Best way to play a G chord?

I picked up "Mel Bay's Guitar Chords" book the other day and find it really helpful as it not only shows which fingers go where for which chords but it also shows a closeup photo of a hand actually playing each chord.

About 20 minutes ago I started humming the Eagle's "Take it Easy" and got curious as to which chords start out the song, so I googled it.

The first chord is a G major, so I looked up a G in the book, and put my fingers into place. The first thing I noticed is wow I know I've played this chord before but I don't remember it being so painful. I then noticed that pretty much everywhere it shows how to play a G chord it's done in an easier way than my book shows.

Here's how the book has a G chord: Middle finger on the second fret of the fifth string, ring finger on the third fret of the sixth string, pinky on the third fret of the first string. The index finger is curled back away from the neck.

Here's how everywhere else I see it is: Index finger on the second fret of the fifth string, middle finger on the third fret of the sixth string, ring finger on the third fret of the first string.

Christopher Schlegel uses his pinky on the first string in his G Major tutorial but otherwise finger placement is the same as the second method.

So then I wondered, ok, what's the best way to do this. The second and more common way is a lot easier, but is there a benefit to playing it the "harder" way? I figured I would check to see how the Eagles did it, and sure enough in this video he's doing it the "harder way".

I don't mind it being harder if that's the best way to do it, I'll just practice more, but is there a reason why it might be better in the long run to learn it that way or is it just personal preference? What method should I be practicing to get the most out of it?

Both are valid, and there is no "best`way. Notice that in the book method, you are left with an index finger free to add notes or to switch to on the nut-side of the chord. With the normal method, you have a pinky left on the bridge side for notes.

So, depending on what ad lib or embellishments you might do, one or the other fingering would be better. If you are alternating G & G7 for example, the pinky method would be easiest to use.

Also, consider what chord you might be moving from to the G or going to after the G. If it`s a fast chord change, it can be handy to already have your fingers ready on one side of the chord or another.

So it is situational as to which is best. I only play the pinky-on-the-E form if it is required for one reason or anther. Although I have known people that routinely play that way.

Cool, thanks for the answer.

I'll practice both ways then so I can have them both at my disposal. I just mainly wanted to make sure I don't start training my muscle memory for that chord in a way that might hinder my playing down the line. It makes sense that there's no best way but instead just the best way for the particular task at hand.

You know, I was contemplating asking this very same question. I just got to that lesson of Christopher's too, and noticed that. But my chord charts have the R finger and not the pinky on the E. I've also been jumping around the lessons, and one of the finger-picking videos that Lisa does, she does a G with the R finger and not the picky too.

But, Razbo's, answer makes a lot of sense. And, even though you say "I only play the pinky-on-the-E form if it is required ", I take it that means you practice/learn it both ways so you can have an additional "tool" in your playing?

I also note with some interest that it's very similar to the answer that someone (razbo again?) gave when I asked how you know where on the fretboard to play the same note, out of the multitude of possibilities. And, the basic answer was "it depends where you're coming from and where you're going"....

So, once again, THIS newbie thanks you for sharing the more advanced perspective to integrate into my learning... Sometimes it's so easy at the beginning, while trying not to get lost "seeing the forest for the trees", to lose sight of thinking about where you want to come OUT of the forest on the other side :)

Hi jaknine and the rest. I put together a quick little video response shedding some more light on your question, check it out.

Originally Posted by: Ben LindholmHi jaknine and the rest. I put together a quick little video response shedding some more light on your question, check it out.

Thank you! That's very helpful.... :)

Originally Posted by: Ben LindholmHi jaknine and the rest. I put together a quick little video response shedding some more light on your question, check it out.

Ben, awesome thank you for putting that together. It was really helpful to see the actual finger placements and how they move from one chord to another depending on the method. You rock.

No problem! :)

I know it's hard in the beginning to decipher what's right and what's wrong, but in the end, just stop and listen, and try to hear what YOU think sounds good.

A regular G major chord will always consist of the notes G, B, and D, but you play it differently depending on the style of music. A ska song, a rock song, a folk song and a funk song can all contain G chords, but they will probably be played in different ways... down in the open position, higher up the neck etc.

I also find when I am playing in the key of G that doing the G chord with the pinky and 2nd and 3rd fingers makes chord changes to and from C and D much faster.

yes it does make it faster but then again if you don't only want to use open string chords you can use barre chords for any chord (major ,minor,sharp,flat)that you want and that might be easy for you as well.... but depends on the sound your striving for and then you could always do different inversion of the same chord and that also might help you switch easier between chords and also make a better sound for your liking (inversions are just shifting the order of notes in the chord here an example a C major chord is C E G and then the octave C again the inversion could be E G C E) hope i helped :)