Why is playing the guitar so damn hard!

[Booldawg]

A year on and I still cant play a 'clean' C chord! I dont have sausage fingers but they do seem to foul on other strings. I'm guessing its my wrist positioning. I cant afford lessons and I suppose there are good tutorials on YT. What can you suggest?

[Old_Geezer]

Hmmm I really must have a try at learning again soon. Seems to me though that one is expected to twist one's hands/fingers into shapes that only advanced arthritis can create.

[Booldawg]

Thanks Doc, I was kind of hoping you'd read this as I've seen a few of your vids and hope I'll get to your level one day!

I have an acoustic and an electric, both entry level guitars. I enjoy playing but just need to have some kind of direction and formal tuition to give me a foundation knowledge.

Will check out the Mike Herbert videos.

[tamborine]

Practise strumming on the acoustic to learn chord layout.

You can google lyrics & chords for songs you know to learn the accompaniment.......then busk but not on my pitch, good luck :) Media URL: http://www.videojug.com/film/guitar-cfg-chord-progression
Description:

[argorstran]

When playing your acoustic avoid the thumb going all the way round the neck of the guitar "rock style " . Keep your thumb close to the centre line of the neck - this will allow your fretting fingers to arch rather than stay flat making them less likely to foul the other strings . Also keep your fretting hand fingernails short (for the same reason) . Playing fingerstyle rather than plectrum will give the fingers of your plucking hand a feel for the spacing of the strings . Guitars come in a variety of neck widths - classical guitars have the widest spacing . Best of luck - keep playing - you'll get there !

[Answerprancer]

It might be that you just need your guitars set up properly having action as low as possible without getting to the point of 'fret buzz' makes all the difference.
Also, this might be of some help - http://www.gear4music...ip-Hand-Exerciser/9ZA

[pjm012345]

i do have sausage fingers but even i learnt to play pretty well . practice on your basic chords .. toughen up your fingers, play till they hurt , learn to be patient. maybe your strings are too thick ,buy a thinner gauge of string. good luck

[cazzz1975]

you could look at a wider necked guitar?

also a good tutorial is marty schwartz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3jbOfH58Q8

[Answerprancer]

What I want to know is how the hell do mandolin players with "sausage fingers" cope ?

[Booldawg]

loving the links Doc. I love ragtime. huge fan of Scot Joplin. I need to devote more time to the guitar methinks.