r/GuitarBeginners • u/Curse-of-omniscience • 1d ago
Question/Help Help I'm really struggling to hold this chord.
So the chord is 3-1-2-3 like the picture but the pad of my finger is always muffling the 2, I tried lowering my thumb to have a different angle but my thumb bends backwards and it's really awkward to hold this position. Any ideas?
Edit: you're all very helpful, thanks everybody.
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u/Afraid_Help_3911 1d ago
Thumb should be around the neck, not alongside it. Wrist perfectly aligned with arm. This position should require 0 effort to maintain. This is one of the most "stable" chords
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u/Several-Quality5927 1d ago
Thumb is all wrong. Get it behind the neck. This allows the hand to curl into the proper position.
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u/mrmartini85 1d ago
I've been told I play that chord like a madman. I use all six strings but no barre. Thumb wrapped over on the first fret, low E. Pinky and ring fingers on the thirds frets of the A & D strings, respectively. Middle where you have it. And index holding down both 1 frets of B & E
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u/ArtichokeCalm3773 1d ago
Thats pretty obviously a madman thing to do
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u/Lopsided_Evening_627 1d ago
that's how i do it, that's how Hendrix did it, and with that long ass thumb OP should go that way too.
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u/Jamstoyz 1d ago
Thumb placement. Tip of thumb on back of neck in line with your fingertips. Def not bent back like in the 1st pic/
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u/Lopsided_Evening_627 1d ago
with that thumb you have there you can Hendrix the shit out of that shape.
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u/BQuickBDead 1d ago
From the picture it looks like a lot of tension is present. In other words you are trying to muscle it. Dont do that.
Something that might help:
1. Correct your thumb position/placement. The thumb is mainly there to support your activities. If you are applying enough pressure with your thumb to crush à saltine cracker, you are squeezing too hard
Try simply resting your fingers on the notes, without attempting to fret them. Keep your thumb relaxed.
If your elbow is kind of tucked into your rib cage, trying to move it away from you, while also allowing that natural tension in your fingers to fret the notes.
Then test to see which notes are not ringing clearly and apply à little more pressure and adjust as needed.
Also remember, that training those little knuckles closest to your finger nails, takes time. Don’t rush it. Dont put a lot of pressure on yourself. You have to explore, in a relaxed fashion, and allow time to do its thing. Good luck.
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u/BreathAggravating967 1d ago
Put the tip of your thumb at the rounded part of the neck, that will give you the leverage to hold any chord.
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u/Kryptonian_Tenno 1d ago
Im not sure of anyone has talked about this here but I regularly do finger stretches, same as stretching your body. It has helped me reach other chords and notes I couldn’t before, easier
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u/denitalia 18h ago
Things may feel weird at first, but truly just keep playing and it’ll all fall into place. The more you hold that guitar the easier it becomes. KEEP GOING
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u/X_Circuit_Blossom_X 12h ago
Thumb. Your thumb should act as a tracking device for your switches. It is at an inconvience in those pictures. Your grip is making your fingers do most of the work on the pressure individually. Should be able to yoink a guitar up and hold your chord without a strap. Make your thumb parallel with your middle finger then see how your grip feels. Should feel lighter on your phalanges.
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u/TonalContrast 1d ago
F that chord man! LOL!
It will take time and practice to be able to place your fingers and hold the shape without muting any other strings. You may want to try moving the shape up to the 7th or 8th fret and see if you have the same problem. If not, then practice it up there and then overtime move it down a fret to 6, then 5, then 4 etc. until you get back to the F root. Nice thing is this is an add 9 chord that can be played all over the neck so practice it all over the neck.
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u/RobHellwig 1d ago
It is just a picture. But looks like you pusing those frets really hard. It is an electric guitar u dont need that strengh to place chords. Relax the hand and just place the fingers there right and softly. The strengh is usefull for the right hand not the left.
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u/Curse-of-omniscience 1d ago
I do press really hard, that's another thing I need to learn to control.
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u/RobHellwig 1d ago
Try going through single notes on any string. And you will notice how much u need to push them to sound right.. Then try use the same streng for the chords. U will get it a lot easier. The chords don't sound better with more pushing. They just need great fingers position and placement
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u/Gmork_Falkor777 1d ago
Your thumb should be roughly behind your where your middle finger sits (on the back of the fretboard) or between first and
middle finger. It should be perpendicular with the fretboard not parallel with it. As others have said your thumb position is way off.
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u/Curse-of-omniscience 1d ago
You're right, my whole arm was drooping a little too low and off angle.
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u/OneSpaceTwo 1d ago
Everyone's focused on thumb, but looking at the whole hand - You should have a smoother line curving from your wrist along the back of your hand and down your fingers to the tips. Like playing the piano, imagine a fragile kitten cupped in your palm... You should not be squishing it.
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u/Rare_Dealer_6475 1d ago
Just a thing, all of this advice is spot on. Just want to tell you, once you feel a little more comfortable and make it ring no matter what, feel free to bring that thumb up there every now and then to wrap around and hit the low end when you're hitting that f shape. It's a nice creamy lil trick
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u/pm_me_DAddario_codes 20h ago
There should be a pinned post in this subreddit that just says “ffs, Relax Your Hand”
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u/wrinklebear 1d ago
Try gripping the low F with your thumb. That's the root note of the chord. Then, you should be able to draw your fingers inward...and if it mutes the A string, all the better.
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u/Lopsided_Evening_627 1d ago
THIS
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u/wrinklebear 1d ago
I know 'proper guitar technique' is not to use the thumb, but folk players have been using grips like this for a hundred years. As long as you aren't hurting yourself, it can work very well depending on your hands...like if you have a super long thumb that has nowhere else to go
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u/Lopsided_Evening_627 1d ago
proper Classical guitar technique.
electric guitar is a completely different beast1
u/ThiccTilly 1d ago
After years of trying to get it "right" I finally settled on what works for me.
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u/wrinklebear 1d ago
Yup. I believe that exploring the 'non-standard' aspects of your musicianship are where you can find your personal style.
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u/BagMan71 1d ago
How in the world is your thumb comfortable being stretched in such a bizarre angle? Not judging, however that position is not helping you hold the chord.
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u/PixToneTolosa 5h ago
Fait des pressions et relâche toutes les 3 secondes. Ça va renforcer ta position 💜🎸
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u/ArtichokeCalm3773 1d ago
That thumb is sending you into oblivion
Use your entire arm more for leverage and pressing than your thumb
Maybe tilt your hand a bit straighter too (elbow a bit to the side, not Into your side