Alternate Chord Fingering?

StateRd84 · #1 November 5th, 2007

I just came across the Cyberfret site that shows alternate fingering for different chords. What interests me is that they say on some transitions the alternate fingering makes it easier to transition in certain situations (ie. G to C). They show using the 4th finger instead of the 3rd to finger the high E. Is this OK? Does anyone use these alternate fingers?

Cyberfret.com: basic guitar chords Em, C, G, D, Am, E, and A

Thom

starsailor · #2 November 5th, 2007

It's ok and in terms of the G and C chord it is preferable to use the recommend finger pattern as it is easy to get to the C chord and also easier to move down to the D chord, it is however what suits you the main aim is to move between chords smoothly and comfortably, it is very easy to get tied in knots especially when you're starting off. The recommended finger patterns may feel uncomfortable to you at first but it is just a case of getting the fingers to do as they're told but as I've said it is what suits you, nothing is set in stone but the Teachers on that site are trying to show you the smoothest way to progress through chords and if the old pinky's available why not give it a job to do.

scorpius · #3 November 5th, 2007

Yeah, I'm using 2, 3, 4 for the G chord, and as well as for the A chord. Actually I did not know that it is called alternate fingerings, it's what I came to learn from the start. It helps in shifting between G and C. But after playing for sometime the shifting from one chord to another becomes easy and fast, whether you use the alternate fingerings or not. Also I use 4 fingers for the C chord, using the #3 finger on the low E string.

Dhaygood · #4 November 5th, 2007

Whatever works!

allthumbs · #5 November 5th, 2007

We have had lots of threads on that subject here. Different fingerings, different inversions of the same chord. The guitar offers a lot of flexibility in this area,

Blues Harpin' Guitar · #6 November 5th, 2007

As my teacher told me, "There's no wrong way to play guitar, just the hard way, and the less hard way."

StateRd84 · #7 November 5th, 2007

Thanks all for answering. I just started to work on transitions, and then saw that. Being only four days into learning I don't think I should confuse myself by introducing new patterns for the same chord. For future reference good to know the option is there.

Thom