The #1 Thing I Wish I Would Have Fixed

[@Andrew-cu9lf]

Probably one of the most, if not THE most, practical, useful and relevant guitar tips on YT!

[@oldrrocr]

agree. I can't believe I've never seen this before. thanks and Merry Xmas!

[@twankwhelan8517]

Gotta commend you Sean. Once again you take a concept I've "known" for years, and make it more applicable. I paused your vid twice to try this out with songs I've written, recorded and played for years with those bulky barre chords and loved the results I was getting. Amy likes it too, and says "hi" :)

[@drummerboy1390]

Another vital reason for playing these higher voiced chords, particularly for electric players, is that you will cut through the mix much cleaner. Playing bass heavy chords, the bass player will wipe out your bottom end, as will the bass drum. It's like you're guitar isn't plugged in. With higher voiced chords, you cut right through. Listen to this guy. His information is priceless. I wish he'd been around when I was learning.

[@towlie337]

When I first started playing I found myself doing exactly what you were talking about in the start if the video, trying to get the perfect voicing out of my Barre chords. Then I got a Bob Marley sheet music book, and my eyes were opened to the 3 or 4 string movable chords!

[@steveg.3022]

Thanks Sean for releasing me from the thumb over the top thing.

[@rickybgoode9078]

Sean has got to be one of the funniest instructors on YT. I would go to see him in concert not just for his music but, also his humor.

[@rays2794]

Another excellent lesson! Thanks for breaking it down for us non guitarist guitar players!

[@aaaaxial]

Where have you been all these years. I love your no bulls**t approach to everything. You are the man!

[@WILDBILLSOUTDOORS]

Learning these triads is something I made myself start doing earlier this year, it has helped my playing so much and I can even play a little bit of lead, even though I don't consider myself to be a "lead" player, it is helping me to improvise as well! Now what I've found myself doing lately is I'm spending so much time on the triads in the e, B and G strings that I've been neglecting the triads in the middle 3 strings. Something else for me to work on lol! Always something to learn!

[@mattdoran8344]

I’ve watched a lot of ELO live vids.. I have yet to see Jeff Lynne play a bar chord.. so I think you are totally right...🎸👍

[@prachi751]

Omg just today I told myself I won't go ahead with learning guitar until I get all 14 chords PERFECT. Thanksyou so much you literally saved my life. (Also ohhh that story telling in your vidoes..)

[@frosty4863]

Joy to the World!! Another outstanding video and truly a Christmas miracle🎄🎅🏼💡 your enlightenment knows no bounds! Thank you for this and have a great Christmas

[@scottenglert4083]

I've kind of stumbled into this revelation independently after doing the same "forcing" to learn full-on barre chords & CAGED shapes. This really helps bring it around full circle (and makes related instruction I've seen / read make a bunch more sense). Thanks for the early Christmas gift... Happy Holidays !

[@jollymary2801]

learned something new today, and you know exactly where my problems lay. I have a new approach now for movable chords, thank you so much...

[@ibji]

My Guitar Teacher - "So, how much theory do you know?" Me - "I learned all my theory from Sean Daniel, I know what the people's key is, I know that the key of 2020 is..." My Guitar Teacher - "....sigh."

[@acegovender368]

Thank you for all the tips. You have helped me so much .I'm playing so much better these days.I am getting rid of so much of boring and unnecessary stuff and my wife actually like my music now lol.I love playing the blues in Am pentatonic. I cruise around the vret board and it feels awesome.I never played licks before and now I actually understand it , after playing for about 45 years.LOL.fyi we had no you tube or tv or cell phone ,in the 60s/70s to take lessons from lol , back in Africa from where I was raised .Once again thank you kindly. Have an awesome Christmas.

[@Newnodrogbob]

You are sooo right! Keep repeating it over and over again. This is great. Everyone does need to KNOW the Barre chords, but obsessing about one or two dead strings in the full chord is a real motivation killer. Lots of other things to practice. And guess what? All that other practicing is going to strengthen your hands...and then it gets easier to get better Barre chords....

[@lentas08]

This is soooo true!, when I started 3 years ago at 65 I remembered what put me off ( apart from tuning) forty years ago were the barre chords and the dreaded F major. So I forced myself to learn the buggers starting with the F all the way up the fretbord on E and A strings, only to realise two years later that I didn't need them that much once I had learnt the fretbord and knew how to make triads automatically without looking or really thinking. Now, thanks to Sean Daniel in a large part, I use mostly triads or 7 chords and its so much easier.

[@bmrbca3658]

@Keith - Did you have to memorize all the notes on the fretboard to be able to play triads up and down the neck? Or did you memorize roots and play 1,3,5 patterns?

[@lentas08]

@@bmrbca3658 You do not have to do any of that, its magic muscle memory...Just write down A BCDEFG, have a print out of the Fretboard, The write down whch fret each note occurs, ie A is 5-1-7-2-10-5, and play each of the notes. Its really good ear training as well. Do this for ten minuits everyday slowly. When you can hit all the right notes without looking, get a metronome, and do the same starting at say40 bpm and slowly build up. After a couple of weeks you will find you automatically go to the right notes without having to think or look. This works and it is magic. Do not try to memorize.

[@lentas08]

Oh, and don't forget the Sharps! The flats will take care of themselves as you learn to augment and diminish.

[@CarletonJoe]

Such good practical advice. Fifty years ago, I had a buddy (who took guitar lessons) teach me the E-shaped & A-shaped barre chord. Somehow I figured out how to "minor-ize" them. Have spent the past fifty years wearing out my left index finger, and scratching my head, wondering what Pete Townshend was playing. Finally took guitar lessons a few years ago. WANTED to ask my teacher what/how Pete plays ... but didn't even know what to ask. You just answered it!!! Pete (and others) play the practical stuff! Thanks for such a practical lesson. AMY"S LOSS!!

[@drewdietz2115]

Here, here!! Most excellent and enjoyable of lessons. I know that there is gold here, I just need to mine it. Thanks Sir Sean!!

[@kennethmabus381]

Freaking Great Lesson! Thanks for sharing...

[@gemaf]

If you get nothing from the lesson , his videos are funnier then any sitcom on any major network. You are hilarious 😂👍🏻

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much for saying so!

[@jonnytacoma]

I dont watch much TV but yes..so there is the term " black comedy"! Id call it Sean's dark grey comedy. Just love the brother..and its so much about that voice thing he does.

[@michaeljohnson3383]

This is gold! Thank you. It's going to greatly help my daughter who struggles with the bar chords (she's 10).

[@philcarpenter]

Helping up teach your kids an instrument, very good parenting. Maybe if my dad would have done that with me I wouldn't be a 38 dude trying to learn guitar today. I'd be able to rock the fuck out for the just 20 years. But no... I can barely play at all. 🙄 I'm still trying though, it's fun. Gives my mind something to think about.

[@nosceteipsum4552]

@@philcarpenter keep going!!!! 👌🏼

[@whiskersb5296]

Yes! This is so correct. Play two, three or at the absolute most, four strings at a time. All you need.

[@donindri]

Absolutely. I also like to think of my guitar as having 3 bass strings and 3 treble strings. Simple!

[@slingerace]

That lesson is good advice. With the E shape barre chords it's pretty easy to get the high E string to ring; however, it's almost impossible with the A shape barre chords, where the high E string is almost always muted by the ring finger - and there's not a thing wrong with that!

[@Australia__]

Great post Sean. Also, Luv the funny part about Aami and Marco!! Classic!! Lolol!!😅😅 We can all do with some great humour amongst an Awesome lesson!!

[@Beintentionallyweird]

Thank you so much for this video. I appreciate this so much. I’ve been playing for a month and a half. I progress each time which helps.

[@everettsmith6788]

Love these lessons. It's way more practical. Instantly understandable. Without all the added BS.

[@kennethochoa7550]

yeah thanks for giving permission not to be perfect or weak even now after years of playing i still have trouble w/ bar chords but i wanna be perfect so i keep trying and trying and trying and not advancing over time nor having any fun or getting my creative on, well i've watched u over this past pandemic season teaching u needn't hit all the strings to be musical, u should enjoy ur self and if that means cheating on a couple of strings well thats fine! so thats what i'm going to strive for besides when i started playing ALL I WANTED WAS A PEPSI AND SHE WOULDN'T GIVE ME ONE in conclusion, isn't it funny no matter what age we are, we still are looking for someone to give us permission to do something so thanks sean for your permission and happy new years 2021😎🥳

[@thmmke6926]

That’s right real songs are like the vamping on the a chord, all the diff string combos, then if you go look at a tab of that straight fwd idea. the song actually as it’s actually played, its ahhhhhhhh, My son had this great Ol hippie teacher, he would roll his eyes at a tab, and taught him to figure out how it’s played, pretty much what you are teaching here, So your lessons are at a certified old hippie level of coolness,

[@alansimpson8962]

Aimee I was trying to play that song while watching this great acoustic song by that prairie band and then you mentioned it

[@100papajohn100]

This is great information. I've been playing for years and do this stuff but seldom consciously think about it. I just do it. And the video is timely. Today a friend emailed me saying she still can't do an F chord. I sent her your video. I also agree with your barre chord theory. Know what they are and know where they are. This helps find different chord voicings all the way up the neck.

[@alexevans7916]

You make me feel just so pleased with myself..within the last two weeks I have been working on four strings and constantly saying to myself a cord is three notes why play six...I bought a cheap electric guitar, amp and looper ( with some effects) yesterday, ( second hand from a "guitarists" shop) and not having played electric for years, and now I am thinking why use three strings where two does a good job. Two strings maybe three for the bottom and then three on top strings is working for me..treated as individual chords. Keep up your good work you are inspirational.

[@GuitarOnTheRun]

Sometimes I don’t always pick up what you’re putting down..... (lots of the 7 and the 9) 🤯... BUT this lesson is killer. Good work.

[@anthonyjohnson4734]

Thank you so much for this. You’re a cool funny dude.

[@bikersightsmusic]

As I’m reaching my golden years. ( ha golden years what a joke. That’s another conversation) my arthritis is leading me to play differently. I call it cheating. Same as you I spent way to much time with full bar cords . I now play pieces of what I used to do. It’s much easier on my hands. Also I play more electric guitar now a days and I think triads and pieces of chords sound better than full heavy chords on the electric. I wish I had spent a lot of my time learning smaller shapes on the higher strings much more efficient. Take it from someone who’s hands have suffered from way too much physical labor start finding easier ways or voicings of those big bar chords. Another good lesson Sean. Oh yeah screw amie

[@williamdavidson4754]

WORD! The golden years...right, another lie. At 71, I've been working away at bar chords, trying to fix years of using them more for percussion and feeling inadequate about it. I'm switching my approach today!

[@rickybgoode9078]

Hey Biker, I'm an OF (Old Fart) beginner with arthritis and carpal tunnel. Your words and Sean's are music (no pun intended) to my old ears. I avoid barre chords and cheat whenever possible. Thanks and Happy New Year!!

[@camgreer]

Whenever you think your arthritis is cramping your style, just keep Django in mind. You'll feel better about your chances and about triads.

[@Randorita]

More like copper years! Where’s the gold? I severed the tendons in the back of my left hand 15 years ago and quit playing for a few years. Easy chords are great when I can use them. Sean just snuck triads in without telling us. Makes it easier when I don’t know what is going on!

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

Use some capos if needed. I just got into cut and 5 string capo’s. Fortunately, around 14/15 years of age, everyone I knew was into pop punk/punk so I hated barre chords (still have to force myself to play them from time to time) and grew up more on The Beatles/Elliott Smith. They both played a bunch of open chord shapes, so they were my jam. I never knew the name of the chords I was using ‘till I started getting serious and learning theory around 29, though. lol.

[@denis7868]

Thank you Sean. Hop youz have a wonderful Christmas and an enormous New Year. Regards from Australia m8888.

[@rhinoutopia]

Also. In a band... you probably have a bass player to tie that low root note together for everyone. Speaking as a bass player. (Be nice to the bass player... Amy probably didn't even talk to him)

[@DLawrenceMarketing]

Wonderful idea, love what you're cookin'.

[@edwile473]

Case in point: the amazing Mr. Bob Weir

[@jcburger733]

Thanks for the #1 thing I wish I would have fixed discussion. Appreciated!

[@LutherDesigns]

Lightbulb! Thank you!

[@kevmoiz1718]

Amy is now a great guitar player, still single, but you cant have it all! great info Sean

[@johnlagreca6288]

Good stuff, thanks. I was able to play those barre shapes perfectly only a few wrist cysts later, but if you asked me to do any other voicings I was lost. Learning the floor side of the neck chord voicings also helped me practice targeting specific strings for picking double stops as well. Great point about knowing the full barre shape in your mind too, it is like a legend/anchor. Amy obviously lost out.

[@danieli.9252]

I cannot tell you how perfectly this fits into where I am right now. I'm trying to learn the basics of blues and jazz guitar, and it's just what you say -- playing full barre chords doesn't always work. I've started trying to learn the CAGED system, which is a pain, but I can see how playing parts of the chord is often the best method. Thanks, and happy early new year!

[@decleafs4]

I recently began to realize this exact thing. Hendrix is a good teacher and so are you. Great lesson! Marco.....LOL

[@_________________26]

As the voicing maestro, it would be great to see your take on voice leading, and how it ties into soloing.

[@brianwoodard339]

“You know who cared about that?...Nobody.” How refreshing. Next stop: your Patreon page for more sage advice. Thank you my good sir.

[@oracla]

This is really golden advice for all the beginners with crappy guitars. Also, I love that semi hollow les paul :O

[@rrothen]

Sean, you have given me hope.. Love you man!!🤘😁

[@carbonpictures]

I love watching your videos. You're like a younger, better looking, wittier, more musically talented, and socially influencable version of myself. Your videos inspire me to wake up in the morning, go to the bathroom look in the mirror, use the bathroom, and then go back to bed.

[@williamkambeitz1179]

That's my problem! At my elevated age, I'm not trying to impress Amy. So my learning curve is much slower and less stressful. My competition is my ability more than another dude after my target trophy. The realization is that my lonely nights with my guitar is actually enjoyable.

[@toblue7451]

SEAN ! ! I Will NEVER be Able to Bend My RING Finger (or any other of My fingers) Like You and Every good Guitar Players I Hang with / Know/ of Follow ! OlWest

[@Uatu-the-Watcher]

I do something similar by focusing on the D, G, and B strings up and down the neck. All the simple major and minor triad chords can be voiced by just using them and muting the rest. A slight deviation from the technique Richards uses.

[@TheFeelButton]

When I'm not busy cramming my hands into weird shapes to impress girls I'm losing out to thumb players with perfect tone and Marco! Cheers Sean!!

[@johnniebgoode]

This was very well done. Very well done.

[@RCHAOG]

Yo you woke me up In the guitar game! Thanks for the tips! You definitely helping people and there guitar careers & changing lives & making guitar more fun! I know a Amy too lmao that’s halarious gotta watch those Amy’s 😂

[@simonpark843]

An excellent video with genuinely useful information. Thank you.

[@psychophelia]

I really enjoy your technique videos. Plenty of AHA moments to be had.

[@jason3879]

Wow I was learning bar chords the wrong way. Thank you for this! Very cool.

[@gernblenstein1541]

Such great tips in all your videos! Thank you for sharing real information with those of us who never really had instruction and are trying to figure out the secrets by ear. Also, I heard Amy's mother-in-law drinks flat soda water. But you didn't hear that from me. I like your style brother. Keep on keepin on!

[@desertfox3860]

Thanks, that's a big help! And, if I see Amy I'll tell her you still care!

[@safvue1]

10000000% right on,,,,,couldn t do bar chords all night four hour gig

[@Jack.Waters]

All I can say - Well Said! Thanks for the bravery.

[@GT-bz9nc]

Outstanding! Great help for a beginner like me. Thanks!

[@TheGlassasylum]

Yeah, your right. Right now, I'm concentrating on Triads.

[@ladypro1234]

Great perspective...I enjoy your videos.

[@TJayMid]

don’t know if you’ll read this but i’m trying to learn Paint it Black, i can’t remember the names of the chords, but in the main chord progression the last chord is a bar chord. i’ve been trying for days to get the chord perfect, and this video really helped put down that anxiety. thank you

[@seandaniel23]

Such a great song to learn! Keep it up!

[@TJayMid]

@@seandaniel23 thank you! i’m trying to learn some older rock to impress my grandpa. he made a bet with me that if i learn VooDoo child by Jimmy Hendrix he’ll buy me a Les Paul

[@matthewcrich5951]

@@TJayMid Your Grandpa sounds like a really cool guy. Good luck with your musical journey

[@skintslots]

While your humour is an acquired taste I have to say that I have learned more practical applications of playing guitar through your videos than anywhere else on the internet. Keep up the good work.

[@GinoGenero]

Yeah I thought all rock songs were played with full barre chords bout 100 yrs ago. Then I saw Malcolm and Angus play and found out how it was really done. Partial chord sound better - especially with high gain settings. Then the focus is on learning ways to mute the strings you don't want. Far more important imo and easier to learn. Great lesson

[@wiseonelol25]

Gotta tell ya - learned an awful lot watching your lessons, but more than that, your sense of humour is terrific! lol

[@jamesmandas639]

Excellent.Thank you!

[@stewea57]

Wow excellent advice, this really hit home

[@Neodymigo]

And i always felt guilty about my 3 string cheater chords, now I am released from that burden....thank you....

[@kilionschwandt7604]

dear sean "The Emeryld Ryder" daniel, i am at my lowest and in a time of grave need.... nobody has taught southern belle by Elliott Smith on yt and i REALLY wanna learn it from aged and experienced ax wielder such as yourself..... I'm sure it's somewhere in your mental quiver of tunes, good sir. may this message reach you in good health and may you consider my humble request. yours truly, a malleable young mind.........

[@azmike3572]

Cool guitar, with a nice matte finish on it. And apparently they still make alligator shirts!

[@MaTTheWish]

This was a very valuable video. I'm just learning how to transition around bar chords. And I do the same thing, desperately trying to get each string to ring perfectly. Sure do I have carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow, yeah, maybe some bursitis in my shoulder now. Of course, but boy oh boy do those strings ring nicely. It's worth all the physical therapy and doctor bills.

[@scotthorslin5482]

So...so good! Best explanation ever. Sorry about Amy... can we talk about Carolyn now?? 😉 👍

[@paulgordon6949]

That's a good tip man. I always struggle to fret the 2nd string (b string) when I do barre chords. Particularly on my acoustic.

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help!

[@greenbs6242]

this channel is just perfect

[@han36solo]

Totally agree Sean. Great advice!

[@kennethhopkinsjr.1566]

Best vid on KZbin I’ve seen in a while... this vid is the most valuable one I’ve seen so far.

[@chopperg7758]

Cheers bud .. good tips .. could be the 'eye opener lesson of the year' for me .. maybe others too .. love ya work .. hope ur xmas and NY2021 is .. aah .. 'salty-free'

[@ifensler]

I feel like you missed the opportunity for a joke involving Amy and the G string😂😂

[@user-yy8ur8xz4e]

Thank you so much Sean. This is gonna save me so much time.

[@arieswaters]

Great work Shawn. You have a good funny bone a very active funny bone and good bones in your hands and I'm with you I say f*** all those show-offs that are using their thumb to make bar chords I sure as hell can't do it

[@annlee8361]

Lol. I have arthritis in my hands. Using my thumb is what makes the root notes accessible!

[@thomasmartinscott]

I kept waiting for that alligator to eat your button.

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

“Oh, Amy don’t hate me” is now playing in my head. ‘Preciate… haha

[@thisisaugusto]

Nice lesson! Thank-Q Sean!

[@TokyoBlue587]

Thank you for this video!! I have been very much struggling with and hating barre chords. I still can’t get them right. I get discouraged if I go to learn a song and find out it has barre chords. I didn’t know that Hendrix never played them! Anyway, you have given me a lot more to think about and practice. (And BTW, it was Amy’s loss!)

[@seandaniel23]

I appreciate it! Hendrix for the win!

[@BDKabrini]

Yess!! Oh God!! Yes!! I needed to hear this. Bcus I've felt so guilty for trying to simplify bar chords. I mean...I seen Prince "do the same" but My instructor is a Jazz Player. The player I watch ALL play the "purist form Bc" ...and I just felt like J had to do the same. But , NOPE. Thats too much pressure. I rather DO ME.

[@bwhiteideas6282]

Thank you, Sean. I can finally play like Hendrix.

[@KKMDStyle]

Sounds like good advice broham

[@deetee5156]

Thanks for giving me permission to not be perfect. And for allowing me to play modified Barre chords

[@ianrichardson3968]

The thumb thing is either to mute the 6th or fret the 6th..my thumb won't reach that far. Barre chords are a pain, and personally I don't like the sound of 'em that much.. Being able to see the shapes is all that's really needed, mainly the caged chords as Kevin says, more for soloing. The small or partial chord versions on the higher strings are the way to go. In a band you usually have a bass player so you don't really want your bass strings getting in the way. Many blues players use partial versions as do others. And unlike barre chords most leave a finger or two available and place your fingers in such a way it's easier to play the chords and fills using your pentatonic or whichever scale you choose. For Pentatonics your nearly always somewhere near box 1 and 2..many peoples preferred combination,or whichever box you want..minor or Major. Plus it sounds and is just that bit more sophisticated...professional.. Best of all you can learn a good few and play them well in the time it takes to nail one ruddy barre chord... Mind you I do use the A shaped one and the G shaped but only using the first 4 strings for the G. Although I mute the 1st string with the A shape because my ring finger ain't from the Palitoy bendy toy bin...Like yours..

[@scottm4042]

At 1:30 in you talk about driving a car in the eighth grade having failed for two years already. I think you mean at 18 years old, instead of eighth grade. Great pointers on making easier chords though. Helpful info.

[@christopherpeters3922]

I generally stop paying attention when I dont see his singer companions. This time I finally listened and learned😎

[@christopherpeters3922]

Also joking...it seems to me that you always know my struggles on guitar and make a video...this video is 100% me in the 90's.

[@christopherpeters3922]

Sean i want to thank you. Your content is approachable and genuine.

[@shantytownbrown]

For me it was Jen. But looking back. I don’t blame her. I didn’t have a guitar then.

[@Blueninja3]

You’re so funny!! Thank you.