Chord fingering

[Classic Banjo]

Hello all

I find the system used in Classic Style to show chord fingering somewhat difficult. To my mind, chord boxes are simpler and clearer.

So what am I missing? Why do we persist with the Classic Style system?

As always your thoughts, guidance and comments are appreciated.

Thank you

Eric 

[Steve Harrison]

I think we both may have missed Eric's original point which was a convenient way of identifying chord shapes, hence his suggestion of using chord windows. The classic banjo method of identification using finger numbers is a tried and tested method. When we first learned to read, we were taught how to form words from letters and only in our early years did we actually read. Most readers these days scan the pages using whole word recognition without reading the individual letters, the only time we read is if it's a word with which we're unfamiliar. The same principal can be applied to chords, but before you can do this you have to apply a little music theory and learn how each chord is constructed. With continued practice, chord recognition will follow...Steve.

Jody Stecher said:

I disagree, Steve. Learning music theory (which I  agree is good idea) explains *why*.  The question of what fingers to use is a matter of *how*.  The perceived problem ( which I do not agree is a problem) was that the "321 system" is  inconsistent about which fingers should play which frets".  We are all fortunate that such inconstancies exist or we'd all be suffering from tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Learning all the movable three string chord shapes is no substitute for learning chord theory but it is not intended to be a substitute. It's all about training the hand. Training the mind is another job entirely and of at least equal importance, but understanding the Why of chords will not help the hands to play these chords. That is the department of Left Hand Technique.

[Greg Tomlin]

Both Jody and Steve have made good points, but they've drifted somewhat from how I read the original post.  I take him to be asking why the preference of one system over another.   The simple answer is that the 321 system is traditional and since most of our sources are written in this form it's best to learn the system at least well enough to make your own chord windows, if that makes it easier to learn the piece.  

There is an issue with the difference between our understanding and our ability to play a chord or passage.  Except at the extremes of the fretboard, there are at least two ways to play each passage; throw in the variability of fingering the chord and you have quite a mess.

I've always found it helpful to try and follow the editors suggestions at first to get an idea of the logic behind his choices.  this helps to form my own system of approach and sometimes suggests alternatives that are either easier, flow more logically or simply sound better.  (sometimes the last goal makes us choose a more difficult fingering, but hey, artists must suffer for their art sometimes.)  Just my 2 cents...

[Jody Stecher]

Midway through this discussion Eric, the original poster wrote " To my way of thinking, however, the Dmaj should be written 321 if it's to be consistent with the way E7 is notated.".   Since that point in the discussion I have been responding to the idea of consistency in fingering chords, and making the point that the consistent use of  finger Y for fret X does not make sense for chord shapes. 

Greg Tomlin said:

Both Jody and Steve have made good points, but they've drifted somewhat from how I read the original post.  I take him to be asking why the preference of one system over another.   

[Jody Stecher]

The *where* is provided by the "dots" (as well as the position indications).

Eric Womersley said:

. As I now understand it, the CB system is more about the fingering rather than where to fret a particular string although clues are given by the P & B markers. 

[thereallyniceman]

Eric,

The Classic Banjo "system" works as it is logical!  

For example if you see  8P 412

The 4th is the finger used on the top (1st) string, the 1st is the finger used on the second string and the 2nd finger is the finger used on the third string.  BUT  8P is the fret where the FIRST finger lands.

So, in an 8P 412 the 1st finger of the shape is at the 8th fret.

in a 10P 412 the 1st finger is at the 10th fret...the rest of the fingers sit on the strings in the  412 shape.

Learn and play the 13 different shapes as shown in my download..hey presto, it is simple!

Download my charts from here:

DOWNLOAD