that dang C chord

[Moose408]

I struggled with the C chord for months and still do occasionally. The secret for me was to do dedicated, isolated practice for 5 mins every day for 3+ weeks.

My steps were

– position my fingers and pick each string, if I had a muted string then slightly reposition the offending finger and repeat the above until every string rang clearly.

– keeping my hand positioned I would then press down hard on the strings and then release the pressure, but keep contact with the string. Repeat this 20 times

– I would then lift the fingers off the strings and 1/4” and repeat step 1.

– once I was consistent with that I would take my hand off, put it on my knee then back to the C chord shape and repeat step 1.

I sucked at this for the first few weeks, and then suddenly my fingers were going to the right position.

I know this isn’t exactly the issue you were asking about, but the step 1 is the key. Slowly move and reposition your fingers until you aren’t muting any strings.

[BarbaraM]

Thanks for that suggestion. I have been doing grip strengthening exercises, so I’m not sure that is my issue. Though getting my brain to tell individual fingers what to do will come with practice I’m sure. And I do the stretching as well.

[RiverRooo]

Me with the C chord as well. And the D chord — OMG —it’s like my middle finger is too long and won’t arch properly thus compromising my ring finger’s arch to buzz the low E that the middle finger is trying to fret. ARRRGGHHH !!!

[BarbaraM]

I kind of fixed that by switching the index and middle fingers on the D chord. The index is folded over more, and tucked under the middle finger, but nothing is muted. I want to be able to do it the proper way too, as it seems easier to get into position.

[RiverRooo]

Funny you said that—I just tried it too and that finger position works much better on me as well….thanks Barbara !!

[AlbertCW]

I broke the middle finger on my fretting hand 8 years ago, I lost some flexibility and was having issues getting it on the high E string. I started doing the same thing back in November and found that it takes less finger movement when changing chords. I’m finally getting to the point where 50 years of muscle memory is being overwritten when I play a D chord.

[Esto]

I also have an issue with the C chord. My ring finger refuses to arch which starts the muting as the other fingers then start to act up. I also have a problem with my index finger since it has a pin at the first knuckle so I can’t arch that part. I like to think I’m getting there on the chord since today went better than yesterday. Hopefully tomorrow will be even better. So I guess it’s just sticking with it and eventually it will sound better. I will try the other finger positioning and see if that works. Thank you

[Beatrice]

Hi folks,

it takes a while for the fretting hand to adjust to all those new positions, patience and practice will be your friends… also, check your positions, on the chair, the position of your guitar on your leg, which leg do you use to rest it on, do you have it sitting square or at an angle with the neck pointing slightly forward (which helps a lot). Also, depending on the size of the guitar you use, i could affect your hand position a great deal. Try to sit it on your left leg to see if it’s any better (if you a right handed person), and use the classical position, it could work wonder 😉

curling the fingers and using the very tip of your fingers definitely helps, and very, very short nails

PS, don’t forget to warm up before sessions with finger stretching exercises 😉

Hope that helps

• This reply was modified 7 months, 2 weeks ago by  Beatrice.

[Loraine]

Hi @BarbaraM Like so many others, the dreaded C chord gave me so many problems until someone pointed out that I could move my index finger up further to allow more room for the middle finger. The reason this works is because the low E string is not part of the C chord and is not played, so you can essentially have your index finger infringe upon the low E string somewhat and have it remain muted.

[BarbaraM]

Hi Loraine! I think you mean the ring finger, right? Anyway, I have tried that, but I lose firm contact on the A string. Then the middle finger mutes the G string. I’ve partly gotten around it by rolling my fingers not just upright, but way around, almost onto the nails. Then someone suggested using the capo, so I’m down where the frets are closer together.

[Loraine]

@BarbaraM I did mean the ring finger. My apologies for the error. Yes, sometimes fretting a chord higher up the neck may cone easier at the beginning as you train your hands and fingers to become more limber and stronger. You don’t necessarily need to capo to do it. Simply move up the neck and start say at the 5th or 7th fret and when you’re able to get a clean chord (can play each individual string from the A string down, then move up a fret and start the process over. Dont stay at the higher frets once you can play it, because the ultimate goal is to play it at the open chord location. Keep,working at it, and all of a sudden, you’ll realize one day you can do it every time.