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PeteeBee wrote:I would say a really easy thing to learn that blows up your knowledge and let's you sound really jazzy is learning all your triad shapes and the first and second inversions. This is the biggest thing that has changed how I play guitar. It also helps with my wrist pain because they aren't big stretches (for the most part) and don't require lots of pressure (like playing bar chords all day). I could even email or post the pages of the book that I studied if you want.

I'd really appreciate that. Somehow I've never went too far into triad shapes beyond a few basic things, so I'd love to see those pages. But yeah, lots of barred chords are impossible for me, so I break those down as much as possible, but the biggest issue I tend to come across with chords here is the stretching involved.

Chuckchuck wrote:If it's too difficult or too painful to reach, I play the essential, most colorful or distinguishing part of the chord. It usually involves 3 strings not 6.

Yeah, I tend to do this with a lot of chords already if I'm not doing open position cowboy chords. It helps a lot, but still makes things iffy when stretches are involved.

Tried a few tunings today, and immediately remembered what I hated about playing back in my days of trying out loads of non standard tunings. I think the most I'm really willing to bother with are basic dropped tunings since it doesn't mess with my brain so much.

Did you do any math before you tried those tunings?

If not, sit down and decide which chords you'd use the most and then select tunings based on how easy it is to form the chords you want in those tunings. It'll make it much easier to choose a tuning. Basic dropped tunings aren't gonna get you anywhere near where you want.

Also, it'll take much longer than a few days to get used to a new tuning. So, if this's something you're really interested in, give it more time.

I did put some thought into it, but the thing is that even without taking the time to get used to any of them, there's things that I do too much to sacrifice with alternate tunings, which honestly wouldn't be bad if I had more than one usable guitar atm. Basically, I think for my normal playing, the tuning that works best for me is C standard.

For right now, I think I'm gonna focus on triads and really getting those down, and then I'll worry about alt tunings + big chords in the future when I'm able to get my tele sorted out. For right now, I think the most change I could really manage while still being able to play my normal things is either dropped, double dropped, or an all 4ths tuning or something.

Fair enough. Sounds like a plan. Good luck & keep us updated on how things are going.

Yeah, I definitely will be making posts in the future about this!

I'll get the images up as soon as I can! Likely will be Sunday afternoon bc life is hecka busy and my only time for "music" is checking ILF on my breaks at work. Should have time Sunday when I skip watching the Super Bowl to study... I mean play music.

honestly, it sounds like you'd really benefit from lessons from a good teacher that could help you learn the chord voicings you want to play with the limitations of your wrist.

That is also a really good point. A good teacher could help a great deal.