Left hand technique during chords

**CDVA47** · Jul-02-2009, 4:08pm

Hi folks,

So, I'm spending my first day with my mandolin, and I'm having a fantastic time. I play violin as well, so I've had a fairly easy time picking out scales and simple tunes. I'm now trying out some chords, and I've run into a bit of difficulty. From violin, I know just how important it is that one maintain good technique in holding the neck of the instrument (e.g., making sure there's space between the thumb and index finger and the neck, not tightening up, etc.). However, when I strum out a series of chords, I often find that my left hand ends up contorted and tight afterwords. I'm fine for easy open chords like G and C, but when I do something that's a little more difficult like Dmin, my left hand technique goes to pot.

So, my question - do you have any recommendations for ways to stay loose in the left hand and keep good form during chords? Any suggestions would be highly welcome. Thanks!

**Rob Gerety** · Jul-03-2009, 7:38am

I play guitar - and I'm new on mando. Its funny because my troubles are the opposite from yours - not surprising I suppose.

I think that the problem may related to the fact that you are forcing your fingers to do things they are not accustomed to doing. It comes with time and daily practice. Every time I learn a difficult new chord shape it takes me weeks - actually months - before I can get it to the point that it is relaxed and so that I am able to move in and out of of the chord shape effortlessly. Over time you get to the point that the new shapes you have to learn are few and so you don't run into the problem as often.

Sometimes - with a particularly difficult shape - I will spend a few minutes each day just placing my fingers lightly on the strings - no pressure at all - and then lift up and then replace over and over. At the start I do this very very slowly - I'll take up to 30 seconds to move my fingers into position and down on the strings. Maybe 5 minutes of that a day. Or if I am having trouble moving from one chord to another I will use the same technique - light touching - not even pushing the strings to the frets - as I move back and forth from one chord to another - very very slowly. Practice like this for a few minutes each day - or maybe two or three times during the day - but just a few minutes each time - no marathon sessions. Resist the temptation to speed up too early. Get the shape under your fingers solidly first.

After a while your hand will relax and it will be easier to keep good form and a relaxed attitude! This is how I was taught to teach myself almost anything new on guitar and mandolin. I struggle with resisting the temptation to speed up - but the better I am at resisting that temptation the faster I learn the new skill.

The other thing that you will get into is figuring out which finger to lead with - and making sure that you reduce ANY extra unnecessary movement when you change chords. Pay close attention to which finger has to move - and which finger might be able to stay put - or maybe just slide up or down a fret. Do everything you can to reduce movement.

**CDVA47** · Jul-03-2009, 2:25pm

Thank you for the detailed response! This definitely sounds like a solid strategy. We'll see how it goes!

**Doug Hoople** · Jul-08-2009, 4:20pm

As a fiddle player, do you play any of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin? Have you had any teachers try to walk you through them? There are some really killer 4-note chords in there, and they won't all fall into natural hand positions. Some of your experience on the violin with the hairier chords in there should transfer to the mandolin.

As already mentioned, you should try to form your chords as naturally as possible while retaining the same hand position and finger orientation as for your single-line playing.

However, you'll find some chords that are just monsters to play, and you'll have to break the rules. For those chords, anything goes! Mike Marshall covers this in vol. 2 of his instructional DVDs, and he gives us permission and justification for breaking the rules when it becomes necessary.

So try to retain natural position as much as possible, but don't get too neurotic if, after a lot of trying, you can't find a "natural" position that works.

**CDVA47** · Jul-08-2009, 4:55pm

I've definitely gone through my fair share of Bach Partitas, and I recall those chords vividly. I suppose that those, too, required a certain amount of mangling in the left hand. Good to know that there may be instances in which certain chords demand the same of the mandolinist.

The Mike Marshall DVDs are on my list of material to work my way through, but thanks for advanced notice about the chords!

**billhay4** · Jul-13-2009, 5:02pm

CDetc,
Make sure your instrument is held correctly. This means that the headstock is not moving when you move your hand. I find a well balanced strap setup is a great help in doing this. If you don't use a strap, you pretty much (IMHO) have to be sitting and have a good resting spot on the right knee.
If you're trying to hold the neck still with the left hand, you can't relax it to form chords.
My two cents.
bill