Alternative fingerings for A major chord
I'm on the chords part of Chris Schlegal's lessons in Level 1 fundamentals now, but I keep getting stuck on making the A major chord. My fingers are a little stubby, so while I can lay them all in the second fret, I can't get each string in the chord to play out without having one of them muted because of another finger. So does anybody have any suggestions for alternative finger placements for the A major chord?
# 1
Are you talking of the open A Major chord ? I think thats what I understood from what you said. What you can do instead of placing your 3 fingers on the B the G and the D string, catch them all with just your index. Just like if you wanted to bar the 2nd fret, but do it for only those 3 strings. The tricky part is not to mute the high E string, so you have to drop you thumb lower behind the neck. That way you will be able to bend your index more so you dont touch the high E. You can also try it with 2 fingers. The index plays the D string and the middle finger plays the G and B.
# 2
When I started learning Flamenco guitar, my instructor introduced me to a different fingering for A major. He said it was the "Spanish guitar style" or "flamenco style" fingering but who knows. It may be just another normal finger style, but I don't see too many people mention it.
Basically it uses 2 fingers. Kind of like what SebastBerg suggested, but slightly different and more comfortable for me personally. Your index bars the D and G strings and your middle finger plays the C# on the B string.
I always disliked the single finger bar. Never felt right to me. I use this new finger placement mostly now.
Basically it uses 2 fingers. Kind of like what SebastBerg suggested, but slightly different and more comfortable for me personally. Your index bars the D and G strings and your middle finger plays the C# on the B string.
I always disliked the single finger bar. Never felt right to me. I use this new finger placement mostly now.
# 3
One more way to do it using all three fingers as follows; Index on G, Middle on D, and Ring Finger on B. Plays clean, crisp and easy to fret. :)
# 4
Originally Posted by: shayes012900One more way to do it using all three fingers as follows; Index on G, Middle on D, and Ring Finger on B. Plays clean, crisp and easy to fret. :)
Pretty sure that's why he made the thread....because he had problems with that fingering
# 5
Although he didn't say how he was lining his fingers on the second fret, it was most likely index on D, middle on G, and ring on B. My suggestion rearranges it and makes it easier. So if you don't have anything constructive to add Hunter1801, don't add anything at all!
# 6
Originally Posted by: shayes012900Although he didn't say how he was lining his fingers on the second fret, it was most likely index on D, middle on G, and ring on B. My suggestion rearranges it and makes it easier. So if you don't have anything constructive to add Hunter1801, don't add anything at all!
I did.....look at the post above yours^^^ Actually he did state that because of his fingers, he couldn't fit them all on the second fret. Sure your idea rearranges 2 fingers, but it is still the same idea of having to fit everything on the second fret....just saying.
# 7
# 8
Originally Posted by: shayes012900One more way to do it using all three fingers as follows; Index on G, Middle on D, and Ring Finger on B. Plays clean, crisp and easy to fret. :)
I've always had trouble with the traditional fingering for A major for the same reason - my fingertips don't fit well lined up on the three strings. I hadn't thought of staggering them this way, but it works really well for me. Thanks for the tip!
Mark
# 9
