RGS Live #16 | 10 Tips for Age 55+

Questions Asked During the Session:

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[29:19] How to improve timing, smoothing out. Chord transition from D to F. - Nick

[34:05] I’ve read that doing finger stretching exercises is useful as a warm up before practice. Do you agree, please? - Graham

[34:05] What are the best stretching and strengthening exercises for hands and shoulders? Especially if a feller has arthritis. And alternate fingering techniques for big palms and short, thick fingers? - Cliff

[35:01] I am told my guitar has a floating bridge.  I have also been told that when I clean the frets that I should remove all the strings.But the manual says to change only one string at a time to avoid bumping the floating bridge.  Then it says to remove all the strings to clean the frets well. So, my question is can I safely remove all the strings and clean the frets and then replace all the strings at once. The guitar in question is a brand new G5445t  Gretsch with the Bigsby tailpiece. - Mark

https://www.artistguitars.com.au/view/change-floating-trem-strings-like-a-pro/144

[37:20] I take a song, break it down, practice and practice a section....some are easy...then there is a section(s) that are not...I practice the bejesus out of them separately and they still don't give in...I could stay on one song for months without completing it...now I have a hundred partial songs to my repertoire.

Should I continue to do as I have been and move on...I can't stand to stay on one piece for such a long time.

BTW is it "bad" to have to use tabs in front of you for EVERY song you play? - Rod

[44:18] I have right shoulder/neck issues — playing a 4″-deep acoustic guitar with strumming and flatpick. How do you manage the right arm and shoulder and posture — maybe avoid rolling the shoulder forward– to be able to play ergonomically? - Paul

[45:52] I've just started learning fingerpicking guitar. What I cannot figure out is to play in rhythm. I can pick the notes and that's just about it, pick it! It doesn't sound musical but robotic! Would it help if I hum the song and work out the rhythm or is there a better and easier way? - Anonymous Viewer

[47:53] I'm sort of stuck in a rut with barre chords. I've been working on them for a few months now but am still 'sticky' on transitioning. Advice on getting through that would be good. - Phil

[48:44] Also, I've got big hands / fingers (not fat!). I play the A shape barre chords by barring the 3 strings of an A shape using my ring finger .....just struggle to fit three fingers that close together. Using my ring finger works okay but I'm still getting a buzz / mute on the adjacent strings. Any advice on how to better barre those 3 strings as part of an A barre chord shape? - Phil

[50:24] How to find the right guitar teacher ?? In my area, they are all about the money keeping you coming back every week. I don't have time for that at my age I want to move on and learn the right things in the right order. - Jim

[54:07] I'd like to know how to play with a Harmonium player matching the right key and finding chord progressions to fit. - Jim

[56:14] When doing my 5th string root barre chords I’m really having a hard time forming the A-shaped barre on the major chords. Any suggestions? Forming the barre is fine but making the barre for the A-shape is giving me trouble. By “forming” it I mean being able to hold them down to make them sound well. It is the only shape that’s just not working.  - Laura

[59:30] I’m opposite w/ short, stubby fat fingers. Hard to reach top string. Is there a better neck or fingerboard for my finger type? - Steve