KeithyT said:

KeithyT just do it, for what it costs the pleasure you'll get back is priceless. As long as you get through the first 6 weeks without giving up then you'll be hooked!. Also makes you realise how great P and all the other players are.

You don't ever have to play a barre chord if you don't want to. For instance, take the "B" chord, played in the E position (you know, fingering it like an E chord). You're probably barring it on the 7th fret. It's hard.

Well, drop the barre. Just play the B-G-D-A strings on the 7th, 8th, 9th and 9th frets, respectively. Your pointer finger plays the B string; middle finger plays the G string (sounds sexy!), ring finger plays the D string, and pinky plays the A string.

In this example, you aren't strumming either E string, just the four strings in the middle.

If you want to get a little more high sound, lay your pointer finger over the 7th fret of the high E string, so that it's playing two strings (the B and the high E).

You can also finger minor barre chords the same way. Heck, I don't think I've played a full barre B minor chord in years.


Depending on the chord, you can get some cool sound if you leave the high E string open and strum it. It sounds good with B. And of course, that E is a note in the A chord, so if you're playing the A chord on the fifth fret you can leave that high E string open and still play the proper notes.

Or, if you want another cool sound, use your pinky on the high E string, but play it two frets above the correct note. In the B chord example, your pinky would play the 9th fret on the high E string, which is the C# note.

And if you want to get REALLY tricky, you can tune down your high E string to a D. Then, when you put that pinky on the 9th fret, you're really playing a B note, so the chord is perfect. I'm pretty sure Prince had his acoustic guitar tuned this way on the "Art of Musicology" special. Watch how he plays the C, G and F chords on "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man".

When you do it this way, all you're missing is the bass note. But, you don't have to play a barre.

Hope that helps!
[Edited 5/4/07 8:40am]

once again can't thank you all enough [specially txladycat], can someone though answer one of my queries ...

..Would anyone recommend Don't play me, Man in uniform and 3rd Eye at all?, they sound pretty simple.

any thoughts?.

p.s. what a great community we are!

funkyhead said:

wish i could help you on this one. i dont play by ear, and have never played those...so I honestly can't answer that one.

I emailed you some sheet music. Hollar back if you need more. I have a pretty extensive catalogue of Prince music, and alot of other easy acoustic songs you might find useful.

txladykat said:

too much love for you, hope to see you in London!.