I used to play the guitar (in the years between age 7 and 11), but I didn't really like it as I wasn't really into music...so I gave it up when I went to secondary school (big mistake).

Anyway, I never really learnt much anyway as I neve practised and have forgotten everything except how to play Titanic pizzicato. But now I have got my guitar back down from the loft and am trying to learn chords and stuff.

So far I've learnt C, D, F, G and Am, and am having real trouble changing from one chord to the next, and my fingers barely reach. I know this'll obviously improve the more I practise....but surely my fingers won't grow?! I play the piano so they're used to stretching - but not this much!! And loads of the notes get 'cut off' by my fingers pressing slightly against other strings.

Also, does anyone have any tips for strumming? I've tried it and it sounds really rubbish

Any guitar tips would be really really appreciated!! (I'm trying to learn a specific chord sequence for my music lessons (GCSE) as we're doing Britpop, and no one in our group plays the guitar )

Thanks,
Laura

Well Laura better late than never...

Those are hard chords to start with, try a 3 chord trick of A, D and E and get used to the coordination of those before getting into stretchier ones.

After that the biggest hint is to keep the last joint of each finger as perpendicular to the fingerboard as you can: this will help the cutting off neighbouring strings thing. And if that's not too easy look at your fret hand and make sure your palm is not up against the back of the neck. That acts to shorten the fingers - keep the thumb opposite the fingers, depending on whether its a nylon or steel string, more or less round the back of the neck.

Strumming-wise try using a pick, that's a quick way to an OK sound. Remember the up stroke normally only covers the treble strings, not the whole lot.

And if its still hard - guess that's what guitar teachers are for!

Cool thanks for your tips I'll give them a go!!



Laura

You can play the F chord, the nasty one, where 1 finger holds down two strings! *faints*
To stop getting the fuzzy notes with chords try seeing if cutting your nails help, then you wont catch the next string with your finger

Oh....I must be playing the wrong chord then....my F doesn't require one finger holding 2 strings sounds hard!!

Just cut my nails!! It's a bit better now thanks!

I knew that would help, maybe your playing a simplifyed verson of the F chord?? The chord I described doesnt get used until grade 2, and I HATE it, its hard, and it hurts my fingers - still after 7 years of playing!

Oh yeah it probably is simplified...I just checked it with the piano and it's definitely a F of some sort!!

I use the whole of my fingernails (last 3 fingers) to strum - difficult to describe

Stick with the simple chords first as suggested - it will get easier.