A Major Chord

I'm using the beginner's guide (I got my first guitar ever on Monday and have no experience playing any instrument) and Chris's videos are very helpful.

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=11091

That's the one giving me trouble, or I guess more specifically,

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=11064

I feel like I'm fighting with my fingers to fit them in such ane enclosed space. Once I get them there and am not muting the B-string, my left palm is muting the E-string. Once I move my palm out, my index finger isn't applying enough pressure on the G-string and it sounds very tinny and not as it should.

D Major and E major are no issues. Switching back and forth between them is okay. So basically, is this a common problem, and what should I do to more easily fret this chord. Thanks all :)

when playing my acoustic, I use my middle, ring, and pinky to form the A chord. Using the last 3 instead of the first 3 fingers opens up a bit of space. With my electric depending on the song (rock) lots of times its quicker and easier to just bar the 3 strings with the index finger. Pretty much a n00b myself (coming up on 1 year of "serious playing" w/ several years of "guitar ownership") this may or may not be the correct way but it works for me!

Originally Posted by: esteticwhen playing my acoustic, I use my middle, ring, and pinky to form the A chord. Using the last 3 instead of the first 3 fingers opens up a bit of space. With my electric depending on the song (rock) lots of times its quicker and easier to just bar the 3 strings with the index finger. Pretty much a n00b myself (coming up on 1 year of "serious playing" w/ several years of "guitar ownership") this may or may not be the correct way but it works for me!

Well thanks a lot for the advice. I'll have to try both of these soon. I'm having finger muting issues across the board due, I suppose, to lack of finger strength, so I just want to be able to play the note now and I'll work on playing it _correctly_ as I work up some strength and get a little better.

Originally Posted by: ABrad45I'm using the beginner's guide ... Chris's videos are very helpful.[/quote]
Good deal. Glad you are getting value from the site and my lessons. :)
[QUOTE=ABrad45]I feel like I'm fighting with my fingers to fit them in such ane enclosed space.

The A major chord can be problematic for beginners. Any and all chords can be hard!

Absolutely, you should try different approaches. Try with alternate fingers. Try by barring your index or middle finger pad across all three strings, don't worry about the high E string ringing open. Do whatever you have do to get these notes to sound:

E |-----|
B |--2--|
G |--2--|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |-----|

But also, remember this: eventually you will have to be able to use all your fingers in many different configurations. So, occassionally, go back and try to get the A major chord done the way I suggest it in that lesson. Review it and practice it until you CAN play it that way also.

Basically, we had to present the chord in some specific, uniform way when we decided to build the beginner course. That was the way we settled upon. But there are other ways, and I encourage you to explore them!

Hope this helps, let us know how it goes for you. Best of success learning and playing.

Thanks so much, Chris! Nice of you to stop by. I'm going to try both of those alternate approaches. I usually do go back and try to redo aything which gave me trouble or any concepts I didn't understand. Before I sit down and do much of anything, I try playing A, D and E just for kicks and then head into a lesson. I'm getting better but they're taking a lot of practice.

Thanks for your encouragement Chris. I like the videos and your teaching style is very helpful :)

Here is a lesson of mine that outlines both of these other positions for the A major chord.

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=8574

And this one shows the barre in the 2nd fret with the index finger. You may not be interested in the rest of the lesson, but it shows you how to play the chord with a barre.

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=11355

JD

Originally Posted by: sixpickerHere is a lesson of mine that outlines both of these other positions for the A major chord.

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=8574

And this one shows the barre in the 2nd fret with the index finger. You may not be interested in the rest of the lesson, but it shows you how to play the chord with a barre.

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=11355

JD

Sorry for the slow response, but thanks for both of these videos. I found using my ring, middle and pinky works better, as usually attempting to barre the 2nd fret results in muting the B and/or E strings. Regardless, thanks a lot, and hopefully with a little practice I'll be able to play the 2nd video as you do : )