fingers covering wrong string


tia1971
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Joined: 10/03/09
Posts: 1
tia1971
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Joined: 10/03/09
Posts: 1
10/25/2009 12:04 am
This is my question I am 38 and just decided to try and play. The internet is full of places to go but I keep coming back to this one. My question is how do I get my fingers usually the (3) to not it the lower stings? I try and do some of the notes but there is always one string that my (3) ring finger hits. It is because of the middle finger (2) being down on a lower sting and the (3) going up higher. Does anyone have any tips?
# 1
compart1
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compart1
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10/25/2009 3:30 am
Tia, Go to lessons, look thru' the fundementals page 1. I think lesson 2.
Of the top of my head, it would be hand placement.

COMPART1
# 2
Douglas Showalter
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Joined: 09/15/08
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Douglas Showalter
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Joined: 09/15/08
Posts: 817
10/28/2009 11:21 pm
Happy to help. It would honestly help me out if you could give me some chords you are trying to play and where your third finger keeps ending up where it shouldn't. Could you give me some examples of some chords you are trying to play that bring about this problem?
Douglas Showalter
# 3
Dirty Bill
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Dirty Bill
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10/30/2009 4:14 pm
I will... :rolleyes: F major and B major....I'm getting better though,my hand is starting to get less rigid...gettin old sux.. :cool:

Always capitalize "BLUES"

# 4
Clothahump
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Clothahump
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10/30/2009 4:30 pm
Originally Posted by: Dirty BillI will... :rolleyes: F major and B major....I'm getting better though,my hand is starting to get less rigid...gettin old sux.. :cool:

True, but it beats hell out of the alternative! :D

I agree that it's hand placement. You want to get your fretting hand in a position where your fingertips are coming down toward the strings at as close to a 90 degree angle as possible. You can't do that on every single chord, but you can do it on the vast majority of them. It takes a lot of work and can be frustrating, but if you persevere and work hard at it, it will pay off in the long run with some nice notes.
"This old guitar gave me my lovely lady.
It opened up her eyes and ears to me..."
# 5
Douglas Showalter
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Posts: 817
Douglas Showalter
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Posts: 817
10/31/2009 12:53 am
Probably the best suggestion that I offer my students when having chord trouble is to observe what your fretting hand is doing behind the neck of the guitar. Always make sure your thumb is placed behind the neck or slightly on the fretboard somewhere between your index and ring finger. If you find that your thumb is moving towards your headstock adjust it accordingly. I can't tell you the amount of times that students will get in the habit of pointing their thumb upward and that is a big handicap when trying to play chords. Unless you have some serious joint capabilities, I don't believe you will have many issues with pointing your thumb in the other direction.

Those two chords are always the roadblocks for beginning players. Might I ask how you are playing each of these chords? Are you playing the full F barre chord? Are you playing the B major chord with your route on the second fret of the A string?
Douglas Showalter
# 6
ksturgeon
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ksturgeon
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11/01/2009 1:57 pm
Man, I totally understand your challenge. Since picking up my guitar I have discovered that my hands seem to have a mind of their own; and the ring finger seems to be the one that most often kills the string immediately below it.

In a different thread DirtyBill indicated that he lowered his chair about an inch and half. Just this morning I sat in a lower chair, which caused my knees to bend more thereby raising the guitar and making it a bit easier to bring my fingers down on the fretboard at a more appropriate angle. I've only tried this once to go through the 7 major chords but it did seem to help.

I know it gets pretty discouraging at times but I'm going to hang in there and keep trying. Hope you do too.

BTW Bill, thanks for sharing that tidbit with us. :)

Good luck everyone.
Ken Sturgeon
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[SIZE="1"]Taylor 114ce
Gretsch G5120
[/SIZE]
# 7
Douglas Showalter
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Douglas Showalter
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11/02/2009 9:02 am
Thanks for pointing out the often overlooked world of ergonomics and posture when playing. It can be hard with video lessons to correct these problems as we simply are not there in front of you to correct your posture or hand position. That is why outside of your GT work you should study privately (if possible) and if not, make sure you play with other musicians that can also provide some additional words of wisdom. Good luck and again, let me know what chord shapes you are trying to play.
Douglas Showalter
# 8
slowpoker
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slowpoker
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11/07/2009 2:16 pm
I was told to hold the neck of the guitar higher than the body of the guitar so my hand could move correctly.
# 9
crxhybrid85
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crxhybrid85
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11/11/2009 1:01 am
Hey man, I 'm 31 and in pretty much the same boat as you. I just bought a guitar and started on GT a few days ago. I started at fundamentals 1 which is where it sounds like you should start also. It goes over how to fret chords and how to avoid muting the strings underneath.

My first time trying to learn A minor, I kept hitting the 2nd string with my middle finger and it was very frustrating. The thing that helped me the most was plucking each individual note of the chord and adjusting my fingers till they were not in the way. once I had that I would strum the whole chord. After about a day, my muscle memory was there and now I can do all the chords I learned in the first few lessons with no prob. It just takes some time and patience, you'll get it if you stick with it.

My fingers burned like a son of a gun too, but already they are doing much better holding the notes and not hurting so much. I've been playing 1-2 hours every day though so I think that has helped.

Good luck to you!
# 10

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