Dear Jeff,
I have always wanted to learn to play the guitar. Unfortunately, when I was younger, I never took the time. Now, because of Multiple Sclerosis, I have all the time in the world.
My question to you is this: I know my muscles are giving way day by day. But I find that if I exercise on a daily basis I can make them work for me even if only for short periods. Can you sugest an exercise that would help with coordination for forming the chords?
I really love my guitar. I would rather sit and pluck it for hours than to sit around wishing that I had all of my health back.
Thank you for your time.
Dave
PS. I really enjoy your articles.
==========================================
Dave, thank you for writing and gracing my day. I appreciate your kind words very much. =o)
The trick to forming chords (and by extension, playing through chord progressions smoothly) is for all the fingers to move at the same time. Often, inexperienced guitarists change chords by moving one finger at a time — after the old chord, all the fingers may come off the neck at once, but then they get replanted one at a time. This is obviously an inefficient way of doing things, yet the player may be unaware of it. You need to think in terms of changing the chord in one movement, not three or four.
Take two chords of your choice. For instance, an open C and G7. Grab one, and then the other. Are your fingers all moving at once, each finding its new position at the same time, and planting themselves simultaneously? Or do you do one, following by a second, followed by…? Focus with deliberation on this transition, and make your fingers move as one, not as four.
It can also be helpful to establish in your mind which finger is going to play the root, or bass note, of the chord, and making sure that finger gets where it needs to be. The above idea of moving the fingers as a unit notwithstanding, give just a little extra priority to that finger on the bass. One, by establishing the root, the other fingers often fall right into place, and two, in real-life musical terms, you can often sneak an extra half-beat to actually get ALL the chord, so long as the root is established on beat one — jazzy, bass/strum riffs come to mind here.
Also, while you didn’t ask this question specifically, I wanted to mention that playing guitar consistently can indeed prolong the use of your muscles. Practicing guitarists who play every day often age wonderfully in their hands, avoiding things like arthritis and general stiffness as the years go by.
I wish I could say that playing guitar could hold back the effects of MS — sadly, I cannot. But I would think that the daily exercise you mention, as well as the joys of music-making in general, are doing you a world of good, making your difficult days easier to bear, and hopefully helping your hands retain their strength as long as possible.
When life dumps a big load on us, we essentially have two choices as to how we handle it. We can take the low road or the high. Many folks in your position would give up trying to live their life, or whine interminably about their lot. But I can see by your letter that you are opting for the high road, accepting that which only God can change, and enjoying your time on this spinning ball as best you can, making music to cheer your heart, and no doubt the hearts of those around you who love you and want to see you content and living life to the fullest possible degree.
I have a friend back in Indiana who has suffered with MS for decades. The doctors predicted the end of him years ago, but he continues to baffle them with his resiliency and good humor. And so I say to you, my friend: keep your spirits high, and continue to make music every day, and be content. Soon enough you’ll leave us and be jammin’ free of the burdens of the flesh. While you’re here, please continue to inspire us with the grace and dignity you show in your letter. We’re all the better for your example.
God bless, Dave — write anytime. =o)
Hope this helps.
(,@)===::: Jeff
======================================
Jeff… Thank you ever so much for the kind words and the help. I’ll practice till my fingers are bloody if needed. But I will succeed. You are right by the way. Planting your best foot forward always helps relieve anything bad that happens to us. Giving up is nothing short of a tragedy. May you and yours find happiness in all that you hope to do.
~~ Dave