I'm having difficulty with the lessons I'm on now and want to see if I can get some help from you. I'm finding it hard to remember the fingerings/frettings – – C and D major – and chord names. I've studied repeatedly Anders' lessons on the two chords and once I get to the lesson on switching between the two, I become totally confused.
I just read William MGs response to a student on the "New player problems with chords positioning fingers" thread. These seem like good suggestions. I practice about 20 minutes a day (until I get too frustrated). I think I just need to spend as much time as it takes to learn these two chords until I can do the fretting automatically, without thinking about it.
Let me suggest a couple of possible improvements to the videos. It is difficult to see where Anders fingers are. Your Cord Finder is useful. Perhaps you could superimpose the court finder photo for the respective courts being studied onto his videos. Secondly, would it be possible to have closed captions which would make it easier to understand the trainer. Your slow-motion feature is useful, but these two additional features would make your instructor easier to follow.
I'll continue to read forum posts to learn what steps or tips other people found useful for learning chords and frettings.
Hey & welcome! William gave you excellent advice. And you are exactly correct in your assessment. It's necessary to repeat certain physical motions until they become second nature, ingrained in your own subconscious & therefore "muscle memory". This is true for all guitar playing stages of learning, from the beginner to intermediate to advanced.
I also encourage you to make your practice more focused on the motions. Don't strum in time or add any unnecessary steps. Form the C chord, think "C chord", stop, form the D chord , think "D chord", stop. Repeat!
I find some beginner students get frustrated & try to add more steps, readjusting their fingers, strumming in time, looking back at the chord charts or notation, (or in this case video). Which only takes up valuable time that could be spent on repetitious practicing of the material.
It takes a different amount of time & effort for every individual learner. But the same thing has to happen. You have to repeat the motions until they become automated, your brain builds the neural pathways instructing your fingers to do those fine small motions required to play the chords precisely & accurately.
Keep practicing!
Christopher Schlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Christopher Schlegel Lesson Directory