guitar players??

[at1010]

Well yall,

I am updating you on my "progress" ..............ok im done hahaha

joking but I have so far had 3 lessons. I enjoying playing but still working on getting my fingers callused up enough. I also struggle with some cords a lot. Ex. C, one of the most common cords, I have such an issue with getting to to come out smooth due to lack of flexibility I believe.

I practice every day atleast 15mins, with my job its kind of hard to do much more than that. Once I learn to play better, then I can actually sit outside and practice at hotels, and stuff when I am on the road.

Well, If you all have tips, suggestions, pick me ups, please share. Sometimes I get awful frustrated with my self.

Thank you,

Albert

 

[Joel]

It's easy to get frustrated, just keep at it. If it was easy everyone would be good at it.

 

[Outdoorsfellar]

Once I learn to play better, then I can actually sit outside and practice at hotels

Be sure to place a jar & a sign saying your blind or something ! ha ha

 

[Hedgelj]

The calluses take time. What really sucks is when you lose them and have to start building them all over again. Some strings are "easier" on soft fingers than others. You don't need a really heavy set of strings unless you are playing a style that requires them. I've played nothing but mediums and never wished for more and they are a lot easier on the fingers. Also, have your instructor or local guitar shop check the action on your guitar. This is the height of the strings above the fretboard. The higher it is the harder it is to fret the strings and make a clean note. You can take the action too low and that leads to a "buzzing" of the strings as you play. I have one jazz style guitar that i can rarely play bar chords on b/c the action is so high except when I'm well practiced.

The chords and getting your fingers used to the odd shapes also takes time and muscle memory. There are many variations of the "C" chord, so perhaps another chord shape would be easier at first. I can play the C chord in at least 4 or 5 ways just off the top of my head. They all sound virtually the same, but there are some differences. The main reason why I choose one shape over another is dependent upon the song I am playing and where my fingers are coming from (previous chord) and where they are going (next chord) and I just go with it. There are some good apps if you have a smart phone for tuning and chord shapes that show the different ways if you are interested let me know and I'll get the names.

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/BC-135-FingerWorkout.php Is a basic warm up exercise for something other than just practicing chord shapes. I still do something pretty similar every time before I play. It'll also help building the calluses and strength/flexiblity in your fingers.

Once you learn the basic open chords of C, A, Am, D, G, E, and Em (and maybe even F) you'll be amazed by how many songs you can play. It gets easier once you can do something less repetitive and more interesting.

Hope that helps.

 

[at1010]

That does help thank you.

I have started some finger stretches that I do in between appts, at night, etc.

Is it common to struggle with getting cords down. I play them easy sometimes then next time makes a buzzing noise. I guess that's most of the learning part?
Most of time my finger is hitting the one below when trying to hold a cord causing a dull sound. No matter how much I am on the tip of my finger it still makes that dull sound.

I love it when I play something half right tho!!

 

[Hedgelj]

Completely normal

 

[at1010]

Completely normal

That makes me feel better. Now I know I'm not just a jackass haha

 

[Hedgelj]

One thing you can do is move your thumb further under the bottom of the neck. This will move it further away from your body and allow you to bring your fingers down on the fretboard in a more vertical direction. The buzzing is from your finger just barely hitting another string. When I am learning a new chord or chord shape it happens. The key is to figure out how to move the offending finger to get the sound you want without the buzzing sound you don't want. What works for me may or may not work exactly for you. Eventually you'll figure it out and it'll become second nature.

 

[at1010]

One thing you can do is move your thumb further under the bottom of the neck. This will move it further away from your body and allow you to bring your fingers down on the fretboard in a more vertical direction. The buzzing is from your finger just barely hitting another string. When I am learning a new chord or chord shape it happens. The key is to figure out how to move the offending finger to get the sound you want without the buzzing sound you don't want. What works for me may or may not work exactly for you. Eventually you'll figure it out and it'll become second nature.

thanks man, yea my teacher basically told me the same thing. Said guitar is basic, but the rest is how it works for YOU. Gotta know what to do to make the basic cord but you need to figure out where to put your hand to make it comfortable. I am working on it every day, lil by little.

 

[Treed]

You'll get it, and the callouses will come. Keep at it. Soon enough you won't even be looking at your neck while you're playing. The muscle memory comes pretty quick. I just started playing banjo again after about 15 years away from it so I had to reteach my right hand to pick with just my thumb and first two fingers instead of the thumb and first three fingers and sometimes pinkie that I finger pick a guitar with. It makes a difference in hand position and how to transition rolls into and out of chords so it's something I had to do if I wanted to get serious about picking a banjo again. Didn't take long at all. Like you said, a little bit, every day. It'll come together.