pesky b chord-

[ira]

hi folks- what a drag-though i've mastered most of the basic major, minor, 7ths and a few others here and there, and some even in a few different formations, i just can't seem to get a low b chord- i can do the basic 'b' chop, and a bar chord, but the lowest sounding 'b' chord i know of g-4,d-1 a-2,e=2 is just brutal for me. i am muting strings, and putting my hands in what feels like a crippling position.
i put in a request a bunch of months ago to see if anyone had a 2 or 3 finger 'b' chord that was in a "relatively" low register, and of course lost the paper, and havent' found it through search on the board.

if anyone could give me a heads up on:
1. help in mastering the 4 finger chord above and
2. remind me of the 2-3 finger (if poss. 4 course)'b' chord in a lower register,
i would be ever grateful.
thanks.

[ShaneJ]

Ira, you can play it 4-4-2-2. There's no 3rd in that one, so it works for major or minor. If you want the 3rd, you can play it 4-4-6-7 (major) or 4-4-5-7 (minor). Those are easier for me than the 4-1-2-2.

[John Flynn]

Ira: Three possibilities. 1) Only play 4-1-2. If you are trying to provide rhythm back up, it's fine. 2) Play 4-1 and then put your fingertip right between the A and the E courses at the second fret. With practice, you should be able to sound the lower A and the upper E cleanly and the other A and E strings will be muted. But you can get a full chord sound out of it with practice. 3) Try 4-4-6-7. It is not first position, but the bass note is still the same, it is a full chord, it's easy to hit and it sounds good. The B is a bear!

[groveland]

Ira -

Are you using 4 fingers for this? Use 3: Pinky on the G-4, index on the D-1, second finger hanging over the A-2 and E-2. No third finger at all. Feels very natural. (On the Rigel, anyway.)

[mandocrucian]

This is what you at least want to get:

|e----x----
|e----2----
|
|a----2-----
|a----x-----
|
|d----1------
|d----1------
|
|g----4-----
|g----4-----

It doesn't matter if the outside strings held by the 2nd finger are muted as long as they are not sounding another pitch, AND the inside notes are ringing clearly.

NH

[ira]

is that the split string method i saw you mention in another thread niles?or was that you johnny?
looks like its something i definitely need to try. thanks all.

[Peter Hackman]

hi folks- what a drag-though i've mastered most of the basic major, minor, 7ths and a few others here and there, and some even in a few different formations, i just can't seem to get a low b chord- i can do the basic 'b' chop, and a bar chord, but the lowest sounding 'b' chord i know of g-4,d-1 a-2,e=2 is just brutal for me. i am muting strings, and putting my hands in what feels like a crippling position.
i put in a request a bunch of months ago to see if anyone had a 2 or 3 finger 'b' chord that was in a "relatively" low register, and of course lost the paper, and havent' found it through search on the board.

if anyone could give me a heads up on:
1. help in mastering the 4 finger chord above and
2. remind me of the 2-3 finger (if poss. 4 course)'b' chord in a lower register,
i would be ever grateful.
thanks.
Why are you trying to get a chord that doesn't really sound good? People should use three note chords much more.

[ira]

i have no issue with the 3 note chord per se, but when the b winds up in the middle of a bunch of other chords in a tune, if i forget to leave out the g course and strum it as part of the chord, it just doesn't sound right.

[250sc]

Can you use a B7?

[mandocrucian]

is that the split string method i saw you mention in another thread niles?

No. It's a scenario where the tip of the finger can't cleanly fret all the strings (of two pair) and have them all sound the note. #So, the 'x' denotes a muffled/deadened string. Maybe you'll be able to get 3 of the 4 strings. #But if you can only get the inside ones, in the trade off....are you coming out ahead sonically by being able to play a 2nd fret B and a single 2nd fret F#, rather than the unison 2nd fret B (pair)? #I say yes.

NH

2-string 3-note low B triad (string splitting on the D pair):

<span style='font-family:courier'>e========
a========
d---4-----
d---1-----
g===4=====</span>

finger: 2 1 3(nail)

[WireBoy]

why not try a 2 finger approach. just play the D A E strings: GX, D1, A2, E2. (Let some one else play the B Root.) #
Index finger across the DAE strings and middle finger in front of that across the A and E strings. can't get much easier.

[kvk]

I just use 4-1-2 when I need a B down low, i.e., the 3-finger C chop moved down one fret. Works fine for BG. If you looking for the full ringing tone with a lot of sustain and all three notes of the triad, ya got me. Maybe a, dread the word, capo on the 2nd fret and use 4-2-0-0http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[earthsave]

Hmmm... I play the B the same way I play the C just shifted down a fret. Just dont hit the e string, or go up the neck and use the G shape chord.

[AlanN]

Learn 'em all, use 'em judiciously

4,1,2x
4,4,2x (I do ring, pinky, middle)
4,4xx
4,4,6,7
8,9,9,11
11,9,6,7
11,9,9,11

[Moose]

Ya' gotta' "kill" that "E"(first) string when play'n in "B" in the first position. It's an ART ya' gotta' work at! (ya' can't hardly "chop" "F"(open "A"!##) in 1st either without you kill' the 2nd string - "ring"/yes : "chop"/no!! -'least that's what we used to call it....in Baltimore) Moose-the-elder. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Bob1300]

I like Wakefield's version - 4,1,2,4.

[mandolin72]

When i play b im down 2 fret ithink from the 5 it starts on the 7 fret. It sounds really high pitch is that the right way. If its not could you send me something that shows what i should do. Thanks