The Skool of guitar excellence
RockSkool: Chord Tips
1 Try to press down firmly with your thumb on the back of the guitar neck. Make sure your fingers are pressing the strings very close to the fret without actually being on the fret. The closer it is, the clearer it sounds and the less you need to push down.
2 Your fingernails should be as short as possible too. It prevents them from interfering with the vibrations of the strings. Your other hand should just brush up and down gently on the strings. We will get more into strumming later on, however lightly brush your other hand up and down the strings to get a sound coming out for now.
3 You may find it is painful to stretch to some of the chord patterns shown, this is normal and with time your hand will get used to it, HOWEVER never overdo it and ALWAYS stop if the pain gets severe.
4 Another pain problem is with the finger tips of your left, fretting hand. The strings will “bite” into your finger tips at first and cause some discomfort, again this is normal and after a while your finger tips will get hardened and the pain will go. HOWEVER, as I said before, STOP if before the pain gets too severe.