So I’m jamming with my friends and working on some songs and my friend noticed everyone I strike a G chord or Cadd9 or even my D my fingers are always in the middle of the fret.
I’ve struggled with this for over a year and some days I’m ok but I think I get by cause I probably press harder then if I was at the fret. When I don’t look I’m mostly off and sometimes don’t even strike the chord correctly. Like my D lands good in shape but I land on the wrong strings… ugh…
Hi Richard,
Justin has a lesson in Grade 2 Module 10 called Feeling the Frets that presents an exercise addressing just this issue. This lesson (but not the exercise itself) stuck with me, and while I strive for good finger placement I know I still have difficulty with placement on some chords - like the 5th string C on the C chord. Still, being aware is the first step to fixing the problem. I’m going to re-watch the lesson now…I hope he also reminds us not to press any harder than necessary when forming the chords!
Edited to add: Glad I watched it again. It’s not so much an exercise to practice, as a way to develop awareness. He does suggest being aware of pressure on the string as well. For me, I think it will be useful to actually pluck the strings to remind myself how little pressure is often required to sound the note.
I’ve been practicing for 4 years now and I still have this problem on a few chords, especially the ring finger on fret 3 of the A string when playing the C chord and the pinky when playing 7#9 chords (the “Hendrix” chord).
I remain aware of this “lack of perfection” when playing and focus on getting the finger placement as perfect as possible during practice, while still moving forward with learning new skills/techniques.
YMMV
I know everyone finds a comfortable grip but that D doesn’t look comfy to me. It just looks like the neck is in an usual position, and to me, that making your fretting fingers really need to curl up. I’m guessing you’ve been playing for some time and use your thumb to mute E string with your thumb so high.
R.
Perhaps continue looking so you land on the correct strings? Eventually, after playing it right (many, many times), you’ll start to land on the right strings naturally, w/o thinking about it, w/o looking at it. But ya gotta do it correct so many times that it just becomes natural.
Or I think Justin has a video about going from one chord to another, repetitively. 1 minute chord changes? Something like that.
I think the just of it is going from one chord to another as many times as ya can for a minute. After a while, your memory will get ya landing where ya want your fingers to land at.
Yep same problem especially with weak finger G also the D & A chords sometimes land wrong still plays OK but not where it should be.
The way you’re showing it I’m not in the least bit surprised, you’re not in an ergonomically viable playing position. You’re all crunched up, you need to keep your arm off your legs and have more of a gap between your arm and your body. I would suggest that you get yourself a Strap and set it in a position where you can play standing up, try that and see if it works and then try having it in the same position and try using it sitting down. Your arm wrist and hand needs to be more open.
I’m still working on my A, D and E chords. However, in looking at the picture, your thumb may be too high. Justin recommends that you start with your thumb more in the center (back) of the neck. I started doing that and my chord work got better (and needs to get a lot better).
