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Posted: 10/24/2018 6:17:05 AM EDT
[#1]
https://www.justinguitar.com/modules/beginner-1-first-steps
I can't remember exactly where in the beginners course he says it but you want to make your fret hand a cup and use your finger tips to push on the string. You will also want to be close to the fret without going on top of it. I think it is explained when he shows the D chord. Keep in mind that if you just started your hand and fingers are not going to do what you are telling them. Just like the drums it will take practice. Put in the time and don't quit! |
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Posted: 10/24/2018 1:10:59 PM EDT
[#2]
I am by no means an expert. I am about two years in to the learning process. Things that helped me:
Justinguitar.com . GREAT place to start. Tighten up your guitar strap. Hike it up! I wanted to play like Slash, but it puts your wrist at the wrong angle. Put your thumb on the backside of the neck, NOT hanging over! This helps you to get your fingertips onto the strings. Pretend the sides of your guitar neck are electric rails. Watch and learn "The D-C-G trick" on youtube. |
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Posted: 10/24/2018 1:28:41 PM EDT
[#3]
Play punk rock. Pretty much only 1 chord shape to remember. It's what works for me.
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Posted: 10/24/2018 5:05:42 PM EDT
[#4]
Like was said above, if you're not properly fretting strings in a cord, your hand is in the wrong position. And if you're trying a barre chord, good luck, I've been playing since 1991 and I don't fuck with those damn chords.
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Posted: 10/24/2018 5:13:54 PM EDT
[#5]
Your fretting hand fingertips should be coming straight down on the string. If you're trying to fret at an angle try readjusting...you won't get proper sound with your fingers angled as they'll likely mute the next string especially when they're vibrating.
One problem new players do is they're pressing TOO HARD on the strings, as well. Not only will this fatigue your hand quick, you're likely pressing the string out of the note you're trying to play |
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Posted: 10/25/2018 3:04:10 PM EDT
[#6]
Thanks for all the replies guys I’m gonna practice all the tips added and figure what’s going on thanks guys
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Posted: 10/26/2018 6:24:28 AM EDT
[#7]
I tried to get good pics...but..it was a balance act lol.
Bad-  Attached FileGood-ish..  Attached FilePinky should not be like that but guitar was slipping around while trying to hold the camera still lol. The above links from justin guitar are great starter vids. Also theres different ways to position your fingers to make more room. Aka doing A major with fingers in a triangle vs straight line or even 2 fingers only .  Attached File Attached FileMy finger tips are wide so that straight line A doesnt work for me, im actually touching a fret i shouldnt. Hope this helps. |
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Posted: 10/26/2018 9:46:41 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I tried to get good pics...but..it was a balance act lol. Bad- https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061237_jpg-717553.JPG Good-ish.. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061417_jpg-717554.JPG Pinky should not be like that but guitar was slipping around while trying to hold the camera still lol. The above links from justin guitar are great starter vids. Also theres different ways to position your fingers to make more room. Aka doing A major with fingers in a triangle vs straight line or even 2 fingers only . https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062111_jpg-717555.JPGhttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062201_jpg-717556.JPG My finger tips are wide so that straight line A doesnt work for me, im actually touching a fret i shouldnt. Hope this helps. |
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Posted: 10/26/2018 10:42:31 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I tried to get good pics...but..it was a balance act lol. Bad- https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061237_jpg-717553.JPG Good-ish.. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061417_jpg-717554.JPG Pinky should not be like that but guitar was slipping around while trying to hold the camera still lol. The above links from justin guitar are great starter vids. Also theres different ways to position your fingers to make more room. Aka doing A major with fingers in a triangle vs straight line or even 2 fingers only . https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062111_jpg-717555.JPGhttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062201_jpg-717556.JPG My finger tips are wide so that straight line A doesnt work for me, im actually touching a fret i shouldnt. Hope this helps. |
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Posted: 10/27/2018 3:47:59 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The triangle A major is so much easier! Justinguitar is great, so is Marty Music. Steve Stine is also good, there's a bunch of guys that are all worth watching. For lessons and songs- justin guitar, marty music For song and technique lessons - Marty music, party marty , song notes and munson music. |
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Posted: 10/27/2018 5:32:14 AM EDT
[#11]
There is no substitute for practice, practice, practice. And no shortcut for it, either.
When beginning, at least, wear your guitar up high rather than low around your waist or knees. That may look cool but it's hell on your wrist angle. Classical guitar's traditional posture and position is as ergonomically correct for a guitar player as it can be. Once you're able to chord and fret properly in that position, then you've got a solid foundation and can start adjusting your position to suit you. 
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Posted: 10/27/2018 6:20:04 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
There is no substitute for practice, practice, practice. And no shortcut for it, either. When beginning, at least, wear your guitar up high rather than low around your waist or knees. That may look cool but it's hell on your wrist angle. Classical guitar's traditional posture and position is as ergonomically correct for a guitar player as it can be. Once you're able to chord and fret properly in that position, then you've got a solid foundation and can start adjusting your position to suit you. https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Sofia-sitting-footstool-2016.jpg
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Posted: 10/27/2018 6:27:36 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
There is no substitute for practice, practice, practice. And no shortcut for it, either. I forced my self. 10 mins here..there. then before work,after work. That turned to 20....then 30....then I was putting in near 1.5 -2hours a day all added up. Good seating position is key as is wrist/thumb positions. I've been playing since I posted earlier...because I couldn't fall back asleep. I normally stop once I start to reel my tips getting numb/sore. Which..is about 2 hours worth. Do not be afraid to try new things.... or add your flavor to it. I was just doing Dylan's knocking on heavens door but faster and harder...and hitting the 2nd down strum harder...just cause I liked the way it sounded......somewhere a cat is trying to climb up a chalkboard I think...
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Posted: 11/25/2018 9:07:36 AM EDT
[#14]
Sorry I can’t hotlink anymore.
https://youtu.be/GUpkL73RnZg |
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Posted: 11/25/2018 9:09:50 AM EDT
[#15]
Make your fingertips fret the strings. Put them in position slowly.
When you think you're going slow enough, slow down. |
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Posted: 11/25/2018 9:11:15 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I tried to get good pics...but..it was a balance act lol. Bad- https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061237_jpg-717553.JPG Good-ish.. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061417_jpg-717554.JPG Pinky should not be like that but guitar was slipping around while trying to hold the camera still lol. The above links from justin guitar are great starter vids. Also theres different ways to position your fingers to make more room. Aka doing A major with fingers in a triangle vs straight line or even 2 fingers only . https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062111_jpg-717555.JPGhttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062201_jpg-717556.JPG My finger tips are wide so that straight line A doesnt work for me, im actually touching a fret i shouldnt. Hope this helps. |
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Posted: 11/25/2018 9:32:00 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I tried to get good pics...but..it was a balance act lol. Bad- https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061237_jpg-717553.JPG Good-ish.. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061417_jpg-717554.JPG Pinky should not be like that but guitar was slipping around while trying to hold the camera still lol. The above links from justin guitar are great starter vids. Also theres different ways to position your fingers to make more room. Aka doing A major with fingers in a triangle vs straight line or even 2 fingers only . https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062111_jpg-717555.JPGhttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062201_jpg-717556.JPG My finger tips are wide so that straight line A doesnt work for me, im actually touching a fret i shouldnt. Hope this helps. |
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Posted: 11/25/2018 10:01:26 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My guitar teacher taught me to play an A with my 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers in a straight line. Much more comfortable than the traditional triangle method. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I tried to get good pics...but..it was a balance act lol. Bad- https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061237_jpg-717553.JPG Good-ish.. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061417_jpg-717554.JPG Pinky should not be like that but guitar was slipping around while trying to hold the camera still lol. The above links from justin guitar are great starter vids. Also theres different ways to position your fingers to make more room. Aka doing A major with fingers in a triangle vs straight line or even 2 fingers only . https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062111_jpg-717555.JPGhttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062201_jpg-717556.JPG My finger tips are wide so that straight line A doesnt work for me, im actually touching a fret i shouldnt. Hope this helps. 
That’s how my fingers fit best too. |
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Posted: 11/25/2018 10:21:26 AM EDT
[#19]
Because nobody has mentioned it.
What kind of guitar? After big fingers which I also have you need to look at the guitar itself. The action can be a huge source of string buzz and muting depending on if it’s too low or high. But typically if your action is lower you will have less problem with muting strings. My first guitar was a shitty Ibanez starter deal. Horrible action. I couldn’t make any chords. The C KILLED me. Couldn’t figure anyway of getting it clean. A week later my brother goes to buy a strat and I try it. Holyshit I can play a C with ease... The action was so much lower. It was amazing. I was able to return that pos Ibanez starter guitar and get an HSS strat that was set up better and had a lower action. Amazing difference. Recently I decided to tune up my acoustic which wasn’t bad but figured I could drop the action a bit more. So I did. Plays like a new guitar just on dropping the action a mm or so. Point is, make sure your guitar isn’t making it harder than it should be. |
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Posted: 11/25/2018 11:06:27 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I was gonna say... With those big fingers, you need a wider nut! I dont have much issue untill its a super thin nut. Now my classical...thats hard for me at times |
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Posted: 11/25/2018 11:59:07 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Play punk rock. Pretty much only 1 chord shape to remember. It's what works for me. |
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Posted: 11/25/2018 3:41:12 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You mean 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers
That’s how my fingers fit best too. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I tried to get good pics...but..it was a balance act lol. Bad- https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061237_jpg-717553.JPG Good-ish.. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061417_jpg-717554.JPG Pinky should not be like that but guitar was slipping around while trying to hold the camera still lol. The above links from justin guitar are great starter vids. Also theres different ways to position your fingers to make more room. Aka doing A major with fingers in a triangle vs straight line or even 2 fingers only . https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062111_jpg-717555.JPGhttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062201_jpg-717556.JPG My finger tips are wide so that straight line A doesnt work for me, im actually touching a fret i shouldnt. Hope this helps.
That’s how my fingers fit best too. 
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Posted: 11/25/2018 3:44:34 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Because nobody has mentioned it. What kind of guitar? After big fingers which I also have you need to look at the guitar itself. The action can be a huge source of string buzz and muting depending on if it’s too low or high. But typically if your action is lower you will have less problem with muting strings. My first guitar was a shitty Ibanez starter deal. Horrible action. I couldn’t make any chords. The C KILLED me. Couldn’t figure anyway of getting it clean. A week later my brother goes to buy a strat and I try it. Holyshit I can play a C with ease... The action was so much lower. It was amazing. I was able to return that pos Ibanez starter guitar and get an HSS strat that was set up better and had a lower action. Amazing difference. Recently I decided to tune up my acoustic which wasn’t bad but figured I could drop the action a bit more. So I did. Plays like a new guitar just on dropping the action a mm or so. Point is, make sure your guitar isn’t making it harder than it should be. |
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Posted: 11/25/2018 6:59:39 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You mean 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers
That’s how my fingers fit best too. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I tried to get good pics...but..it was a balance act lol. Bad- https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061237_jpg-717553.JPG Good-ish.. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061417_jpg-717554.JPG Pinky should not be like that but guitar was slipping around while trying to hold the camera still lol. The above links from justin guitar are great starter vids. Also theres different ways to position your fingers to make more room. Aka doing A major with fingers in a triangle vs straight line or even 2 fingers only . https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062111_jpg-717555.JPGhttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062201_jpg-717556.JPG My finger tips are wide so that straight line A doesnt work for me, im actually touching a fret i shouldnt. Hope this helps.
That’s how my fingers fit best too. |
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Posted: 11/25/2018 7:05:08 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I've always fretted A-major with two fingers. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I tried to get good pics...but..it was a balance act lol. Bad- https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061237_jpg-717553.JPG Good-ish.. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_061417_jpg-717554.JPG Pinky should not be like that but guitar was slipping around while trying to hold the camera still lol. The above links from justin guitar are great starter vids. Also theres different ways to position your fingers to make more room. Aka doing A major with fingers in a triangle vs straight line or even 2 fingers only . https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062111_jpg-717555.JPGhttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49816/20181026_062201_jpg-717556.JPG My finger tips are wide so that straight line A doesnt work for me, im actually touching a fret i shouldnt. Hope this helps.
That’s how my fingers fit best too. |
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Posted: 12/10/2018 12:44:19 PM EDT
[#26]
Practice.
I started playing when i was in 4th grade. I’m 47 now so almost 40 years. You will cross a threshold where your control and dexterity along with hand strength will allow you to mute or fret strings at will. I don’t remember when it happened for me. Sometime before I was a teenager I would guess. But it’s a matter of playing and paying attention to your hands. It takes time but if I can do it, anyone can. |
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Posted: 12/10/2018 8:44:12 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Like was said above, if you're not properly fretting strings in a cord, your hand is in the wrong position. And if you're trying a barre chord, good luck, I've been playing since 1991 and I don't fuck with those damn chords.
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Posted: 1/9/2019 11:59:10 PM EDT
[#28]
Sweat equity and troubleshooting your chords when first starting out...
Been playing since 1990 I started off with a Jazz player's chord book, which was pretty extensive. A general rule is an hour of competent practice each day. I make a lot of my own chord fingerings and have done so for many years, using a lot of open notes, triads, and octaves off of the 3rd. I also use and love inversions a lot. If I could go back in time, I would have mapped the fretboard on Day 1 to see where everything is, then practice scales and modes, then arpeggios, then form chords based on all the tonal ranges and centers I had become familiar with. Everything makes sense when you can see and know all the notes of the guitar and how they relate to each other across the strings. 
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Posted: 1/10/2019 10:03:54 AM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Sweat equity and troubleshooting your chords when first starting out... Been playing since 1990 I started off with a Jazz player's chord book, which was pretty extensive. A general rule is an hour of competent practice each day. I make a lot of my own chord fingerings and have done so for many years, using a lot of open notes, triads, and octaves off of the 3rd. I also use and love inversions a lot. If I could go back in time, I would have mapped the fretboard on Day 1 to see where everything is, then practice scales and modes, then arpeggios, then form chords based on all the tonal ranges and centers I had become familiar with. Everything makes sense when you can see and know all the notes of the guitar and how they relate to each other across the strings. http://hard-guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/guitar_notes.jpg http://www.bluescreenlife.com/music/guitar/fretboard.jpg |
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Posted: 1/10/2019 6:09:16 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I understand those charts as well as showing a bushman the schematics to a laptop. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Sweat equity and troubleshooting your chords when first starting out... Been playing since 1990 I started off with a Jazz player's chord book, which was pretty extensive. A general rule is an hour of competent practice each day. I make a lot of my own chord fingerings and have done so for many years, using a lot of open notes, triads, and octaves off of the 3rd. I also use and love inversions a lot. If I could go back in time, I would have mapped the fretboard on Day 1 to see where everything is, then practice scales and modes, then arpeggios, then form chords based on all the tonal ranges and centers I had become familiar with. Everything makes sense when you can see and know all the notes of the guitar and how they relate to each other across the strings. http://hard-guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/guitar_notes.jpg http://www.bluescreenlife.com/music/guitar/fretboard.jpg Now imagine playing an Am in the open position and look at the notes: A E A C E From A to C is a minor 3rd, and the E completes the Am triad. The other notes are just octaves that add texture to the Am chord in the open position. Now look at C Major in open position. C E G C E 
Same mamma, different daddy.  If I could go back to my teenage self, I would say, "Hey man. Look at all the notes on the fretboard. Learn this like the back of your hand, because everything is right there. Then do all your scales with 3 fingers per string, then learn arpeggios, chords, and inversions based on how you want to stack them." It wasn't until my senior year in high school when I got a book with the fretboard diagram. I had learned a lot by getting all the Cherry Lane Metallica and Ozzy books, in addition to some pointers here and there from guys that had been to GIT, but I could have had a much better learning curve if I had done the fretboard work earlier. |
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Posted: 1/10/2019 7:57:23 PM EDT
[#31]
If you want a quick and easy way to get chord and scale diagrams mapped out on a fretboard, go here. Just use the dropdown menus for key, chord/scale name, tuning, ect.
http://all-guitar-chords.com |
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Posted: 1/11/2019 6:09:05 AM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Look at the black and white one first. Now imagine playing an Am in the open position and look at the notes: A E A C E From A to C is a minor 3rd, and the E completes the Am triad. The other notes are just octaves that add texture to the Am chord in the open position. Now look at C Major in open position. C E G C E https://cdn.fretello.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/C-Major.png Same mamma, different daddy. https://www.cyberfret.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/open-position-c-major-notes-700x385.gif If I could go back to my teenage self, I would say, "Hey man. Look at all the notes on the fretboard. Learn this like the back of your hand, because everything is right there. Then do all your scales with 3 fingers per string, then learn arpeggios, chords, and inversions based on how you want to stack them." It wasn't until my senior year in high school when I got a book with the fretboard diagram. I had learned a lot by getting all the Cherry Lane Metallica and Ozzy books, in addition to some pointers here and there from guys that had been to GIT, but I could have had a much better learning curve if I had done the fretboard work earlier. But, problem is this. I dove right in. Just crested my 1st year playing. Im self taught. So i can play. But...tye technical side im lost. Think of it like a race car driver....dude can drive but can he wrench on it? Nope. So saying 3rds, triads etc is lost on me... just being dead honest. While eventually ill go electric. Im acoustic only right now. And just starting to force myself to get past just strumming out songs. Forcing the intro licks per say vs skipping them. And forcing some finger work. Eventually i belive ill have to go get a few lessons under my belt.or else ill plateau and get stagnant. |
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