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Tough ninth fingering


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Posted

The only chords I'm aware of that I can't finger properly are the ninth chords with the root on the fifth string. What's your experience with those? Probably after some serious practice the knuckle of the ring finger will bend enough (in an unnatural position) to make it ring, but it's still a weird shape.

 

That's the shape I'm talking about (the numbers represent the fingers):

 

E----3-----

B----3-----

G----3-----

D---1------

A----2-----

E----x-----

 

Usually what comes out is this (a muted first string):

 

E----x-----

B----3-----

G----3-----

D---1------

A----2-----

E----x-----

 

I know I can mute it because it's the fifth, but since I like playing funk it would be so much better if it rang. Do you find this shape easy? It's quite frustrating, I can play the weirdest barre things, but this kills me. I know it can be done, I've seen it, but it definitely eludes me so far.

 

OTOH, probably for funk this would be enough:

 

E----3-----

B----3-----

G----3-----

D---1------

A----x-----

E----x-----

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Posted

It took a little practice for me to be able to play this well also. Anyway, you can play this minor triad easily right?

 

e---3---

B---3---

G---3---

D-------

A-------

E-------

I'm using the numbers to represent the finger as well - so that would just be a bar with your ring finger. Easy, right?

When I play that ninth chord, my ring finger is in the exact same position as when I play that triad. It's the other two fingers, the index and middle, which have to get into funny positions to play the chord. It ends up looking like this:

 

e---3---

B--13---

G--13---

D--1----

A---2---

E-------

So my index finger forms a second bar, but since it's behind the ring finger's bar, only one note actually sounds out, on the D string. The reason I do this is because it puts my hand in such a position that I can then reach my middle finger over the other two fingers and nab that low note. I am not going to say that this will be the best way for everyone to do it, since everyone's hands are different, but I will say that once I started using this position to play this chord, it didn't take much practice at all before I could play it naturally. Good luck and let me know if that explanation is not clear.
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Posted



Thanks, Dubb, this definitely makes sense. I'll have to try it tonight, but I can kind of see/feel how a second bar with the index finger would be helpful. Great idea.

I've also seen it played like this, but that's another one I can't really do:

E----4-----
B----3-----
G----3-----
D---1------
A----2-----
E----x-----
  • Moderators
Posted

You might also want to try playing any of the min7b5 voicings built off the 3rd of the dom9. This will give you a rootless dom9 voicing and offers more possibilities for voicings.

For C9 (C E G Bb D) - play Em7b5 (E G Bb D)
For G9 (G B D F A) - play Bm7b5 (B D F A)
etc, etc

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Posted

 

The only chords I'm aware of that I can't finger properly are the ninth chords with the root on the fifth string. What's your experience with those? Probably after some serious practice the knuckle of the ring finger will bend enough (in an unnatural position) to make it ring, but it's still a weird shape.


That's the shape I'm talking about (the numbers represent the fingers):


E----3-----

B----3-----

G----3-----

D---1------

A----2-----

E----x-----


Usually what comes out is this (a muted first string):


E----x-----

B----3-----

G----3-----

D---1------

A----2-----

E----x-----


I know I can mute it because it's the fifth, but since I like playing funk it would be so much better if it rang. Do you find this shape easy? It's quite frustrating, I can play the weirdest barre things, but this kills me. I know it can be done, I've seen it, but it definitely eludes me so far.


OTOH, probably for funk this would be enough:


E----3-----

B----3-----

G----3-----

D---1------

A----x-----

E----x-----

 

 

Your tab seems messed up. I think you mean either:

 

B9

 

E----2-----

B----2-----

G----2-----

D----1------

A----2-----

E----x-----

 

or

 

Cm9

 

E----3-----

B----3-----

G----3-----

D----1------

A----3-----

E----x-----

 

I'm assume you meant the first one. Plus we have no idea what fingering you're using.

 

It's all about hand position. Playing this chord for a while will get your hand accustomed to the fingering:

 

E----4----- = 4

B----2----- = 3

G----2----- = 3

D----1----- = 1

A----2----- = 2

E----x-----

 

By making that stretch it kind of sipns your hand into position to cover that high string at the 2nd fret. So, play it with that pinky out on the 4th fret, then take the pinky off, keeping your hand in position and you should be able to grab that 2nd fret on the high string fairly naturally ending up with this fingering...

 

B9

 

E----2----- = 3

B----2----- = 3

G----2----- = 3

D----1----- = 1

A----2----- = 2

E----x-----

 

Just keeping doing the chord with the pinky and it'll start coming you, as long as you keep the hand in that position when you remove the pinky.

 

Over time you're hand will be able to do it more nturally and more relaxed...heed my words and...practice, practice, practice!

  • Members
Posted

repetition repetition repetition

 

I learned to play those effortlessly from jazz band all through middle and high school. Twice a week for two hours at a time, I had to play those chords and other tricky ones. I would suggest getting ahold of the Jazz Real Book and playing through the changes of the tunes (particularly the blues tunes). That should get you in shape. You would have lots of practice moving into and out of those voicings. The fingering you mentioned is best because it leaves your fourth finger free and allows you to incorporate embellishments and ornamentations, or chord melody stuff. I say stick it out.

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Posted

gennation

The numbers in my tab represent fingers, not frets. 1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring. Once you take that into account our tabs are identical. Other than that, I get your point. Practice is the key...

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Posted

gennation


The numbers in my tab represent fingers, not frets. 1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring. Once you take that into account our tabs are identical. Other than that, I get your point. Practice is the key...

 

 

Got ya. Still try the idea though, it'll help you.

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Posted

Ninths are a bitch when you first start. I remember a friend teaching me E9 in a jam, and I spent the entire nite playing muted strings. Eventually I got the muscle memory, and now I can use my pinky to easily hit that note on the high E Genn mentioned. Funktastic:cool:

It probably helps to practice A shaped barres using your ring finger

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Posted

On an electric, you can bar the E and B strings with your pinky (I need to use the side of the pinky) and squeeze the 3 behind it onto the G string. Or you can use the side of the 3 to bar all three. The latter will move comfortably up the neck.
You can also leave out the index and shift the fingering to 2 , 3 and pinky. I'm able to do this one with the pinky sideways somewhat or pressed flat into the top three strings. This is more comfortable further up the neck but it's grabbable anywhere.

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Posted

The standard way to play it with the ring finger barred across the top three strings.

 

One shortcut can be leaving the middle finger off the fifth string, so the bottommost finger is the first finger on the fourth string. SRV used this fingering sometimes. May not sound as good in certain situations or instrumentation, since the third is now in the bass instead of the root.

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Posted

Well, I guess ideally would be to play it with the ring finger across the three top strings (plus the middle finger on the 5th string and the index on the 4th). This way the pinkie can go two frets up on the 1st and do some nice 13th embellishments. I started practicing like this and I hope that someday the last knuckle on my ring finger will bend enough so that I don't mute anything.

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