• Join the A7X Discord!

    We're updating the community and moving all social content from the community to the Discord. All lessons related conversations will still take place here though! Join the Discord below and view the full announcement for more details

    JOIN THE DISCORD VIEW THREAD

Is my octave chords bad? How can I improve?

Dan Shipway

Slim Shady
  •
    • Nov 11, 2019
    726
    158
    9
  • #2
    Tey playing it like a bar chord bur instead of barring all the notes lay down your first finger across the fret of the first note( this helps to mute the string inbetween notes) and then fret the octave
    So basically like barring a power chord but instead of barring just rest your finger across the strings.
    This is a pretty bad explanation but i may do a video
     

    Jake Young

    Free Bird Player
    Nov 11, 2019
    193
    1
  • #3
    I wouldn’t say it’s a bad thing to play them that way..lots of people do! I used to for the first couple years when I first started until I discovered it was easier..and felt more natural to use your index and pinky. It puts your hand in a better, more natural position. But doing what Dan said and lots of repetition will help. Have you tried doing the index/pinky version?
     

    Ed Seith

    Supreme Galactic Overlord
    Staff member
    Legend+
  •
    • Nov 11, 2019
    3,882
    15
    6,603
    54
    Marana, AZ USA
    soundcloud.com
    35
  • #4
    I do the same as Jake, though I used to do it how you do. Either way, the muting of that in-between string is PARAMOUNT. Two things to do to make it easy:
    1. Like Dan said, lay that index finger down a little to mute the in-between.
    2. Additionally, let the very tip of the “octave” finger, whether it’s ring or pinky, lightly touch that middle string while fretting the octave note. Don’t FRET it, just let the fleshy tip of the finger touch it. That’s more muting.
    More muting is better. Both of those techniques can be used in MANY situations to help you play clean.
     

    idssdi

    Sold-out Crowd Surfer
    Nov 11, 2019
    5,336
    6,754
    Groningen
    11
  • #8
    I can’t really listen to it in my browser don’t know why that happens and my phone is significantly out of memory so can’t install the app either. Maybe try and upload it to youtube as hidden or private and share the link?
     

    Similar threads

    Venting
    Replies
    20
    Views
    2K
    General Chat
    Little Laguna05
    L
    Guitar Power chord fixes
    Replies
    7
    Views
    1K
    Lessons, Studying, & Practicing
    OskarF
    O
    T
    • Question
    How do I stop my fingers from flying to far?
    Replies
    9
    Views
    1K
    Advanced Techniques & Theory
    William B.
    W
    M
    • Question
    Guitar CAGED barre tips
    Replies
    2
    Views
    806
    General School Questions
    Ed Seith
    New to the community
    Replies
    6
    Views
    1K
    Introduce Yourself!
    Ali S.
    Menu
    Log in
    Register