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.