That's a Stretch!

[mahayana]

I don't know if you've noticed the stuff from Mickey Baker's second method book over at theory, but it's pretty cool. Mainly chords (forms) that involve stretches from fret 3 to fret 7.

The question is, do any of you have exercises that stretch the left hand?

I'm first to admit that I usually sub easy jazz chords for stretchy ones, always blamed that on having short fingers. But playing these chords lets you create piano-like voicings. Pretty exciting, to me anyway.

[Professor1]

I use classical guitar stuff for left hand stretches, there's plenty of them. Stretchy chord voicings are great, but can you switch to, from, and between them fast enough to make them useful?

BTW, I never really liked typical piano chord voicings.

[mahayana]

I guess that's the other side, Prof. MB said the vol2 "forms" weren't rhythm chords, though I've been practicing them like they are.

I've always done stretchy chords where the stretch adds the highest notes. I guess what's novel here is stretching to lower strings which puts adjacent scale notes in the same chord.

For what it's worth, most keyboard guys don't think much of our typical chords either.

[Professor1]

mahayana said:

MB said the vol2 "forms" weren't rhythm chords, though I've been practicing them like they are.

That makes sense. I can use chord forms in a chord melody solo, that would be impractical for regular comping. Due in part to the higher level of practice that would go into a chord solo piece.

[mahayana]

Here's a couple of left hand stretching exercises, from William Fowler's "Advanced Chord Progressions," 1984.


XX 12 11 10 9 (maj7)

XX 12 11 10 8 ( 7th )

XX 12 11 9 8 ( 7b5)

XX 12 10 9 8 (half-dim 7)

XX 11 10 9 8 (maj7)

---

XX 12 10 11 9 (maj add #9)

XX 12 10 11 8 (maj add 9)

XX 12 10 10 8 (min7)

XX 12 9 10 8 (min sus4)

XX 11 9 10 8 (maj add 9#)

Continue these downward as far as you can go. If you have a cut-out, you can start higher on the neck. Dr. Fowler suggests doing these twice a day to stretch little tendons.