifth fret
on the first string. That actually forms a D chord. It's the same fingering as a B
chord but in a different position. Now we move that whole thing down two frets to
a C chord. Now two more frets becomes a B flat chord
and one more fret and becomes an A chord. Now if you want to use this for a B
chord, you'd move it up to the fourth fret and the first finger goes on the
second fret. So let's start with the first form and we're going to do the
rhythm now. Okay put your fingers where it makes a D chord and use the rhythm.
I'm making that muted sound by lifting my fingers on the left hand. Don't worry
if some of the other strings sound that's not important at this point. So
you go down up and then as you strike the strings you lift the left hand and make
that muted sound. Mute on the way up and then down up. I'm pressing the chord to make
the sound and then mute and stop there. So it's one and two and three and four.
Down two frets - one and two and three and four.
Practice once solely at first start with just the chord forms and then
add the rhythm. That's it for today. I hope you enjoyed this lesson
but either way leave me a comment and let me know what you're thinking. Like
this like either one I just want to know. Learning guitar is a journey not a
destination and you really do deserve to love your
journey. I'm Tomas Michaud. Hope to see you again soon.