I'm getting so frustrated with guitar? Help?

Question

I'm learning electric guitar, just started a couple weeks ago. I'm on the chord progression from A to D now and it's getting me frustrated. I have A down perfectly but then going to D the D won't come out all the way and I'm really trying to keep my fingers curled as much as I can? If my D would come out I could play from A to D just fine.

Answer 1

Practice practice practice Jen, takes a long time to grab the chords and hang on to them, also make sure your thumb isnt wraped over the top of the neck of the guitar, this allows your fingers to extend more and gives you a longer reach with them.

also practice going from D to A, then once you have that down it will be easier to go from D to A

Answer 2

Guitar is one of the hardest instruments to learn!!! How high is the action on your guitar (that's the space between the strings and the fretboard) - if it's too high, you can have it adjusted to a little lower and that might help you when you're trying to press the strings in. Getting a good grip on the guitar is the hardest thing there is - Joni Mitchell almost gave up playing guitar because she hated bar chords. EVERYONE has trouble with the first few chords - I guarantee it!!

It takes a while for you to get caluses on your fingers and to learn how to hold your fingers so you don't get the muted string defect. That's why they make you do those chord changes - so that pretty soon, it's effortless - you can do it without looking. It takes PRACTICE but the reward is so worth it!!! I know you'll be able to do it - give yourself at least 2 weeks with every new chord. I know it seems like FOREVER - but I'm telling you, once you play your first song, it will all be worth it. Just remember what you love the most about the guitar and stick with it!

Good luck!!!

Answer 3

Just keep practicing, I have been playing guitar for about 4 years now, and I can tell you, the hardest part is starting. Those first 10-15 times you sit down with your guitar are going to be frustrating because its hard to switch chords fast, and its hard to make them ring out clear, and on top of that it makes your fingers hurt until they toughen up a little bit.

But dont give up! Practice practice practice

D is kind of a tough chord for some people, I play it, index finger closest to me, then ring finger, then middle finger and I find it pretty comfortable.

Get comfortable playing A, like play it 15-20 times and release your hands each time you play it, then do the same for D, play it 15-20 times and release your hands and put them back after each time. Once you get used to your fingers being in the right spot, they will go there automatically with time. And switching will become easier

Answer 4

They say there is more than one way to skin a cat... and there is more than one way to make a D chord on the guitar.(as with all the chords).... if you are using your index finger, your middle finger and your ring finger you can make a D chord or you can go to the 5th fret and use a double bar chord for a D.... if you are just beginning , it is probably just a matter of unfamiliar movement to your fingers... try pushing your wrist away from the neck so that your finger pads will be more over the top...

Answer 5

Try switching in between A and D a bunch of times without strumming (It doesn't matter if the D chord doens't come out right at first, its just practicing). After that see if it sounds right, if it still doens't then keep switching from A to D just to get the hang of it. That's how I learned.

Answer 6

So what's your question?
I started playing guitar two years ago and chord progression was very difficult. All i can say is practice a lot and find yourself a good teacher. Other than that, just know it's giong to be tough. You'll get better-"Rome wasn't built in a day"

Answer 7

try learning Bar Chords....being able to play some semblance of real songs or creating chord progressions was pretty important to keeping me interested in learning guitar.....bar chords are easier to play, help strengthen your fingers, limber them up and make it easier in the future to reach those pain in the butt chord formations...if you think A to D is hard...wait till you try F#m to Badd9...etc..etc..Try the easiest and most widely used chord progression. G C D...it's in everything.

Answer 8

Open and close your fists every morning one hundred times, it helps you stretch them out, then just keep practicing! What I do is I put my fingers on the chord and play string by string, just pluck each one and if one is muted the I keep plucking that string and adjusting my finger on that string until it comes out clearly and is still on the same fret. Keep your fingers like that and pluck each one individually one more time and adjust, keep asjusting until you don't have to anymore and all strings are in tune, then play the chord! it's not as long of a process as it seems.

Answer 9

Practice. I,ve been practicing guitar for 30 years. Don't give up & work slowly. Your fingers in time will learn where to fall on the fretboard

Answer 10

when i was having trouble with a chord, i would play the chord one string at a time. strum the guitar slowly, plucking each string slowly. when you here a buzzing sound obviously that means something is wrong. so you adjust your fingers. if u live anywhere close to st louis, let me know. i teach a music class and would love to help.