beginner needs help

Hi..only started learning the electric guitar a couple of weeks ago ,i have followed the course on GT from the begining (really enjoying it),i have got to the lesson on playing "Jingle Bells" iam learning each note and playing it slowly, my problem is when playing a note (say 2nd string 1st fret) i then take my fingers off the 1st fret to play the next note while the end of the note is still sounding i then get a open note sound on the 2nd string between the notes i want to play......Hope this makes sense can anyone give me any advice or is it a case of practice and more practice.....Thanks

Hi Maddog..
I'm a beginer also.. My guess would be hand position need a look at. A finger or nail may be dragging a string when lifting off. When you lift off your fingers they should pull off at a 90 degrees angle..
If your looking at the strings, cut down your peek at them. This would cause your fretting hand to roll away from a proper position. Possibly you are fretting the adjacent string and getting a Pull-off effect..
Make sure your nails are short.
Best I can do. You'll get better info befor the days out. People here love to help.
Compart1

Originally Posted by: compart1Possibly you are fretting the adjacent string and getting a Pull-off effect..

That sounds like the problem. A slight but inadvertant pull off. Or really sticky fingers! :D

Hey Maddog, Compart1 again.
You can also go here for the tutorial.. "Correct Posture and Technique"
copy and paste or type these words into the search box..

Is it possible that you're pulling your fingers down (towards the floor) when you're taking them from the string instead of lift your fingers up off the string? (out from the fretboard)

Hey maddog. I know exactly what you mean. One thing that helps me is to mute the string right before moving to the next note. You can do this with one or both of your hands. If you let up on the string that your are fretting slightly with your fretting hand just enough to not be pushing it down it will be muted. Keeping your fingers close to the fretboard can make this easier for you. Sometimes I also use my picking hand to mute the strings too. The three fingers that I don't hold the pick with and the palm of my hand really help to shut the strings up when they should be quiet. Hope I helped a bit.

Laters,
Nate

Originally Posted by: madoggibsonHi..only started learning the electric guitar a couple of weeks ago ,i have followed the course on GT from the begining (really enjoying it),i have got to the lesson on playing "Jingle Bells" iam learning each note and playing it slowly, my problem is when playing a note (say 2nd string 1st fret) i then take my fingers off the 1st fret to play the next note while the end of the note is still sounding i then get a open note sound on the 2nd string between the notes i want to play......Hope this makes sense can anyone give me any advice or is it a case of practice and more practice.....Thanks

Madoggibson,
I also just started a couple of weeks ago on Jingle bells, and finally my dogs are not leaving the room. I consider that a positive sign.However, I am only at the acoustic stage. Good luck and keep practicing.

Hey madoggibson,
What Nate is referring to is called blocking strings. You mute out unwanted notes with the fretboard hand, or by palm muting with the picking hand.

I would probably palm mute with the picking hand for this, but try it both ways to see what works best for you.

Just keep going, keep learning and keep an open mind. You will learn from everything you do ... music is endless!