I started my guitar journey last November. Now I know like 15+ chords different positions and can play a good amount of songs. Don't give up guys. Just practice a bit each day. All the love Justin.
That finger placement is very frustrating sometimes. But I don’t wanna give up. Just the imagination of playing any song I want is a bigger motivator than the frustration not hitting the notes.
I can’t play a D chord, always sounds off, I’m here, I’m dissapointment, I keep pausing the video to play Eric Clapton solos so I hide the shame of still not playing the d chord right 😔
@@maddyatthemec I figured it out a few days after I sent this comment lol, yeah you just have to get use to the positioning of your fingers and really use the tips of them.
Totally have that problem. I’m in my first week of owning an guitar (electric). I now know where the term ‘fat fingering’ comes from. Geez sometimes (often) feels impossible to press a single string!
I follow what he says but I always have to adjust all of my fingers again after I finally got it right. Edit: now it's mainly just my second finger I have to adjust. Edit#2: I can now play the D chord after I figured out I should've had my thumb up near the first fret. It made it so much easier.
Nope . Should be behind the first finger ideally . Thumb and first finger are forming a clamp . If the thumb is off to the side theres loss of strength.
Hello guys if u r seeing this your starting now like me I am module 3 now A and d are bit tough You will have thoughts about quitting this is too hard, my fingers are paining I also experienced this. But i am going to continue. After module 1 and 2 the fun starts
Just going to put my thoughts down for anyone else starting out, will update when I improve :) Day 1: I found this chord incredibly difficult. I couldn't do it at first. My ringfinger kept muting the 1st string. Tried for about an hour, I eventually succeeded, but I had to strain my fingers a LOT, which makes me think I can't do this on the fly during a song. It almost feels like my fingers are too small, but I know that's not true. Day 2: I don't know why, maybe it's because I had a night to sleep on it, but I pulled it off first try. I still need to strain badly, and my fingertips still hurt because of it, but PROGRESS! Day 3: I figured out that if I exaggerate the idea of pressing the strings with the very tip of my fingers, it's easier to consistently get it right. Day 4: I'm still super super slow, but I now learned that if I push the 2nd string up a bit (so more towards the 3rd), I end up not accidentally muting the 1st string with it. My fingers still b hurting and it feels like that's because I'm still straining too much. But I have to, or it won't sound nice.
Ah yes, the D chord! I remember picking up my older sister's Ibanez Gio GAX70 when I was in middle school and learning from JustinGuitar videos that were 480p. Fast forward 13 years, I now have ESP and Ibanez Prestige guitars. I wouldn't have grown and learn metal guitar techniques if I never learned the basics from JustinGuitar years ago. Thank you, Justin.
Straight away, the best teacher.......period. If just half the teachers on my journey through schooling would have been as good as you, I would have been way ahead of where I am today. And I'm not just talking about guitar lessons, I'm referring about your amazing ability to really teach someone! Thanks
Thanks for that comment. I happened to find his channel first and worried I was missing out. He seemed really good though that I just felt I didn’t need to look. Great website too.
My fingers hurt _so_ much, but I’m making progress! Thank you, Justin. I just feel bad for my fingers. I can see a physical imprint of the steel strings in my poor red fingers a good while after practising the D chord.
That's just the physical representation of the mental imprint of the D chord in your brain... :) Your fingertips will harden if you play regularly! And make sure you don't press down harder than you need - you are not battling an alligator!
i'm on my 5th day of guitar ownership and 2 day of practicing the d chord and i've FINALLY got the position memorized! and on top of that i can just tell what finger needs to move closer to the fret or needs to be curled back a little! ughhh so exciting my hand's getting used to the position im so glad cos it was giving me grief! i hope with more practice i wont need to use the slight lower flat of my middle finger nail to press down lol...
Thank you Justin ,at last someone who knows how to explain things layman's terms. I'm 53 and diesided to start arthritis in my hands but hay what the hell. I'm a status quo mad fan ,but you have to start somewhere. Please can you pictures of matchstick men. Again thank you.
Amazing teacher! I've been browsing since August when I got my guitar and Justine "makes Sence" Love how easily I understand you and finally feel like I'm learning something! Also, Love that you have a dog! Thank you! Thank you for your amazing lessons!
Im just now starting guitar and I love your videos the most because you mention things that other people wouldn't think too. Things like how it will be hard to reach the fret or that there will be finger pain the beginning. When I tried other videos I felt like a failure because I had these issues but now I know it'll come with practice
For a man I've got very slim fingers and I find it hard to not accidentally mute other strings. I have no idea how men with average sized fingers play guitar.
@@itsmorphed6416 Hi, yes, i'm making the f chord sound now, but not consistently enough.that one near put me off guitar all together. Also making beginner riffs recognizable like come as u are, californication, seven army. That is a confidence boost. Frustrating at times but consistency is the key factor.
@@itsmorphed6416 Not being familiar with the dashboard somehow I ended up from E gunn chord to the F chord tutorial, of all chords... took me a while to see the mistake but since I continued with the strumming and one minute exercises It dind't stop my progression, californication was another mistake along the way, I see how people can give up guitar if they don't follow a proper course, luckily (in this case) i'm stubborn . Justin is a fantastic teacher, will be acessing the music theory course within some months. Good luck all.
@@johnjr7070 yeah a propper course is the way to go i think . I remember a guitar teacher who was asked by a new guitar player if he could teach him stairway to heaven. The teacher told him i could teach you stairway to heaven but would probably take him 2 years to play it from absolute scratch. Or in that same amount of time i can teach you to play the guitar and then learn stairway in maybe a week or two. . I think the journey is progressive and one lesson to be built on the last . But at the same time its ok to have some side projects on the go also . Good luck too 👍
I got my guitar yesterday and at first when I tried the D chord I thought “oh god my fingers how am I supposed to remember this”.. next day I played it on my first try from memory
It seems so difficult with my little fingers and my ring finger just doesn't stretch as far like yours? But I keep trying to tell myself if kids can learn to play then so can I! Learning the notes seem practically impossible for a beginner😣 but I hope I don't give up and can learn how to play guitar!☺🎸🙌
If i can do it with a broken pinky that bends down at a 45 degree angle then so can you. Know about django rheinhardt and mr iommi from black sabbath? If you dont i wont spoil it.
I still got a few problems with the D chord after a few weeks of playing. I’m able to get all fingers close to the frets but then it doesn’t sound clear, the problem is when I put my first or third finger closer the fret it changes the position of my second finger in a way that I use my nail to press the string down and doesn’t get good enough contact and start buzzing, it’s really frustrating.
You need to trim/file your nails back so that the nail does not extend beyond the fingertip; The flesh on your fingertips is still soft, so as you press down the the fingertip flesh "mushes out" and touches the adjacent string. Keep at it, this will improve, I promise, even the guitar gods had this problem in the beginning; The other issue that just takes time is the flexibility of your fingers. Over time their ability to stretch and reach and form the chords you want will get easier. The three secrets are Patience, Practice, and Perseverance! Good Luck!
I screwed up learning this chord from the chord chart back in the day and have always played it with the 1and 2 fingers backwards to what the chart says. I believe this is a superior way to play the D chord as it is much easier to transition into say a Dm, Am, E, and Em as the shape is basically the same with just a small twist of the writ here and there Just my two cents on the matter.
I just tried that. A bit weird but to each his own. I can see how the transition from the d to to dm is easier doing it that way but for me that would require rewiring my brain and fingers.
Hi.. started this course 3 days ago. Got the A chord fine but forever muting the high e when practicing the D chord. Its driving me crazy. Just dont seen to be able to stop my 3rd finger touching it without putting my hand in a painful unnatural position. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Even though i know a lot of open string chords i still learned something i did not know. Place down the fingers on the frets in order of fingers. Pointy finger goes down first, driving finger second and so forth. I already do this so lucky me. But i did not know that this is suggested. My first teacher, physically, took my fingers and placed them on the frets. And he always started on the pointy finger if i did not get it right.
After about 2 years later of my on and off guitar learning, learning consistently has been a pain with pandemic (couldn't get strings for months!), thesis work, moving to a new country and all. I have probably played only 1 year of those 2 years! However, my playing has improved miles and I can kinda play the stuff I want to play now! And it's all thanks to Justin! Keep the faith and keep learning! I don't really follow Justin anymore now that I am trying to develop my own stuff and get better at the stuff I personally want to play on guitar! But it was a terrific journey and I can't thank you enough Justin for teaching me guitar.
Have to say for a beginner like myself, these videos are just great 👍 I only got my first guitar yesterday and struggled at first with the placement of the 3rd finger. Firstly it appeared I had no motor function so had to physically move it with my other hand (weird experience) and then once I had it somewhere near it meant to be, it would interfere with the 1st string and everything felt just wrong! Only doing short 10 minute session and this morning I watched the video again and picked up on the part about the placement of the palm and the thumb which helped immensely (my fault for not listening in the first place!). So my second session went much better and was able to place finger 3 by mind control and with a bit of tweaking manage to not interfere with string 1.
I have been practicing for two hours but I've only managed to get the D and A chords down. The fingering is really frustrating. I'm hanging it up for today and will try again tomorrow.
Reflections, 5:12 STRUGGLING WITH THUMB PLACEMENT? READ. I struggled with this in my first week, if it was "right". TRY THIS- Let go of your fretting hand( drop it as if it's completely limp towards the floor) and shake a bit. Make sure you're relaxed. Now freeze your hand and put it around the neck without moving your fingers. Doing this you'll make sure that your thumb is in a relaxed state and you don't have you worry about it anymore! Hope it helped. [Source- Thadeus Hogarth, online teacher from Berklee, lessons on Coursera.]
Paul McCartney said he and the other Beatles watched Elvis at the movies to see if he could play the guitar. They thought not as he was 'struggling with the D chord'.
As a complete beginner, I find this chord insanely hard. The finger position is awkward. Is this really the best chord to learn as the "first chord" ? Hopefully, there are chords that are easier than this...
Many thanks for the super thanks and supporting the channel. It means a lot. Cheers 😊 | Richard_close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide & Approved Teacher www.justinguitar.com
Somehow my fingers make it really hard to put 1 and 2 directly below each other, not to mention having 2 sound properly (and it's not 3 that blocks it). But I can make it sound well without much pain with 1 closer to the middle like in the A chord. Is that fine or I should try twisting my fingers better, otherwise that would slow down my progress?
I have been struggling with the D chord due to my big fingers, until I saw someone on a video playing it with the 4th finger on the B string instead of the third finger, I tried it and it was much easier, is that ok or is it a bad habit?
Hi Barney. It is a bad habit and I would encourage you to break it asap. One of the key things you will learn a little down the line is the option of adding your 4th finger on to the 2st string at fret 3 while still holding the D chord. This makes a Dsus4 chord. It is used in countless songs. The fingering you have adopted makes it impossible. Another very common move is going from D to a full 4-finger G with finger 3 on the 3rd fret of the B string and finger 4 on the 3rd fret of the E string. Again, your fingering is going to make this move (normally smooth, quick and easy) a much more difficult one. Persevere with fingers 1, 2 and 3. It will come. Your big fingers are probably still soft-tipped and the flesh is spreading out a little, causing some unwanted muting perhaps. When the callouses develop, and when you make micri adjustments in the position of your hand and fingers, it will come good. Cheers 😊 | Richard_close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide & Approved Teacher www.justinguitar.com/donate
You can also bridge with the index finger on the 3rd and 1st string with the finger flat then press on the 2nd string 3rd fret with the middle fingertip. Very easy.
Q: what about an alternative way to form the D chord with 1 on the E string, 2 on the G, and 3 on the B; it would make the transition to D Minor super easy by just sliding the 1 finger back to the first fret on the E string w/ the 2 & 3 fingers remaining the same? Is there any reason this is not a feasible alternative shaping?
Hi Justin. Been learning for about six weeks now but cannot for the life of me get the D chord!!! Getting so upset I’m thinking of giving up! I’m okay with finger 1 on 4th string (no probs) and placing finger 2 on 6th string (fine), then the third finger!!! My finger does not want to play and will not move off of the 5th and 6th strings. And also when I get my third finger on the string in the right place , my 2nd finger lifts off of the 6th string!!! HELP!!!! You mention the pain in my fingers but not the tears on my face!!😿
Hi Jamie. Six weeks is not long - keep on at it. If D is your main problem chord the chords you are most likely to encounter it paired with: E and A.To improve the D chord formation, try this. Hold your fingers near to but not touching the strings. Touch the fingers where the chord is but do not press. Once you have all three touching at the correct place then press them down. Do not strum - this is a fretting hand exercise only. Release the pressure after a few seconds but keep touching the strings. Then move your hand away from the strings by a small amount. All fingers away. Repeat the process. Then, to improve changes to and from the D and other commonly grouped chords, repeat the above process with one alteration. After the final step of lifting all fingers away, the next cycle would be over the chord that you are changing to (E or A in this initial stage). Once that chord has been done and fingers are lifted away, go back to the D chord. Wash, rinse, repeat. Make this exercise last about five minutes. 1 minute - D alone 1 minute - D & E 1 minute - D and A 1 minute - D and A and E 1 minute - D alone Within a week you will be smashing it! :) Cheers 😊 | close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide [ www.justinguitar.com/ ] & Moderator on JustinGuitar Forum
Recently returned to my guitar journey though I guess I should be trying to find employment again... (ugh) Anyways Hi Justin when do you suggest moving forwards with the next chord?
Day One of Your Course (2nd of June 2024): I started your course after a week of practising the guitar from random websites and already knowing how to play the E major Chord and A chord. I also learnt how to play the Smoke on The Water riff today, but not from your lesson. I was tired of going through random tutorials and found your curriculum. After lesson one I learned how to play the D Chord and I watched your second lesson and gained a better understanding of the A chord. I then watched your third lesson which taught me how to use anchor fingers successfully and I managed to apply anchor fingers to the E major chord too. I will be keeping track of my progress in this comment. Day Five of Your Course (6th of June 2024): I've finished the first module and am now practising chord changes, I'm getting quicker with them and can switch between E and A 30 times a minute and A and D 15 to 20 times a minute. Finger pain has mostly stopped (entirely for my index finger) as callouses have started to form from LOT'S of practice. Day Twelve of Your Course (13th of June 2024): Started your second module, already experienced with E, so I'm going okay with it. Lot's of practicing. Day Seventeen of Your Course (18th of June 2024): Still practicing second module, having trouble building up speed, but I'm working on it. LOT'S OF PRACTICING! Day Twenty-One of Your Course (22nd of June 2024): Still on the second module because I've been focusing on building up finger speed. Currently practicing crazy train riff to build up speed.
Thanks so much and congratulations on your progress so far. To help keep track of your progress and follow with more content plus a support network in the Community, it is worth visiting the website and all the free learning tools it offers. www.justinguitar.com/classes/beginner-guitar-course-grade-one Cheers 😊 | Richard_close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide & Approved Teacher
@@TheWorstestPro thats great to hear, congrats! I’m only just starting and same as you I already learnt the E major and a chord before this vid but I’m struggling switching between them so still practicing that, but I’m finding the B chord more difficult because I can’t get my 3rd finger to stretch far enough but I’ll keep practicing it
lol jokes on you Justin, i wrecked my third finger in a machine years ago so it doesnt bend! hah reach all the way, but in all seriousness a finger that doesnt bend, should i learm left handed or just deal with my third finger not bending?
If your third finger isn't bending at all, you'll need to find other ways to get it done. Your pinky will have to do a lot of extra work and you'll have to resort to partial barring (putting a finger down on the same fret on different strings). Django Reinhardt has a similar issue to deal with. You'll have to learn with notes a chord is made of and try to find it on other places of the fretboard. You'll probably won't be able to grip every chord as it should but remember that regular major and minor chords only need 3 notes. || LievenDV JustinGuitar Official Guide
Stanley , my dad did exactly the same . Think his second finger did not bend . He was an awsome clasical guitar player and just used a different finger .
what are your thoughts on using silicone fingertip protectors....im learning guitar like this was my first calss ever and my fingers hurt alot so is it recommended to use silicone protectors as a beginner?
The fun starts and you can start playing basic songs with two chords. Learn the A chord also. It is all in Module 1 - spend several weeks learning the content there. Cheers 😊 | Richard_close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide & Approved Teacher www.justinguitar.com
been doing guitar self taught for over a month now, just picked up your guitar book and it brought me here :D Easily the most in depth lessons i have seen yet.
I am so disappointed. I can't place my fingers without thumb pain and wrist strain. The only way the chord sounds right is if my hand looks deformed.. i may need to buy a children's sized guitar
My fingers are so uncomfortable. Like how can you practice like this? I washed the dishes right after practicing last night and it felt like they were getting poked by needles all over. Hopefully by the end of next week it will be better.
Hard to tell from here. If you mean strings low E and A, than you only need to make sure the open D is sounding. If you mean the top 3; there might be something wrong with your guitar. Perhaps there is too much backbow on your guitar or you just aren't pressing down hard enough? Could be a lot of things...| LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Assistant
Genuine question, why is this the finger placement everyone says to use? I've found it way easier to bar all 3 strings, then use ring finger on the B string. Is there something wrong with this?
Many thanks for the super thanks and supporting the channel. It means a lot. Cheers 😊 | Richard_close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide & Approved Teacher www.justinguitar.com
When I try to play any chord, i face an issue that while press the upper string the bottom string is also touched by finger and it makes no sound. Can you please help me to fix this problem.
airloft music i too had the same problem, youre just not holding the guitar correctly. I recommend watching his video on how to hold a guitar the correct way. Also it looks like youre just a beginner, it takes time just practice, you’ll get there!
Its so tough, 4th day owning a guitar, fingers killing me, I'm muting loads of strings, but I've managed a few good sounding chords so I know its possible with more practice. 48yr Old enjoying learning a new skill. Thanks for great tutorials.
Its been a week. Can't get this chord down. Really want to throw my guitar but don't want to give up. I don't know I just can't like my middle and ring fingers just deny to help mW play this chord. The E and G strings keep buzzing. I don't want to give up. Justin or as a matter of fact anyone please help.
