Is my octave chords bad? How can I improve?

[Andrew Fernandes]

I play the octave chords with index and ring fingers is that bad. Is there a way to make them sound more cleaner and easier to slide.

 

[Dan Shipway]

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]

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]

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]

I personally play them with my index + pinky. As long as it sounds good and it’s comfortable for you then you’re good!

 

[Sayonil Mitra]

You can try one more thing..its technically not plying an octave chord but….first record the lower notes separately…then record upper notes separately..see if this double tracking thing sounds better for you

 

[Andrew Fernandes]

@dan @ed @sayonil @ids @jake You guys have given me great advice. Have you checked my soundcloud audio clip i do octave chords there i just curious to know if i did the right there. thanks

 

[idssdi]

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?

 

[Dan Shipway]

Yeah that sounds right

 

[Sayonil Mitra]

The sound cloud clip sounds OK. One thing though…I am hearing the notes of the same octave chord at slight different times. I don’t know if its my faulty earphones or not.

 

[Ed Seith]

Sounds right. You’ll get it cleaner over time.