Just starting – can hit a note on a cord without hitting the next string

[petelanger]

Yes it’s common. If guitar were easy to learn, everybody would be doing it. It takes many months to learn basic skills. Your fingers were designed to grasp things, so they tend to move in unison. You have to program your brain to do things they have never had to do. You’re rewiring your brain, the older you are the more you have to overcome. Kids can learn much more quickly, those neural connections aren’t deeply burned in like those of us older folk!

Here are few tips regarding string muting/buzz:

1. Position: you want to play in the best possible position for comfort and ease to place your fingers properly. This is something you can play around with, raising the neck up, adjusting the shoulder and elbow. Certain chords may require you to come at the fretboard differently.

2. Pressure: when we’re learning we have a tendency to press very hard, trying to eliminate the buzzing or thuds. Getting the finger closer to the fret wire means less pressure will still work. We need to find that sweet spot where it’s a clean note but minimum pressure. This is still something I focus on everyday, because I still press too hard when making certain chords, like the D major.

3. Light strings: make it easier by using lighter strings. This will change the tone, but there are lots of options and you might find you like the brighter sound. Also, every guitar has it’s “soul mate” when it comes to the marriage between the guitar+player and strings.

4. Tuning: some people tune their guitar down a 1/2 step or even more, makes it much easier to fret. Great for practicing and you can slaps on a capo to play along with the challenges.

5. Nails: always have the finger nails on your fretting hand trimmed as short as possible. This is essential for beginner players.

6. Being a new player, you may not have developed callouses on your finger tips. As you do, this will help with the issue of string muting.

7. Make sure you are fretting with the tips of your fingers, the strings should be making their indentation marks about 1/10 inch (2mm) from the finger nail. Much further than that and you’re fretting with the pads and that’s going to cause muting.

8. Be sure to curl your knuckles as much as possible, especially the last knuckle right at the tips of your fingers. They should be able to bend close to 90 degrees. I am exercising my ring and pinky fingers whenever I think about it to loosen up the joints more, I am not at 90 yet. By getting that optimum bend and pushing your hand forward under the neck you approach the strings more perpendicular avoiding mutes on strings below the fretted notes.