Dreaded C Chord

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For/to help beginners/improvers indulging in deliberate practice to improve their banjo playing. An open group.

88 Members, Created 11/6/2017 -

Administrators: AndyW (owner) , Boadicea , WayneConrad

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From decfly on 12/24/2017 10:18:57 AM

I've been playing the clawhammer for a few months now and I need to execute a C chord in standard G tuning. I know the blueprint of the chord, but even when I'm very deliberate in placing my fingers where they're supposed to be, it takes me forever and I'm usually touching the 3rd string with my middle finger. I can't imagine quickly getting to this chord in the middle of a tune.

Any help would be appreciated in getting me to where I need to be.

Thanks.

7 Comments
	WayneConrad says: 12/24/2017 6:22:18 PM It's hard to say without seeing, but here are some thoughts: The C chord is going to be difficult for a while--it feels like a stretch, compared to the D7, and there are three fingers to get placed instead of two. But it well get easier. You will learn to make it effortlessly. Make sure the fingernails on your fretting hand are short enough that they don't touch the fretboard or string. Not all players keep their fretting nails this short, but neither is this unusual: hangoutstorage.com/banjohangou...168460835 Muting an adjacent string when fretting is something that gets fixed with practice, for the most part. Make sure that you're not "bending" the 2nd string when you fret it. This would happen if you are accidentally pushing sideways on the 2nd string and causing it, and the finger that is fretting it, to slide towards the 3rd string.
	AndyW says: 12/24/2017 11:08:03 PM Maybe try strumming a 12 bar blues between the G, C, D7. If the D7 grates too much on the ear(it does for me) then use C, F, G as your three chords. C, F, G will actually give the C chord more of an outing.
	conic says: 12/25/2017 5:29:39 AM As a starting point, try just holding down the bottom two strings at first but dont strum the forth string, just strum strings one, two and three. You can also barr all four strings at the fifth fret which is also a C
	WayneConrad says: 12/25/2017 7:21:42 AM @AndyW -- practicing C/F/G is a good suggestion, but perhaps not yet for decfly. I recall F being much harder to make than C.
	Judith511 says: 12/25/2017 2:51:51 PM I always have a hard time with the F chord, my fingers just don't want to do it sometimes, Hopefully eventually I will get it better.
	decfly says: 12/27/2017 6:43:35 AM Thanks y’all! I’m getting there slowly. It’s getting better each day
	StuartJohn says: 12/28/2017 3:25:08 AM Keep at it. With regular practice it really will become easy for you. Trying some fingerings easier for you to get to will not pay off in the long run. Going through the discomfort and uncertainty of whether you'll get there is simply a path we all need to walk, whatever your level. The only certainty is that it will not happen if you don't practice regularly. Good for you, it sounds like you're getting there.
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