Beginner Guitarist --- Notes and Fingering

by Amber
(Mt Holly, NC)

I'm at the very, very beginning, in fact, I just got my guitar today. I'm trying to familiarize myself with the notes -my fingers are already feeling weird- and I've already googled this but can't get a detailed -or comprehensible- explanation regarding finger positions.

Does each finger have a specific string it MUST play, or can all fingers hit all the strings? I don't know if I'm supposed to it the E string with only the middle finger, or with any finger... etc.

ANSWER

Hi, Amber--

Congratulations on your new guitar!

If you are asking about your fretting hand--the left hand (if you are right handed),here is a general rule:

The fret number and the finger number match. For example if the note that you are playing is on the 1st fret of any string, use your first finger, and so on for all four of your fingers. You will not be going past the 4th fret in the beginning.

If you are asking about your picking hand, I would recommend that you use a pick instead of your fingers. (Unless you are learning classical guitar--and then you really DO need a teacher to help you with the proper technique.

Have you tried our Absolutely Free Guitar Lessons? There are tons of free lessons there just made for the beginner.

Check out the lessons and let us k now if your have any more questions.

Best Wishes,
Lynne