I am a brand new guitar player (less than a week in to picking up a guitar for the first time). I've been working through Anders' guitar fundamental courses and find them very helpful and well done. I'm working on chord changes through repetition and am slowly getting a little better, but with the exception of E minor, I find that I'm incapable of pressing down on all of the strings at once when switching to a new chord. For example, when switching to an A minor, I have to first get my index finger in position, and then I can get my middle and ring in position simultaneously because they are so close to each other. If switching from an E minor to a C, I first get my index finger, then my middle, then my ring finger in position. I know I need to get to a point where it's simultaneous, but I just don't have the finger coordination and dexterity yet. I have two questions:
- Is it counterproductive to practice chord changes doing this because I'm creating bad habits, or is it a necessary part of learning?
- Are there any tips for learning how to press all at once?
My tip? Practice. That's it. Starting out by going a finger at a time pretty much how everyone does it. What sometimes helps when you're not actively practicing is imagining yourself forming the chords. You can even move your fingers into the chord shapes. Thinking about an activity can sometimes help perform the activity. Keep going. Don't give up. It gets easier I promise.