Leaderboard

Good evening, @Rabb, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. As I have mentioned before in similar topics, one prerequisite for learning the guitar, and many other instruments, is Patience. Have a big bucketful ready whenever you're practising. Be aware that the fastest way to learn is to go slowly. A few short (10-15 minute...) sessions per day, every day, is far more beneficial than practising for longer. Sessions of an hour or more are too long, especially when beginning. Little and often, and, most importantly, regular. As for chords : as above, don't press down too hard. A light touch, with just the barest pressure on the fingertips is all that's required. When going from one chord to another, vary the permutations (it's not the most musical of exercises, but gets the fingers used to obeying the brain...). Play 'C', 'F', 'E', 'A', 'D', 'G' or whatever (slowly, no rush...), just forming each chord, playing each string individually and together, and mix them up. A few minutes of this type of exercise each and every day will bring rapid results if you do it slowly enough. Don't expect perfection each and every time, though; if it sounds a bit 'off', and strings get muffled, carry on regardless, but more slowly still. In time (and quite quickly...), the fingers will start to understand what to do when your brain wants such-and-such a chord, and will find the way to get there. When learning to drive a car or motorbike, one pays attention to the synchronising of the feet and hands; after a while it becomes natural. Most learning of mechanical skill is the same. Do it often and slowly and it will come all the quicker. Have fun, of course, though..! Hope this helps. Douglas

That takes me back! Yes, you can get them in there, but it takes time to get it smooth.

With that budget, I’d go used.

Experiment and they don't have to be in a straight line! When starting, we often press too hard too. Try relaxing the pressure a little. Small steps seem to be working for me, just going from one chord to another and back again until it sounds crisp and not dull. Don't overdo it and have plenty of breaks. I am a newbie too in reality, so I am with you in spirit. Got any calluses yet?