Lesson 8

Place the bottom of the 1st finger (not the finger tip ) - across the 1st and 2nd strings - at the 1st fret. Strum the 1st and 2nd strings.

Rotate your wrist and place your left thumb in a comfortable position behind the neck to achieve the correct pressure. You should apply only enough pressure to obtain a clear sound.

Many chords, especially those up the neck, are formed by "barring" three, four, even six strings at once. These are called barre chords. Barring a chord allows you to move that chord up and down the fretboard.

However, barre chords are difficult to form. For this reason we will concentrate on the simple two-string barre. When the time comes to learn a full barre chord we will be ready.

This exercise will serve two purposes. We will be practicing the two-string barre, and we will be exercising our little (4th) finger. You may have noticed how awkward it is to use your little finger when forming certain chords. That is because, with a few exceptions, you rarely use it. You will use this important digit often when playing the guitar and so we offer the little finger exercise.

1. Form the two -string barre. Strum the 1st & 2nd strings.

2. While holding the barre, place your 4th finger - on the 1st string - at the 3rd fret. Strum the 1st & 2nd strings.

3. Lift your 4th finger off the 1st string. Strum 1st & 2nd strings.

The little finger / barre exercise should be repeated often. Simply lift the little finger on and off the 1st string. You can continue to strum both strings with your right thumb or, for variety, you may strike each string separately in a syncopated pattern. For even more variety move up the neck to the 5th fret and repeat the exercise (little finger on the 7th fret).

You may move up or down the neck to any position you want. You will notice that as you move up the neck the frets will be closer together. This will allow you to stretch your 4th finger up three frets instead of two. Be creative. As you hold down the barre, move your 4th finger one, then two, then three frets up and work your way back down. Try moving over to the 2nd string.

The idea is to use your little finger often. If you exercise your 4th finger often, playing complex chords will be much easier.