A new tune?

[German David Patarroyo]

Hi all,

In my last video I said that I am focusing in exercises to improve my left hand technique. However, I would no like to dismiss the fun (and the importance) of learn new tunes. Because I am working on the fingering of the frets in the middle part of the neck, I would like to know about easy tunes which use those frets. Any suggestion? :

[thereallyniceman]

Hi German,

I somehow missed this post.. but I find it a little odd that you want to find a tune that concentrates on the "middle" of the fingerboard.  To my mind, when beginners are learning they start at the first position and slowly venture up the fingerboard to different inversions..BUT they don't ignore the first position. More advanced tunes use the first but expand up the fingerboard to the higher positions too.

I would try a tune like Morley's Circus Parade, it plays a lot out of the first positions and also has lots of jumping backward and forwards to around 10th and 12th fret inversions. There is also a great bass solo from the 5th fret upwards and down.

I don't personally think that you would gain much just practising the middle of the fret board, or you may as well just play your current tunes with a capo at the 5th fret ( NOOOO don't do it!).

Find a tune with a bit of movement to get you jumping up and down the neck smoothly.

Just my opinion!

[German David Patarroyo]

Hi Ian,

Thank you for your useful and complete advise. Indeed I agree that a beginner like me, need to start in the first frets. However, I had noticed that because I do not have enough elasticity in the third and fourth fingers I bend in a odd (and sometimes really ugly) my left hand when I press the first frets. Therefore I had been practicing with a Rob´s instructive video in the middle part of the neck. Eventually with those exercises I hope to develop a more normal position with my hand. That´s why I was doing this curious inquiry. I will start looking the Morley´s tune you suggested. I am also starting to learn "In the moonlight" (it´s a nice tune). And don´t worry with the capo!, I won´t do it.

Regards!

[Jody Stecher]

A banjo player uses the third and fourth fingers at the third, fourth and fifth fret over and over again. What is it about the middle of the fingerboard that is especially helpful? The frets are closer together there but also the fingerboard is wider and sometimes the neck may be thicker. So one gains one advantage and loses two advantages. Maybe I don't understand what you mean. I am taking "middle" to mean frets 7 through 14 more or less.