Watching Eric Clapton live on Sky Arts last night shows he's yet another big name guitarist who plays power (or root/fifth/octave if you prefer) chords with first finger on the root and the little finger barring the 5th and octave.
I've never understood using the little finger rather than 3rd (stronger) finger here? I can only figure it's due to convenience (or indeed laziness?!!
(I do however subscribe to using the thumb over neck first position F chord (barring top 2 string with first finger) - the Springsteen grip as I call it - so so comfortable / satisfying !).
...she's got Dickie Davies eyes...
Comments
I'm not sure what you mean about the Springsteen grip?
I've always heard the "springsteen grip" referred to as the "Hendrix thumb-over"... Nothing wrong with it - I use that more often than a trad barre. Again it's all about context and efficiency.
Look at how Kurt Cobain barres the chord on the A string with his third finger, I find that so uncomfortable, it feels a big stretch for my small hand and it shifts down your whole arm to get underneath the neck. Learning to play Nirvana is how I learnt to play, but not like that! I can barre the lot with my pinky though, without having to lower my arm so low.
people have different sized hands and different length fingers, even the ratio of sizes differs.
so there's that,
then there's what chord you came from and what chord you're going to, while we may have a favourite way to fret a chord, that goes out the window when chord transitions and timing demand a rethink.
Little fingers are useful and worth keeping strong for the occasions they're needed IMO
My default is to use my pinky to barre a power chord, unless I'm doing something like a stretchy 'Status Quo type' finger bounce with my pinky in which case I'll use my 3rd finger.
I often use my pinky instead of my 3rd finger. My hand sometimes feels more relaxed using my pinky. Maybe it's something to do with being left handed and playing right handed in my case.
I believe Robben Ford often uses his pinky in preference to his 3rd finger for general playing.
One of the joys of guitar is that there's not the same degree of orthodoxy regarding technique as there is in say piano.
Barring the 5th and octave with my ring finger will also help with the A shape barre chord.
Great stuff!
I'll usually mute the other strings with thumb, or first, and third finger.
Often I'll hammer on the 5th, and the first finger is used to barre all the notes under it if needed.