Cord change C to EM - anchor finger?

Beginner Grade 1
#1

In the practice song Eleanor Rigby there is are changes from C to Em and back. Is it ok to use. Finger 2 on the D-string 2nd fret as anchor finger for both chords?
Normally for Em chord I would use the 3. finger Ron D-string

Thanks and sorry for the newbie question

Martin

#2

Hello Martin,

Once you are getting a good sound Em Chord using the regular fingering, using 2nd and 3rd fingers, and confident with the chord changes using regular fingering, you can experiment with the alternative fingers as well, using 1st and 2nd fingers. As you practice, you’ll find out which fingering is most comfortable for you! It’ll depend on the chords you play before and after the E Minor chord. So there would be no issues using 1st and 2nd fingers for the Em to transition to the C chord.

Hope that helps ease your mind.

James

#3

Much appreciated- as a newbie it is sometimes hard to know which rules can be bent a little and which ones should not

Cheers
Martin

#4

No worries. Not sure if your following the lessons using the app or website but I’d highly recommend digesting the written supporting information giving on the websites learn more section for each lesson, there is a lot of really useful information given there.

#5

There are no rules regarding which fingers to use for a particular chord.
As a teacher Justin of course gives recommended fingering as he can’t say use any fingers you like as no one would get anywhere. After you’ve become confident with the standard fingering you will find that as James says it depends where you’re coming from and going to in a song and the most efficient fingering is best.
Having said that, there is usually a very good reason to use the standard fingering. When you come to learn sus chords and other chord embellishments the recommended fingering is usually best as that allows you to use the ‘extra’ finger to play the embellishments.

#6

Haha, I thought you were talking about sliding the 3rd finger from the C to the B on the 2nd fret (which would work fine too). My understanding was that Justin taught what he thought was practical way of starting out, but encouraged different fingerings depending on what you were playing. It’s good to experiment and try different things . Go for it :smiley:

1 Like
#7

+1 on the lesson learn more section he provides images of the alternative fingerings and recommends exploring them once you are confident with the standard fingering taught in the lesson and to use what ever fingering is comfortable you and dependent on the chords before and after

#8

You’ll be exposed to a bunch of alternate chords and fingerings as you progress through grade 1 and into grade 2 and beyond, many of which have no real purpose except to make chord changes easier. The “weak finger” G chord is a perfect example.

#9

The weak finger G is actually good for applying chord embellishments.

#10

True enough. But it is a great fingering to help make certain chord changes too. I might have been too harsh when I said “no real purpose.” Maybe I should have said “one of their most useful purposes is to make chord changes easier.”