Alternative way to make G chord

Hello,

I am in tha basics program and I learnt the G chord using the middle finger (1st string), the pinkie (6th string) and the index finger (5th string).

Is that very incorrect? Must I change my way of making this chord to avoid problems in the future?

I've seen three different open G chords used by instructors on GT. There is no one, correct way but there are different fingerings that may 1)be easier to make at that point in the song or, 2) free up a finger for other uses, e.g., Lisa's Me and Bobby McGee lesson.

FYI, I think you mean, '...middle finger ([U]6th[/U]) string, pinkie ([U]1st[/U]) sting...'

Originally Posted by: john of MTI've seen three different open G chords used by instructors on GT. There is no one, correct way but there are different fingerings that may 1)be easier to make at that point in the song or, 2) free up a finger for other uses, e.g., Lisa's Me and Bobby McGee lesson.

FYI, I think you mean, '...middle finger ([U]6th[/U]) string, pinkie ([U]1st[/U]) sting...'

Whoops! That's right, it was the other way round. :P

Ok, yesterday I tried to work out the three fingerings in order to be able to use all of them. In the end I could manage the one using the index finger, the ring finger and the pinkie, although it's the most unconfortable for me.

Thanks for your reply.

Go to GT's Ultimate Chord Finder (top right corner of 'old site' page, in "My Guitar Toolbox" page of 'new site'). Click on G major, variation one. What is shown is the common, open G fingering using the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers. This is the pattern that Lisa first teaches in her Fundamentals course but a couple tutorials down she uses an alternative pattern.

That alternative pattern uses finger 2 (middle finger) on the 5th string second fret, finger 3 (ring finger) on 6th string third fret, and finger 4 (pinkie) on 1st string third fret. This frees up finger 1 (index finger) for embellishments such as playing 2nd string first fret (adding a C note => a Gsus4 chord). This is the G chord pattern I use regularly although I started a long time ago with the first pattern above. GT lesson Me and Bobby McGee uses this fingering and incorporates the Gsus4 embellishment into the song.

Yet another open G chord pattern I've seen used in GT lessons is the same as the first above except finger 3 (ring) is added and plays the 2nd string third fret (D note), i.e., all four fingers are used making the chord.

I think you'll have the most success, now and later, by learning the fingering patterns that the instructors use. Good luck, have fun!

Thank you! I'll follow your advice!