Ask Mike #1 - How To Stop Touching Unwanted Strings

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  • Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 211

  • @jasminealwedyan874
    @jasminealwedyan874 2 роки тому +331

    I'm a beginner and I feel so discouraged from touching other strings. I think this will help me.

    • @devin2151
      @devin2151 2 роки тому +3

      How r u now?

    • @Uncharted8907
      @Uncharted8907 Рік тому +57

      @@devin2151 he gave up

    • @charlesyoung8600
      @charlesyoung8600 Рік тому +13

      Don't feel bad. I can't think of any one I know who hasn't had that problem when first starting out. Slow focused practice and patience will help you get passed it.

    • @southam50
      @southam50 Рік тому +9

      ​@@Uncharted8907 🤣💀💀

    • @clash_VR
      @clash_VR Рік тому +3

      ​@@southam50 thats not funny dude smh 😔😔

  • @youaremysunshinemyonlysushine
    @youaremysunshinemyonlysushine День тому +1

    I have good finger strength and accuracy, but I've always struggled with only touching the strings I want to be hitting. This video helped me so much! You honestly deserve so much more subscribers, thanks for making this video

  • @gauravkashyap3410
    @gauravkashyap3410 4 роки тому +244

    One tip of today changed my entire life and more than 6 months of practice. Thanks a lot buddy. God bless you

    • @mhasikhonuokera5548
      @mhasikhonuokera5548 4 роки тому +4

      M struggling to play D chord. No Matter how hard I try

    • @blurvy1366
      @blurvy1366 2 роки тому +2

      @@mhasikhonuokera5548 my middle finger muting 5th string on G chord

    • @aloksrivastava4950
      @aloksrivastava4950 Рік тому

      ​@@mhasikhonuokera5548it's really true Mann I mean I am trying since 1 hr and still it has not played even for single time

    • @viking21
      @viking21 Рік тому

      ​@@mhasikhonuokera5548Same here. How's your playing now?

  • @mcdevious2229
    @mcdevious2229 10 місяців тому +10

    "Practicing in the right way." Thanks. Long ago, a man said, "Practice makes permanent." How true. Very good presentation, Mike. Thanks again.

  • @hatfieldrick
    @hatfieldrick 4 роки тому +170

    Also helps to make sure your fingernails are short enough that they don't touch the fretboard before your fingertip. I'm just a beginner but that alone made a big difference for me.

    • @martinpazienza1816
      @martinpazienza1816 4 роки тому +7

      Thank you I've started cutting my nails it does help keep getting better!

    • @andrewyoung9516
      @andrewyoung9516 3 роки тому

      Cutting my fingernails helped me too. I was struggling with making my first chords sound clean, but then I trimmed my nails as low as possible and the chords sounded a lot cleaner.

    • @williammills8953
      @williammills8953 3 роки тому +3

      Thanks. Then how does dolly pardon play with her 9 inch nails? Huh? 😆

    • @hatfieldrick
      @hatfieldrick 3 роки тому +2

      ​@@williammills8953 Darned if i know. All I can say is it makes a big difference for ME.

    • @chrisbryan2333
      @chrisbryan2333 3 роки тому

      This helped me so much as a beginner, great tip

  • @passwordistaco1
    @passwordistaco1 9 місяців тому +6

    The wrist forward bit is solid gold advice. Been play for just over a year and that has given me a huge improvement in my playing. Thanks!!

  • @thexombie3225
    @thexombie3225 Рік тому +14

    I was going MAD trying to figure out what I was doing wrong, and this helped a lot. Thank you!

  • @rb0675
    @rb0675 5 місяців тому +8

    Im having this issue. Im starting to think the guitar is more useful as a weapon than an instrument right now 😂

  • @dakshsaijwal
    @dakshsaijwal 3 роки тому +38

    Thank you sir..I had literally started to doubt my guitar😂😂

  • @jackdillinger7083
    @jackdillinger7083 Рік тому +4

    I’m a beginner and have had this problem for days now! I don’t usually comment someone gave me a tip that actually worked but this one actually did! Thank you Sir!!!!

  • @Joslemian
    @Joslemian Рік тому +1

    Wrist forward was a great tip for this beginner. Thank you.

  • @oweifhtuvj975
    @oweifhtuvj975 Рік тому +20

    Besides the video’s tips and the tip to keep your nails short is to to not press the fretting fingers down with too much force. Your finger tips will flatten and can end up touching the adjacent strings.

    • @ecab992
      @ecab992 10 місяців тому +2

      Oh crap this has been my problem! Thanks man! I didn’t think my fingers were *that* fat hahah

    • @trevorb9281
      @trevorb9281 6 місяців тому +1

      I’ve watched a ton of other videos about this and not one brought this up. It ended up being my issue as well. Thank you so much

    • @GAMINGBYAGAMER
      @GAMINGBYAGAMER 2 місяці тому

      Wow, after cutting my nails the problem was just fixed. Thanks man.

  • @robordm
    @robordm Рік тому +3

    THIS is what I was looking for! Watched so many videos looking for the solution, and here it is. Thank you! Gonna take some practice though, kinda like relearning the chords:)

  • @gautamdeepkaur1619
    @gautamdeepkaur1619 4 роки тому +22

    Thank you for the tips! My nail beds are long so even with no nails grown, it's hard for my index finger to be perpendicular to the fret.

  • @leew3163
    @leew3163 Місяць тому

    Four year later and still great teaching!!

  • @williammills8953
    @williammills8953 3 роки тому +58

    This is literally my problem I have. Especially the C- chord.

    • @AryanKulkarni31
      @AryanKulkarni31 3 роки тому +4

      can feel you bro same

    • @williammills8953
      @williammills8953 3 роки тому +3

      @Crowleone very annoying isn't it. I been playing for about 6 month now. My fingers are callused now. I'm starting to get used to that now. I think the more you play. The more your fingers adjust. Try bringing you thumb down and point it toward the tuner part about halfway for the c-chord. It helps some.

    • @nischalgautam1282
      @nischalgautam1282 3 роки тому

      Same here

    • @Journeyjunkie309
      @Journeyjunkie309 2 роки тому

      @Crowleone yaaa

  • @joanneteggart2058
    @joanneteggart2058 6 місяців тому

    Thanks Mike! My son (7) has been playing for a few months started and some great tips for him!.

  • @thanatossassin
    @thanatossassin Рік тому +1

    Lowering the thumb is how I ended up figuring this out on my own years ago, but wish I had this video to guide me back then. Great advice.

    • @GlesgaBhoy79
      @GlesgaBhoy79 3 місяці тому

      Yeah, me too...Lowering your thumb, which allows your wrist to come around a bit more on the guitar. It's not easy to get used to this though and takes some time...Like all things, I guess.

  • @Outdoorworldredneck
    @Outdoorworldredneck 2 роки тому +13

    I got so frustrated been having this problem since I started tried curving my fingers more and more. Never paid attention to thumb placement and wow that helps a lot!! Thank you so much for this video

    • @val21704
      @val21704 2 роки тому +1

      Does your wrist hurt too? mine hurts af

    • @Outdoorworldredneck
      @Outdoorworldredneck 2 роки тому

      @@val21704 yes and I have arthritis in my left hand which doesn’t help. I’ve found getting comfortable on strings is 100% most important

  • @RubenJonkers
    @RubenJonkers 2 роки тому +2

    This is the best guitar tip I've ever had and improved my playing loads in just a few minutes!

  • @Mdice1
    @Mdice1 Рік тому +6

    Also a beginner. Thanks for the tips. Yeah, I feel like my ring finger is fatter than the others so I have the hardest time with that. I'm gonna try making that one finger a Vegan to cut some weight... Might put it on the finger treadmill for a bit, too, and see if that helps. Thanks again 🙏

  • @KawaiiMirasaki
    @KawaiiMirasaki 3 роки тому +2

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOUUUU 😭😭😭 MY BRAIN WAS HURTING BUT THEN THIS HELPED SO MUCH AND I COULD FINALLY PLAY WITH MAY LESS OF THAT BUZZ SOUND GAAAHHH

  • @AbhilashKaluwala-k5v
    @AbhilashKaluwala-k5v 10 місяців тому

    This was the best video on the topic in entire youtube!! was going crazy for not being able to sound the chords right! thanks a lot sir!!

  • @kamilsawicki1931
    @kamilsawicki1931 Рік тому +5

    Woooow, such a simple lesson but change so much! I couldn’t figure out what the hell was wrong with my hand, I even started to think I might have shorter pinky then other people 😂 But nope, turns out my hand position was out of place. Thanks a lot mate!

  • @actie-reactie
    @actie-reactie 6 місяців тому

    Thanks mate! This helps! Had the same problem, because I flattened the thumb at the neck...thought that was supposed to be! Subscribing.

  • @knockout_strike3383
    @knockout_strike3383 7 місяців тому

    This is very helpful vid for me as a beginner learning chords

  • @kerri-maeashley8273
    @kerri-maeashley8273 3 місяці тому

    Excellent tips

  • @a_carat_who_loves_seventeen
    @a_carat_who_loves_seventeen 4 місяці тому

    Thank you so much

  • @timmanc
    @timmanc 2 роки тому +3

    Excellent vid thank you. This has helped me with some basic mistakes I’m making with the fretting hand position.

  • @qiqidouluvme
    @qiqidouluvme 2 роки тому +1

    ive kept watching videos on this topic and theyre all confusing. But this one actually helped me out alot

  • @wolfgangk1
    @wolfgangk1 8 місяців тому

    Thank you. I took a year of guitar in college and have been on my own since (15yrs). I play EVERY DAY for at least an hour. It sounds nice but I'm getting tired to muting strings-and I play on a classical guitar (fat fingers), you'd think that the strings were far enough apart that it would happen. Your video confirmed what I suspected was my problem.

  • @sama._.4220
    @sama._.4220 3 роки тому +3

    lol I have an assessment tommorow and I’m just watching these videos whenever I can😂😭

  • @kengarcia3834
    @kengarcia3834 Місяць тому

    Beginner here - my 2 cents: I learned my that my confidence and impatience …subjects I never hear discussed in learning guitar was my problem. Once I understood that and with practice I improved.

  • @rodneyjordan6745
    @rodneyjordan6745 3 місяці тому

    Entry level here. Great video. THOUGHT I was doing it wrong. I'm not.

  • @johnybravo863
    @johnybravo863 2 місяці тому

    That was a good answer cheers

  • @roscmon
    @roscmon 6 місяців тому

    Lol... I pulled up this video because i was curious about how not to touch unwanted strings. I already knew the answer but was curious about tips.
    So I'm sitting here trying to find the best position for my guitar to be comfortable and be able to reach the hard to reach frets and was pushing the neck further away from my body when the video talks about not doing that. Good to know.

  • @littleorange6361
    @littleorange6361 2 роки тому

    I tried your tips tonight. They made a huge difference thank you!

  • @chrisstamoulis4056
    @chrisstamoulis4056 10 місяців тому

    Great video. Thank you!

  • @drewdietz2115
    @drewdietz2115 4 роки тому +4

    glad I found this channel!! keep up the nice work.

  • @StBlazeyModelWorld
    @StBlazeyModelWorld 2 роки тому +1

    Im a newbie with exactly that problem. This helped me so much, Cheers Mike

  • @rajlakhani2958
    @rajlakhani2958 3 роки тому +1

    That is excellent advice and has made a big difference. Thank you so much.

  • @runningwithscissors0911
    @runningwithscissors0911 5 років тому +5

    Exactly the tips I need!

  • @StephanieDass
    @StephanieDass 3 роки тому +6

    This guy has the best tips 👌🏼 To the point, practical, and actually helpful! Thank you Mike

  • @jessedorado4569
    @jessedorado4569 2 роки тому

    These tips actually improved the sound of some of my chords! . Thanks!

  • @legent4k614
    @legent4k614 Рік тому +2

    great video. your video popped up exactly for what i searched for, and i gotta say that it helped so much as far as seeing how it's done. i thought i had it but when i tried it, my hand just didn't want to go where i knew it should and it hurt my wrist. Then i came back and watched it while having the guitar in hand, pausing it to make sure i got it but i can't get the fingers right. i kept hitting unwanted strings. im specifically practicing C Major and won't move on to learn another chord until i know i can hit that note perfectly. i watched this 5 times and see the effortless look of your hand wrist and fingers just rest on that guitar like it's nothing. i need help.

  • @Devon_Dan_Sailing
    @Devon_Dan_Sailing Рік тому

    Came here after struggling with barre chords with fingers covering two strings so even when the barre worked the chord wouldn’t sound right. Very useful

  • @annprescott7723
    @annprescott7723 4 місяці тому

    Thank you so much!

  • @realthebirds
    @realthebirds Рік тому

    great advice on the angle of the fingers

  • @tomsmith8515
    @tomsmith8515 2 роки тому

    I read this in the 80s-90s that if you place a pencil at the bottom of the fret board this can help teach you to learn the gap, try with an E chrod

  • @alancosens
    @alancosens 3 роки тому +11

    There are some chords that are simply impossible for me to play because my fingertips are so thick that, no matter how accurate, the flesh mutes the strings on both sides. After nearly 30 years of being frustrated about this I finally ordered a wide neck from Warmoth and voila! Very hard to find wider necks on a decent guitar though. You have to custom order the neck, which is pain because when you do that they don't come leveled, crowned and polished. So with a neck being around $250 to $300, plus paying a luthier to finish the frets, or getting a PLEK job, you end up spending as much to finish the neck as you could for an entire guitar. But, if you have sausage fingers like me, it's worth it.

    • @deadmanswife3625
      @deadmanswife3625 20 днів тому

      What about just taping little d o w e l s on the end of each finger so they're extra skinny😂

  • @kalpanasharma479
    @kalpanasharma479 3 роки тому +1

    This is awesome! I was struggling with the same question. Thank you!

  • @nedstar7378
    @nedstar7378 3 роки тому +1

    Excellent explanation and very helpful, thanks for sharing.

  • @vishvajeetsinh_solanki
    @vishvajeetsinh_solanki Рік тому

    By the way your voice is so soothing I almost fell asleep.

  • @Dakhaos-ou812
    @Dakhaos-ou812 4 роки тому

    never thought of that...Thank you..I start applying it right away

  • @synchronicity67
    @synchronicity67 Рік тому

    Wow ..am gonna try yr tips tomorrow 👍🎵🎸thanks 🙏(its 2am now😉)

  • @LyteLounge
    @LyteLounge 8 місяців тому

    very very helpful sir

  • @dilly-2-philly841
    @dilly-2-philly841 11 місяців тому

    Thanks a lot. I was however, watching folks like McCartney, Clapton, Hendrix on youtube playing the guitar and their thumbs almost invariably were curving on top of the fretboard. What are/were they doing differently?

  • @billiondollardan
    @billiondollardan 2 роки тому +2

    I tried learning guitar years ago but I thought maybe my fingers were too big or something. I was just positing my hands improperly! I think I might try again... just gotta get another guitar lol

  • @marcyrodriguez3174
    @marcyrodriguez3174 2 роки тому

    yo this is actually really helpful what the hell appreciate it

  • @nick_merchant
    @nick_merchant Рік тому

    Very well done. I am new at this, this was quite helpful.

  • @SteveWellsNZ
    @SteveWellsNZ Рік тому

    Very helpful, thanks Mike!

  • @GlesgaBhoy79
    @GlesgaBhoy79 3 місяці тому

    My related problem at the moment is that when I try to rectify the issues by bringing my wrist further around to my fingers can curl properly, it then cause quite a lot of stretching (and subsequent strain/pain) in my wrist. Hopefully this will improve over time!...Haha I think that's the biggest problem of all - I want to be better NOW!

  • @danielraphel3033
    @danielraphel3033 4 роки тому +2

    Sir your tips are very much useful, thank you sir.

  • @yacoolbeats7959
    @yacoolbeats7959 Рік тому

    Very helpful tips!

  • @theedman22
    @theedman22 6 місяців тому

    Thanks for these videos! Great idea. I’m a newbie. :-). I’m listening lol
    Can I ask a question here? How do I stop open strings from sounding out when I am changing chords? When I am changing from G chord to D chord the G and B strings continue to ring/play.
    What’s the email, please, I didn’t see it? Thanks!

  • @StevenLeeYouTube
    @StevenLeeYouTube Рік тому +2

    It's so difficult, on E chord, I keep holding down the bottom two strings. I see that people have round small fingers, mine seem to be more pointed, which makes it hard, even with these tips.

  • @walther9161
    @walther9161 Рік тому

    Great stuff and thank you for posting!!

  • @shaliniamanna7920
    @shaliniamanna7920 2 роки тому

    Thank you Bro, from India 🇮🇳

  • @ToasterYoaster
    @ToasterYoaster 26 днів тому

    Omg thank you bro

  • @PK-se2jh
    @PK-se2jh 11 місяців тому

    this is so helpful thankyouuu

  • @pj8624
    @pj8624 2 роки тому

    Great tips!! Thank you!

  • @amessenger3208
    @amessenger3208 Рік тому

    Thanks! It helped.

  • @Lungdog
    @Lungdog Рік тому

    Thanks I was struggling with muting the bottom string while trying the D chord, I was moving my thumb down, but my wrist was not going forward, that little tip now has me playing the D Ok..ish,

  • @Comrade_Bread
    @Comrade_Bread 5 місяців тому

    Question. Does the guitar neck size also matter? Like instead of playing a narrow neck, should I play a fatter neck since I have bigger fingers? Or can I make it work with a more slightly narrower neck? I see a lot of guitarists being able to do both it seems, so it doesn’t seem too worrying for me to have to change the neck.

  • @jocelynelebon5230
    @jocelynelebon5230 2 роки тому

    Thank you so much, Mike!!!!!

  • @ce8539
    @ce8539 Рік тому +2

    Its hard not to feel like my hand is just not the right shape. Spent an hour a day for a week trying to get some chords to not sound like utter garbage but i cant find a position for my hand that leads me to be able to "relax" like every teacher says and still be able to reach the notes without flexing and becoming rigid. Was anyone able to get past this stage and if so how long did it take you. Never had any issues like this on piano or trumpet when I first started learning. It was just steady linear progress

  • @BrEaKiNg_Brad
    @BrEaKiNg_Brad 3 роки тому

    Tizzight. Thanks Mate.

  • @paladingeste6897
    @paladingeste6897 9 місяців тому

    That's good tips but I think my fingers are too wide. As much of an angle I put, my fingers are as wide as two spaces and a string plus a little more touching another string. Even tried filing my nails down to my skin. But I'll try practicing anyways until I give up some day.

  • @bondocanjeddrielf.gas11-c72
    @bondocanjeddrielf.gas11-c72 3 роки тому

    this actually helped me tyy!!

  • @zenyxz018
    @zenyxz018 4 роки тому +1

    Yo guys! im just gonna ask,im not struggling on doing chords but only when im doing fingerstyle...not in the fret but when plucking strings and especially when doing slap-and-pluck,everytime i pluck the unwanted strings ;( any tips on how to improve it???

  • @Brimmsune
    @Brimmsune 4 місяці тому

    I have problems with the fourth string not ringing out when im doing a g chord because my finger on the fifth string kind of lightly touches the string but ive only been practicing for a week so im hoping i get better

  • @wmauibill
    @wmauibill 3 роки тому

    Great video thanks!

  • @saum
    @saum 3 роки тому

    Loved it....very good advice

  • @kiten.
    @kiten. Місяць тому

    i've been play for a month and i've watched so much tutorials like this, nothing seems to work, I understand "practice, practice, practice" but i've been doing that with nothing to show for it

  • @pop8590
    @pop8590 2 роки тому

    Thank you for this!!!!!

  • @shinziro9632
    @shinziro9632 2 роки тому

    useful information good video

  • @SirdudeyPlayz
    @SirdudeyPlayz Рік тому

    I need help. No matter how hard I try, if I for instance play the 3rd string whilst having my finger on the 4th string, the vibrations of the 3rd string hits my finger ruining the sound

  • @luddylu9308
    @luddylu9308 2 роки тому +1

    I'm a beginner acoustic player. I'm having lots of trouble with my thumb placement behind the fret board. My thumb keeps curving at an odd angle and I can't get my thumb pad to lay against the back of the neck. My fingers also curve at an funny angle and I have to put my left arm in an unnatural position. How can I correct my thumb and fingers to not angle over the strings?

  • @SamantaGothic
    @SamantaGothic 2 роки тому +3

    its my biggest problem as a new guitaristXD

  • @fredymendez855
    @fredymendez855 Місяць тому

    man i just realized i usually dont put my wrist forward as Iam getting by but I do happen to catch alote of unwanted strings when playing. Question I am struggling with my pinky clapping down as its mostly on a angle when I strike my pinky down on a string... is it possible to clamp it down on a 90 degree angle or is my pinky just weak as hell?

  • @ZombieStray
    @ZombieStray 7 місяців тому

    This worked all these years thinking there was something wrong with my fingers to no improvement and all I had to do was lower my thumb 🥲 wish I stayed doing power chords for years but this opened so many doors lol

  • @callumsewell3473
    @callumsewell3473 Рік тому

    Appreciate ya!!

  • @e1mor3n06
    @e1mor3n06 Рік тому

    Thank you

  • @anonvegeta
    @anonvegeta 4 роки тому +23

    I'm struggling with a D chord keep hitting the bottom string.

    • @abinfp
      @abinfp 4 роки тому +6

      Same problem. My 3rd finger keeps hitting the E string.

    • @williammills8953
      @williammills8953 3 роки тому

      My issue is the C chord

    • @get_flankedaxr2472
      @get_flankedaxr2472 3 роки тому

      SAME

    • @nuclearguitar779
      @nuclearguitar779 3 роки тому +1

      If you are setting your guitar on your right leg, try setting it on your left leg when playing. This literally just fixed my issues with fingers numbing other strings. I noticed when guitar is on my right leg my left fretting hand doesn't have much room to move around. I had a better range of motion when left arm is further away from my body than closer towards it.

  • @konstantinandreyev6778
    @konstantinandreyev6778 Місяць тому

    When I do that, my forearm gets super tense and it's sore afterwards. Am I doing something wrong?

  • @kkhagendra
    @kkhagendra 4 роки тому

    God bless you!

  • @memories762
    @memories762 Рік тому

    my pinky finger's nail is creating problem. i do cut it but only till one extent coz it touches the skin and hurts. while playing the nail touches first to the fredboard so the other string gets mute. i have mastered with all open chords but finding it difficult to progress with bare chords. can you help me with any solution to it?

  • @ajaybhaskar6558
    @ajaybhaskar6558 2 роки тому

    Awesome tips .. 😍

  • @akshayp3655
    @akshayp3655 17 днів тому

    Maximum people give up learning guitar. Its that difficult to learn guitar where one feels its better i climb everest rather hurting fingers and spend years on struggling with this

  • @pixelatedjug2494
    @pixelatedjug2494 Рік тому

    What about in guitar sizing is there a size that makes it easier for people with large fingers?