I still can’t switch chords without distorting the sound

[Alfred]

I would take this as you are still a developing guitarist (aren’t we all)

I think what may be going on is gorilla grip causing you to bend strings out of tune. This is a thing I think most guitarists struggle with now and again.

If this is what is going on, in my less than professional opinion, I suggest lightening up and dealing with the string thuds while your fretting hand learns it’s craft. It takes time and it is never perfect out of the gate.

Myself, I am dealing with a similar issue while trying to play a Cm6 at the moment. I either thud it, or bend it… If I smash the strings it is out of tune, but a thud is just percussive embellishment while my left hand is learning what to do. So you aren’t the worst guitarist in history, like I said, just developing.

[NW7]

Thanks, I’ll keep trying! Yes, I’ve been playing for a little less than 2 months.

[NW7]

I think my brain is slowly but surely figuring it out on it’s own. It seems like it’s just a kind of innate sense that develops of how to lift your fingers off without making a dying animal sound.

[Philb]

We all struggle with this to some extent as we are learning and changing chords. It is just time and practice, then one day you notice your changes are cleaner. I like short cuts, but have found it is putting in the time and patience with yourself.

[jumpinjeff]

👍

[tailsawaggin]

When you’d been walking for a little less than two months, how often did you fall down? 😁

[Bill_Brown]

Hi @NW7 , I agree with everyone’s comments, no one will play like a rock star in a couple of months😱 It’s going to take time, patients, and lots of (consistent) practice👍 That being said, there’s another aspect that crossed my mind when reading your post. What about your guitar? Is the string action too high or too low? When the action is too high, that means the strings are too high above the frets, causing much more pressure to be exerted on the strings to fret a chord – thus “gorilla grip” as mentioned by @Alfred . If the action is too low, meaning the strings are too close to the frets. That results in a buzz sound from the strings vibrating against other frets when playing notes or chords. The rule of thumb is that strings should be 3/32 of an inch (measured at the 12th fret) distance above the frets to the bottom of the strings. Just something else to consider🤔

[tailsawaggin]

@jumpinjeff , I agree with this. If your guitar has a setup that’s unfriendly to you, it’s going to be a lot harder to play. Light strings help, but being light they also move a lot more, so if you’re a heavy-handed picker and strummer like so many beginners (looks at self), then you’re likely to get a lot of noise. It can work to your favor if you recognize it and it teaches you to lighten up, or it can work against you if you get frustrated and feel like you’re never going to be able to play, or it can go either way depending on the day (again, looks at self.)

It can be worth taking the guitar to a good tech and having a setup done. Where I live there aren’t a lot of luthiers to be found, but there are some music schools and teachers who can do some basic setup and repair functions, and I can tell you a good setup makes a world of difference. I play my biggest guitar — the full scale-length dreadnought that I can really only play seated in a good solid chair with no arms on it, or standing with a strap — more than I play the little 12 fret short scale parlor guitar that I can cuddle up with anywhere, because the dread has much better action and it’s more comfortable for my fingers. My butt complains that the chair is hard, but the fretting hand keeps winning the argument.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  tailsawaggin.

[NW7]

Thanks! I measured and it was a little hard to tell but I think they might be 4/32 in at the 12th fret.

[Bill_Brown]

So @NW7 , your action is a little high – and almost perfect if you were to use that guitar for playing bottleneck (slide). You can live with it the way it is and continue to use extra pressure to fret notes and chords, or you can take it to a local music shop and have someone there look at it to see if they can adjust it for you. They may recommend a “set-up” as @tailswaggin mentioned. That may be just the “ticket” for you and your guitar🤔

[NW7]

Thanks! One other question related to this thread: when changing chords are you supposed to, or is it advisable to, mute the strings with your wrist or something when you lift off your fingers?

[Bill_Brown]

If you’re going to mute between chords, use the palm