Fat fingers?

[petelanger]

@mdc

If you just started guitar or not very long ago, this is a common issue. If you don’t have callouses on the tips of your fingers yet, developing those will help. Make sure the nails are clipped!. Good technique is the key, coming at the strings perpendicular, get your palm far under the neck so your fingers can have a better approach. As you play more you will also develop more bend in the the first knuckle (metacarpophalangeal joint at the base of the finger), it’s underdeveloped for non guitar players as it’s not utilized very much other than to play stringed instruments.

You want to get into a good playing position too, sometimes raising the neck higher while tucking the elbow close to your body can lead to better positioning of the hands.

Other than that it’s simply repetition. I had thuds in my C, G, D, E chords for months. Slowly this gets better. I felt I would never play a clear 4 finger G! Now it’s a piece of cake. Just takes time. When you are trying to improve your chords specifically, you want to make transitions from one to another since this is how you play guitar.

Choose a 2 or 3 chord song and just play the transitions over and over. I do this while I’m watching TV.

[mdc]

Thanks Pete. I’m new at this, just 6 weeks in. No calluses yet, but the strings hurt less. Your comments on posture, hand, finger, and neck position are helpful.

[petelanger]

@mdc if you’re at 6 weeks into your guitar journey, be thankful where you are! You are learning some chord shapes and on your way. Six weeks in I had thuds all over the place, it will come as long as you keep at it.

I started a barre chord masterclass this week and I’m just like a beginner again trying to make all five CAGED shapes between the first and twelfth frets! I’m muting strings all up and down the neck!

You know what? I’m praising God because I know that in my struggle is where the most learning happens!

[mdc]

Pete, in 6th grade I started taking trumpet lessons every Saturday morning. In the beginning I could barely squeak out a single note. Just two years later I was best in our high school. By 10th grade I was 1st chair in the all county orchestra. I am not especially musically gifted. I progressed so far and so fast because of my teacher. He was a retired 1st chair from the Marine Corps Marching band. He was still a Marine through and through. I was afraid of him, which made me practice 1/2 hour every day! It wasn’t fun, but I learned a lot. Tony is correct, daily repetition and making a commitment is the key. I have committed to playing daily for this first year and have no concerns about where I am at this early stage. Everything will come together in due time. And thankfully this time it’s fun.