Welcome to the club! I'm also struggling changing from the D shape back to the C shape (octave). Takes me back to a time when I was learning the basic open chords. Seems to take muscle memory longer to kick on than it used to!D shape is kicking my butt, still only on C, I get all the way down to the E shape, then get all kinds of confused to make the D shape
Actually, my non-caged focus is on the root note on the 2nd string.I've thought of using only the first 3 strings for the D shape as well and I think this will be OK as long as you know the note on the 4th string which is the connection to the previous shape.
In the CAGED approach, this is the connecting note to the following chord C.Actually, my non-caged focus is on the root note on the 2nd string.
The caged course is about how to connect them.............where I would rather just use the 3 string, I invested in the course, so figure I wanna do it right, plus i am at a level of more just do.....then improvise later.Actually, my non-caged focus is on the root note on the 2nd string.
Tried your technique and really like it. Works even better for me to use the middle finger to bar the three strings, play the note on the B string with my ring finger (pinky works too) and reach back with my index finger for the note on the 4th string. Thanks for the suggestion.FWIW, if anything to anyone, I find I cannot make a bar chord D shape with much success at all using the middle/ring/pinky so instead I use the ring finger as a mini bar across G-B-E and the pinky on the B string.
You can also do it as sort of a power chord and drop the high E string all together... sometimes that also helps.
With a lot of these chords, playability isn't the #1 concern by any stretch... it's a matter of learning the connections and the function of the notes within the chords.
Welcome to the club! I'm also struggling changing from the D shape back to the C shape (octave). Takes me back to a time when I was learning the basic open chords. Seems to take muscle memory longer to kick on than it used to!