Originally Posted by: p_p_s

Thank you, I'm pretty sure I did watch that video, but it still didn't answer the most basic questions - like, why do I have 3 volume knobs? ;)

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[br]Yeah, that's a bit confusing, to be sure. You've got the volume knob on the guitar itself, then the volume and master volume on the amplifier, and you've even got "Gain" on the amplifier, which is related to volume (but different!). I kinda sort of understand the differences between all of those controls, but I don't understand it well enough to try to give any advice here.

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Originally Posted by: p_p_s[p]

[br]I've started with JG, reached the D and A chords practice, and struggling with those I thought I wanted to see how others are approaching the topic... so, here I am. I do appreciate both sides and approaches, but am worried that trying to follow both courses will only make it harder and more confusing... so, for the moment, I've switched to GT.

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I did the same thing, started with JG and then added GT. I'd say I spend 75% of my time on GT now. I think if I had started both at the same time it might have been a little confusing, but for me I really like to see the same material presented differently. It helps me integrate and understand it more completely.

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Originally Posted by: p_p_s[p]Now, it's incredibly hard for me to sound a clean A chord - how do I fit all 3 fingers so close to eachother and still not touch any other strings! Still having in mind it's supposed to be easier on electric...

It's definitely easier to press the strings on the electric, so there is less finger pain. The A chord is tricky on both acoustic and electric. I know JG teaches a different fingering for A than the "traditional" method. His method does make it a little easier for me to fit my fingers without muting the 1st or 5th string, but for me it pushes my first finger even further towards the nut end of the fret and I have to press harder to get that note to ring clearly. The other "gotcha" that I have with that fingering is sometimes my ring finger actually ends up interfering and muting that third string because it is in front of the first finger. So, it's a little tricky whether you use "traditional" or the alternate fingering. I am glad that I've learned both because I use them both depending on the situation. The anchor finger really makes switching from A-D-E smoother for me. Other times I use the traditional form and overall I think I get cleaner sound more often with the traditional.

[br][quote=p_p_s][p]After a few seconds (more like 10-15) I am able to play a clean chord, but I have to test each and every string, and have to adjust the fingers almost every time... a bit discouraging, but I"m not giving up ;)

[br]It really will get easier with repetitions. You have to just accept and trust that it will get better even though right now your fretting fingers are protesting and your strumming hand just wants to strum through all of the strings every time except sometimes it will just randomly only play two or three strings -- and not always the ones you expect!

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[br][quote=p_p_s][p]Thanks!

[br]Very welcome, that's what the community is here for.

[br]Dave...