The Gooner Forum

Number three probably any of my Ibanez guitars. Maybe this Ibanez GRGR221PA-AQB:

But honestly, a couple of weeks ago, it would have been my Jackson JS32 DKA AH SBK. It is one of my least expensive guitars, but the neck and action on it are a joy to play.

Just a few funnies!









And


Surely an out-take from Soinal Tap!?













and the band Broke Up!

OneBardGooner wrote: ↑

Mon May 19, 2025 8:13 pm

Just a few funnies!

That gif always cracks me up!

I imagine he was yelling:

"yeah! Rock n fucking ro- huh, what the fuck?!"

I hadn't seen it before... but it is VERY Spinal Tap (ish).

The First One of the guitarist falling over... Reminds me of when I went to see UFO: Paul (Tonka) Chapman had replaced an Awol Schenker on lead... They came on with all the lights & everything flashing etc etc...a roadie walked over to him to hand him his guitar and as he put the strap over his shoulder he suddenly careered sideways into all the keyboards etc... Phil Mogg the singer and the Dummer hadn't seen this and so Mogg counts them all in via the Drummer and they start the song (Doctor Doctor - Ironically! ) But Tonka just lay there slumped against the keyboards and PA and started playing till 2 roadies ran on and helped him back to standing...

It was 'One Of Those Moments' in Rock & Roll..

Beethoven and Deep Purple...


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Dl0XyZqpfYU

What can you do to make your ring finger more flexible for barre chords, specifically major chord root note A string shapes. I’m still using 3 fingers (grow up) and my index to barre all 5 strings and mute the 6th, I just don’t seem to have the dexterity to do the 2 fingered version.

Is it a case some can and some can’t and you gotta live with it??

xgtdec wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 30, 2025 10:29 pm

What can you do to make your ring finger more flexible for barre chords, specifically major chord root note A string shapes. I’m still using 3 fingers (grow up) and my index to barre all 5 strings and mute the 6th, I just don’t seem to have the dexterity to do the 2 fingered version.

Is it a case some can and some can’t and you gotta live with it??

Do you mean like two finger power chords, say where you hold the 3rd fret on the A string with your index finger and the 5th fret on the D string with your ring finger?

Not trying to be funny here but it's a strange one to struggle with. I've always found it a very natural feeling to play distorted power chords that way.

Like everything else with the guitar, practice is the answer. Just keep practicing that position every day. Several times a day. As often as you can or are willing to do it. It will come to you in time.

DB10GOONER wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 01, 2025 8:09 am

xgtdec wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 30, 2025 10:29 pm

What can you do to make your ring finger more flexible for barre chords, specifically major chord root note A string shapes. I’m still using 3 fingers (grow up) and my index to barre all 5 strings and mute the 6th, I just don’t seem to have the dexterity to do the 2 fingered version.

Is it a case some can and some can’t and you gotta live with it??

Do you mean like two finger power chords, say where you hold the 3rd fret on the A string with your index finger and the 5th fret on the D string with your ring finger?

Not trying to be funny here but it's a strange one to struggle with. I've always found it a very natural feeling to play distorted power chords that way.

Like everything else with the guitar, practice is the answer. Just keep practicing that position every day. Several times a day. As often as you can or are willing to do it. It will come to you in time.

This will need a picture



So i see people play the 3 strings with a single finger while not muting the high e string......to me its like some form of double jointed witchcraft in a ring finger.....no matter how far up the fretboard i go, c up to d on the 5th etc....

xgtdec wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 30, 2025 10:29 pm

What can you do to make your ring finger more flexible for barre chords, specifically major chord root note A string shapes. I’m still using 3 fingers (grow up) and my index to barre all 5 strings and mute the 6th, I just don’t seem to have the dexterity to do the 2 fingered version.

Is it a case some can and some can’t and you gotta live with it??

DB thinks you mean this mate.

OneBardGooner wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 02, 2025 7:17 am

xgtdec wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 30, 2025 10:29 pm

What can you do to make your ring finger more flexible for barre chords, specifically major chord root note A string shapes. I’m still using 3 fingers (grow up) and my index to barre all 5 strings and mute the 6th, I just don’t seem to have the dexterity to do the 2 fingered version.

Is it a case some can and some can’t and you gotta live with it??

DB thinks you mean this mate.

regretfully my chord version isnt far off

xgtdec wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 01, 2025 8:37 am

DB10GOONER wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 01, 2025 8:09 am

xgtdec wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 30, 2025 10:29 pm

What can you do to make your ring finger more flexible for barre chords, specifically major chord root note A string shapes. I’m still using 3 fingers (grow up) and my index to barre all 5 strings and mute the 6th, I just don’t seem to have the dexterity to do the 2 fingered version.

Is it a case some can and some can’t and you gotta live with it??

Do you mean like two finger power chords, say where you hold the 3rd fret on the A string with your index finger and the 5th fret on the D string with your ring finger?

Not trying to be funny here but it's a strange one to struggle with. I've always found it a very natural feeling to play distorted power chords that way.

Like everything else with the guitar, practice is the answer. Just keep practicing that position every day. Several times a day. As often as you can or are willing to do it. It will come to you in time.

This will need a picture



So i see people play the 3 strings with a single finger while not muting the high e string......to me its like some form of double jointed witchcraft in a ring finger.....no matter how far up the fretboard i go, c up to d on the 5th etc....

Ah right I see the type of chords you mean. If you are strumming on an acoustic then the muting is going to be important, but if you are playing that chord on an electric then just strike the strings you are intending to sound out, and don't strike the high E or low E.

Some people play that A shape chord with the 3 strings fretted using their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers. There's nothing wrong with playing it that way. But if you have big fat fingers, that will be a struggle!

But honestly, guitar is almost all muscle memory. If you put the hours in to practice, you will reap the rewards.

One tip I used when I was learning was to practice songs, not chord charts. That way, you beat the boredom of chord charts, and you feel the reward of that moment when what you are playing actually sounds like the song you have been learning and practising on. It's a real motivator.

xgtdec wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 02, 2025 11:46 am

OneBardGooner wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 02, 2025 7:17 am

xgtdec wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 30, 2025 10:29 pm

What can you do to make your ring finger more flexible for barre chords, specifically major chord root note A string shapes. I’m still using 3 fingers (grow up) and my index to barre all 5 strings and mute the 6th, I just don’t seem to have the dexterity to do the 2 fingered version.

Is it a case some can and some can’t and you gotta live with it??

DB thinks you mean this mate.

regretfully my chord version isnt far off

It all takes time Xgt!


There are some very good (also VERY Poor) (free) Tutorials on YT... with various finger exercises...for strengthening the ole digits and for giving them a greater (range of) Stretching across the fretboard.

I'll have a decko and see if I can find any of any worth.

yeah there got to be a learning sweet spot between scales and chords, strumming patterns, fingerstyle patterns and then actually playing something.

I always get pissed off when you see a tab for a song you like....then you watch the Artist live and the tab doesnt seem anything like whats actually being played until you get to the knowledge that theres an open B flat but also a 6th fret B flat serving the same purpose but sounding a bit different, Its one of those stick with it things where your hoping for the payoff that might not ever materialize, at least ya get to make some noise in the meantime!

xgtdec wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 02, 2025 3:09 pm

yeah there got to be a learning sweet spot between scales and chords, strumming patterns, fingerstyle patterns and then actually playing something.

I always get pissed off when you see a tab for a song you like....then you watch the Artist live and the tab doesnt seem anything like whats actually being played until you get to the knowledge that theres an open B flat but also a 6th fret B flat serving the same purpose but sounding a bit different, Its one of those stick with it things where your hoping for the payoff that might not ever materialize, at least ya get to make some noise in the meantime!

The first time I saw a guitarist use Drop D tuning live (long before the internet) I had no idea what the fuck was going on. It literally did not sound like what his fingers were doing!

I'd only started learning so I hung back after the gig and asked the guy and he very kindly sat me down and explained it and even let me jam a bit on his guitar.

That guitarist was Gary Moore.




Or Gerry Moore or something. Lad from Galway.