G major chord. Any alternative to surgery?

I'm a few days into learning guitar. The first chord I've been introduced to is G major, which I'm being taugh to play with fingers 3, 2, 4 on stings E, A, E.

My problem is that I'm simply not able make the requried shape with my hand. And I mean... not even close! Even if I use my other hand to manually arrange my fingers, it's just not a position that my fingers can bend into.

I'm an average-sized man, with average-sized hands, trying to play a regular acoustic guitar. I can only assume that there is a problem with with the physiology of my hand which I wasn't aware of until now.

Having read-up online, the standard advice issued to people struggling with chords is to practice. This isn't applicable in my case as it's simply not possible for my hand to bend into the required shape. Being told to "just practice" would like being told to "just practice" flying, or "just practice" transmogrifying into a wolf.

Has anyone ever come across anything like this before? Is there anything (aside from surgery) that could be done to address this?

Thanks!

Hi Chris, welcome aboard,

I'm a beginner also so I feel your pain, however, how I learned the G chord is by using the first, second and third fingers instead. That's a little easier. Later on you'll want to be able to use the pinky and theres even a four finger option, but since your beginning that fourth finger is the hardest to get limber cause it doesn't get used much. Are you taking Lisa's fundamentals course? She could definately give you more help. She goes over all the chord structures and how best to fret them. Or you could ask her directly in her forum section. Hope that helps.

Good Luck,

Moe

Hi chris00

Known to use hyperbole on occasion myself, here's something which should convince you forming a G chord isn't quite the challenge "transmogrifying into a wolf" would be, for most of us. 😀

By [u]convention[/u] Gmaj first form aka Open G chord is taught using 1,2,3, fingering. Is now, here. Was 45 years ago elswhere. Is elsewhere in ref pubs I use/d. e.g. Hal Leonard. There are numerous alternative fingerings of the same chord and embellishments which will come into play later to facilitate progressions or tone. 2,3,4 fingering is one of them, but, leave it for 'ron, ...later on, when it will come much easier.

Starting out, the conventional fingering is easier to form to facilitate G with inherent coordination, strength, flexibility, control. So KISS. Don't defy convention to make it harder on yourself than it need be. If you sign up with Guitar Tricks and do Fundamentals One, you'll see that Lisa teaches it conventionally too.

Using those fingers in a way they seldom have before, varying only in degree everyone experiences difficulty forming chords as a beginner. Some find a particular chord more difficult than others. Unless there's some real physical limitation restricting you, i.e. arthritis, injury, etc, with average hands, fingers and functionality, on balance of probability that's all it is.

Try finger curls and extensions, stretching and opposing hand resistance exercises. If you can perform those, that's a good sign everything is ops normal. Assuming so;

Keep at it. Add good [u]structured[/u] tuition, realistic exectations, practice, perseverence, and you'll be comfortable with those chords and playing songs before too long.

Cheers

manXcat

Originally Posted by: mjgodinAre you taking Lisa's fundamentals course? She could definately give you more help. She goes over all the chord structures and how best to fret them. Or you could ask her directly in her forum section.

Moe

He's not a sub (or trial) with Full Access, Moe, so he isn't famil with Lisa's course and can't access any of the Instructors sub-forums inc Lisa's.

Cheers mate.

manXcat

ah yes, registered user versus full access, I just noticed that.

thanks

Hi Chris

I think the guitar is one of the more complicated instruments to learn. However, I may have just insulted all the tuba players out there with this statment.

Hope this little vid helps encourage you to keep at it.

Chris

Thanks everyone for your throughful responses. Especially Bill M – your video has genuinely changed my perspective.

A couple of things you've all helped me learn:

a) Starting-out doing G Major with the little finger makes no sense. A video series on another website is teaching this. With your help, I now realise this isn't conventional for beginners. I'm happy to report that my hand is phyically able to make a G Major with fingers 1, 2, 3.

b) I should do Lisa's Fundamentals course

c) There's more than one way of doing things. This is probably obvious to experienced guitarists, but it's not obvious starting out. Bill's video helped illustate this – thank you.

Thanks all. On with the practice...

Good luck Chris.

Originally Posted by: chris00Starting-out doing G Major with the little finger makes no sense. A video series on another website is teaching this.

IDK why they chose to, but I noted that too on that alternative high profile super eye-candy & associative image 'cool' orientated site. Although they illustrate the same voicing using 2,3,4 and 1,2,4 fingering, they don't illustrate traditionally 1,2,3 fingered Gmaj included in their chord chart variations for the chord?!! Doesn't make any logical sense nor does making something already difficult enough starting out any more challenging than it need be in any progressive learning syllabus targeting all comers (average studs rather than selectively aptitude screened).

One can only surmise they've qualified their preferred target demographic potential member audience as either uber-dexterous or '2 kUle' to be seen fingering 1,2,3. o.O

Now you've got Gmaj with that hand sorted, enjoy your journey.

chris00: I started learning how to play not more than a month ago, just like you. It's been fairly easy so far - until I met the G chord. So I sympathize.

All of a sudden the flow I seemed to have came to a dead stop. In addition I noticed that trying for hours and hours actually made matters worse. So I tried this tactic: I just put away the guitar after half an hour and tried again the next day. And miraculously, a fresh start helped. I improved ever so slightly. I mean, after leaving it alone for a day or so, it became easier right of the bat the next day. As if by wonder. And even more the next day. In my experience learning how to play the guitar can be very frustrating at first and things can seem absolutely impossible. I remember how the Am chord seemed impossible to me early on. Now i do it without even thinking or looking. Even though I don't want to downplay your difficulties, I think most of our problems our in our own heads. Break up your practicing routines into smaller bits and don't get too ambitious for what you want to accomplish on any given day.

I wish you all the best!