Category: Jam Session
Hi all,
I recently got a new guitar and I would like to teach myself how to play it. I've looked online to learn where to put your fingers to play certain chords. the I haven't had much luck. Can anyone help me find a chart that has the chord and where to put your fingers on the guitar to play said chord? Thanks. Hope this helps,
Leslie.
I could use this, myself! Lessons are costly. Hope we get some suggestions. Youtube has a wealth of videos for beginners, but they count on you to see what they're demonstrating.
But I may spend some time and browse around, and will certainly post here if I find one who does a better job telling, than showing.
First of all, if you're in the U.S. the Bard program has audio books that do well
at teaching guitar. You need to look under the Music Section, and you'd probably
do best with Bill Brown's books.
But I can give you some pointers to get you started.
When people are talking about the top string, they mean the string closest to
the ceiling, not the string with the highest pitch. Same goes for the bottom
string. It's the nearest to your lap or the floor, not the lowest string.
The strings are numbered from 1 to 6 with 1 being the thinnest, or bottom
string.
Then the frets are also numbered -- the frets are the wires embedded in the
neck, where you place your finger behind it.
Bill Brown does a much better job describing it, and he both plays the guitar
and describes how and where to put your fingers for each exercise and song.
You probably want to start with his first guitar course.
the way I play guitar is upside down and backwards like jef heely did and the guitar is in my lap. my friend from school just got himself a new one and i'm trying to show him how I do it but, he can't seem to grasp it, lol. this is how I've played for years. if you want my info so I can try to show you how I do it pm me or something and you'll get it. I like showing others how I play and stuff, gives me something fun to do. lol
Hi. I'm afraid post 3 might have gotten it backwards. String 1 is the one closest to the ground, which is your top E. The bottem strings are the thickest strings, which are closest to your face. That's why certain string sets are called skinny top, heavy bottom, for example.
The best way to think about cords is that each note of a cord has three bits of information which define it, the string number, the fret number, and the finger number on your left hand which tells you the positioning.
strings are numbered 1 to 6 from the top string, closest to the floor, to the bottom string, closest to your face.
Fingers are 1 to four, from index to pinky
so if you take this template of string, fret, finger, and e major cord would be written as follows:
3-1-1, 4-2-3, 5-2-2
So in that cord, you can see that finger 2 slides in under finger 3 but on the same fret, just a string above i.e. closer to the floor when we say above and below we think in guitar terms not gravitational ones.
I'm willing to chat this through over skype if you would prefer. I've played for about 11 years and have a trove of guitar tutorials culled from all over the place.
Me
Ah I stand corrected, and there's your man it sounds like. I'd go with the prior
poster if I were you, and ignore my previous post and go for his.
Get the BARD book if you cannot afford lessons. There are a lot of people who play improperly. There are two examples on this thread already. Learn the correct way and then if you want to modify it fine. Learn someone's quirky way, and it will likely limit you. It isn't just how chords are fingered either. How you place your thumb, and hold your wrist are also important. It is easier not to learn bad playing habbits in the first place, than to unlearn them. Good luck, and have fun.