Understanding Guitar

One Beginners’ Efforts

Yep, Still around. Got back from Atlanta just fine. I’ve just been busy with things.

Anyway, I have a post. I’ve been trying to study Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb. The song is in the key of Bm (from what I understand, I’m still not sure what that actually means) and because it is in Bm, the first chord is the Bm chord (Again, this is just what I’ve been told).

If you are unfamiliar with the chord, it is one of though dreaded barred chords. And it has literally been hurting my hand every time I try to play (usually it takes 15 to 20 minutes before notice). Below is a Chord Chart I threw together in case you are unfamiliar with the chord.

I still have a lot of trouble forming the chord quickly. (This is basically the first time I had a reason to play it so much. Needless to say, I should have practiced it more than I did…. But that is another post). In addition to having trouble forming the chord, it doesn’t always come out cleanly. I’d like to improve both aspects of this and I’ve been attempting to do that by following the advice I’ve been given on my previous post: “Call for Public Opinion - Mistakes”

I am trying to take it slow and I’m trying to get used to it. I’ve come to the conclusion that part of the problem that I’m having with the chord is not one that I can correct right away. I believe that the strength of my hand simply needs to be built up. Over time, after playing this chord (and other barred chords) it will become easier and will overall take less effort. I just need to be patient.

If any experienced players have advice for novice players on chords like this, please share. As I’m sure you remember from your early years, barred chords are a real pain for beginners.

Update: [5/1/2008]: Acoustic Guitar Magazine published a great article on playing difficult chords — it specificity includes the Bm chord! Check it out!

In general, I practice at least once a day. Sometimes, I practice twice a day. However, this week my wife and I are in Atlanta, GA. Beautiful city and it seems to have a drive through Guitar Center (It seems to have a drive through, not sure if they use it or if that is what it really is…)

Anyway, the point of this quick post is that I’ve not been able to practice since we’ve left early Saturday morning. The flight was at 7am CST, and we’ve been here ever since. We get back mid-day this coming Sunday.

I never realized how much I actually needed to practice. That is, had a strong desire to practice. I always knew I enjoyed practicing and playing. But, indeed it has become something of a habit for me to pick up a guitar and strum around on it after work and such. (I’m working remotely from Atlanta. My wife’s employer is based in Atlanta, and I was invited with.) It truly is very relaxing to just bounce around on the fret board…

Until next time, Regards!

I decided to buy myself a holiday present - a Zoom H2 “Handy Recorder.” It is indeed, handy! As little background, I’ve been looking at buying a field recorder for quite a while (about 6 months). I first went with a MicroTrack II, which I decided to promptly return. The $299.99 price tag was a bit steep for what it provided and what I needed. Instead decided to go with either the Zoom H2 or the Zoom H4.

After reading the several reviews, I was pretty confidant that I would be purchasing an H2 or but wanted to consider the H4. I had read all of the articles that are below and then some and was confidant that one of those two units would serve me best. The only question now was which unit?

Luckily the store had a demo of each unit though at the time neither had batteries or an SD card (the data storage medium). So, in reality all I could look at was the physical unit — I couldn’t test them. I looked at the two units (keep in mind, they are built by the same company) and I felt that the H4’s center navigation dial was a bit flimsily (I think the O’Reilly H4 article touches on this). I had also read (in the same O’Reilly H4 article) that the 4 track functionally of the H4 was a bit clunky. Though, I don’t/didn’t need this functionally, I’d still be paying for it. Don’t get me wrong, it’d be nice to have - but it is not needed. In the end these two things didn’t help the H4…

The final aspect of my decision (a contributing factor, if you will) was the fact that I could not return the Zoom H4. In conclusion, I’ve come across both negative and positive feedback on the H4 and for my money I couldn’t take the chance…

In the end, after reviewing the features of the H2, learning what it has to offer, inspecting the demo unit, considering the $199.99 price tag and the articles I’ve read I decided to go with the H2. From what I could remember, all of the articles were fairly positive.

To be fair to M-Audio and the MicroTrack II, it isn’t that I didn’t like the unit. The audio it recorded was fabulous. However, I didn’t feel that the unit completely suited me. It truly was not the unit I had come looking for. The salesmen suggested it. I’m not a field recorder or sound expert; and hence made a decision to the best of my ability. I suggest you read any articles you can before selecting one for your use. This is why I’m posting this article about the Zoom H2, I want to share what I know about it.

Articles

The following are some of the articles I’ve read on Field Recorders and Multi-Track Recorders:

Sweetwater.com

Buying Guide: http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/studio/recorders-players/buying-guide.php

O’Reilly

H4: http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2007/02/01/review-zoom-h4-handy-recorder.html
H2: http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2007/09/13/review-zoom-h2-surround-recorder.html
MicroTrack 24/96: http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2005/11/30/m-audio-microtrack-review.html
Edirol R-09: http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2006/08/31/edirol-r-09-digital-recorder-review.html

bradlinder.net (Blog)

http://www.bradlinder.net/2007/10/m-audio-microtrack-ii-available-for-299.html

Wikipedia

I found these articles while writing this article. I had not seen these before making my purchase.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H4_Handy_Recorder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_H2_Handy_Recorder

Note: These are not all of the articles I have read, I this is all I can re-find. Had I thought about it, I would have saved each article.

I want to wish all visitors a happy new year!

-Frank