Learning to play the guitar requires learning many new skills. One of these is learning how to play guitar chords. This in itself requires a number of strengths, including learning how to finger the chords correctly. There are several problems that people often come across when learning how to do this. Here are some tips.
Use a wider neck
One of the simplest solutions is to use a guitar with a wider neck as the strings are further apart. This reduces the likelihood of you touching the wrong strings when playing guitar chords. Alternatively, get a twelve string guitar but have only string six strings fitted as this will give you more space between the strings.
Finger the chord
You should always use your fingertip and not the flat of your finger when playing chords. This is a technique that you should use right from when you initially learn guitar chords and getting into this good habit straight away will pay dividends further down the line.
Play alternative chords
There are usually alternative ways to play each of the guitar chords. Learn different ways of playing each one so that you find them easier to finger until you can master the chords you have difficulty playing.
Hand position
Another important tip for learning how to finger your chords without touching other strings is to improve your hand position. An incorrect hand position can mean a guitar player has to stretch their fingers too straight to reach the strings. This means their fingers are resting on strings they should not be touching. Practise altering your hand position so that you fingers are curved over the strings with only your fingertips touching.
Patience, practice and perseverance
A mistake that many people make is to give up if they are having difficulty learning how to finger chords. However, this is a skill like all others in life that can take time to master. Just because you fail in the early stages does not mean that you will not be able to finger chords successfully with practice. Perseverance and practice key to learning this skill and improving your technique. One step you can take to practice and improve is to go online and play virtual guitar chords over and over to yourself. When you play virtual guitar chords you will learn how they are supposed to sound and you’ll know whether you are playing them correctly or not.
Tune your guitar
Sometimes the issue is not that you are fingering the chords incorrectly, it is just that your guitar is not properly in tune which affects the sound of the chords you play. Check that your guitar is properly tuned using an online guitar tuner.
Learning to finger guitar chords correctly is difficult at first. However, if you are willing to put in the effort, you can soon master this skill and improve your guitar playing.