Tips for curling fingers when playing guitar chords?

Question

I just bought a guitar and I'm having so much trouble curling my fingers when playing a chord, which makes it sound awful! So far I have learned G, C and D major, and I'm having the same problems. Any tips on a hand excercise or easy way to get my fingers to do this??

Answer 1

when you play a chord, play ONE string where ONE finger is placed. Play that string til it sounds clean. The place another finger of the chord on (while keeping the first one) and do the same until it sounds clean. Repeat until you have the whole chord sounding good. Then lift up your fingers and place them back onto position without taking forever to find their places (might take some time). Just practice a LOT. When I first learned guitar, I practiced for 2 hours every day for a whole month just for C, G7, and D.

Another good exercise is to play chromatic scales up and down. Start with index finger on any fret (I usually start on fret 7) and play that note. Then place middle finger on fret 8 and play that note while keeping index on 7, then place ring finger on 9, repeat, and pinky on 10, repeat. Then remove pinky and play 9, 8, 7, and keep repeating up and down SLOWLY. Then work your way up faster. Do this all over the fretboard and some day you'll be able to play flight of the bumblebee or chopin's Fantasie Impromtu.

If you really want to learn, look up some guitar tabs and chord charts online or take lessons.

You can email me ([e-mail]) for more guitar tips and stuff if you want!

good luck and happy practicing!

Answer 2

Don't pay too much attention to which finger is 'supposed' to go where if you can find a comfortable way of doing it. Make sure your wrist is pushed forward and only the tip of your thumb on the back of the neck so your fingers are coming straight down on the fretboard (shortening the strap might help if you're standing). If all else fails, try a guitar with a narrower fretboard - there's a world of difference between my 12 string acoustic and my Rickenbacker electric.

Answer 3

First things first, no one can quite get it right when they first start, it takes hours of pratice. Just set aside a half hour a day for playing and your fingers will get stronger. Second, I suggest that you hit up www.ultimate-guitar.com, and go to lessons to learn some basics. Here is a good exercise, start on the bottom E and play frets 1-4 slowly and steadily, do this for every string and then start on top e and play 4-1 the same way all the way down.

Answer 4

i had the same problems just keep dong it dont give up it will get easyier i promise

Answer 5

no