Sausage fingers

sausagefingers

I am an absolute beginner at the guitar and I am really struggling to get the chord shapes sounding right without deadening the adjacent strings with my sausage fingers. Can anyone help?

mike_l

practise.

And use the tip of your finger.

and practise some more.

sausagefingers

Thanks Mike.

ChrisMusic

Like mike_l said; practice, practice, then practice some more.

Your fingers will get used to it, the calluses will form, which gives a nice strong pad to hold the string down with.

Don't over do it though, it will come with time.

Also ensure your nails are short on your fretting hand, and try to get your fingers perpendicular to the board, that will give them the best chance of keeping clear of the other strings.

Thumb position behind the neck will help support this with minimal pressure too.

Take your time and reposition your fingers until you get a nice clean tone, then go and work on another chord shape, then come back and try this one again.  It takes time, but is very satisfying when you get there.

Good luck.

Oh, and did I mention practice ?   

sinbaadi

Okay, we've had the serious responses.  Now please, let this be a covert technique by Mr Phillips to generate interest in his "products".  That would just be perfect.

If not, then welcome.

Also, if a troll: lol

VimFuego

if you haven't yet, check out Justin sandercoe's website:

http://www.justinguitar.com/

he has a beginners course and covers how to place the fingers for clean chord playing. It's free and is truly excellent, the best guitar course I've seen, paid for or free. 

bingefeller

You can get a wide neck guitar with more space between the bass strings.  

dafuzz

bingefeller said:

You can get a wide neck guitar with more space between the bass strings.  

Wisdom (cos I was just about to say it )

Go to a guitar shop and try a few out, explain to the staff what you need. Feel free to come back for opinions before shelling out if you don't feel confident with the advice the shop gives you

ChrisMusic

Just check out this video with Johnny Hiland playing his PRS.

I think anyone would agree that his fingers aren't the slimmest.

Whether he is playing a PRS or a Tele, just normal sized guitars, and a ton of practice and talent.

Man can he play !

Duration 8:21

mike_l

sausagefingers said:

I am an absolute beginner at the guitar and I am really struggling to get the chord shapes sounding right without deadening the adjacent strings with my sausage fingers. Can anyone help?

Find a book/cd pack so you can see where your finger are supposed to go (IE tab/sheet music) and hear what things are supposed to sound like.

sausagefingers

Many thanks for all the replies. I will take it all on board and let you know how I get on.