3 Reasons Older Hands Keep Missing Clean Chords And the Easy Fix

Gentle Chords, the book that goes with this lesson (softer fingertips, a lighter touch and clean chords for older hands, with your first week planned day by day): https://ericsguitar.netlify.app/?b=1&... Red, yellow or green: which one is you? You press, you strum, and one string goes thunk instead of ring. So you press harder, and it gets worse. Most of the time it isn't your strength and it isn't your age. It's three small places on the hand, and one change to how you hold the guitar that helps all three. THE THREE REASONS 1. Red, the fingertip: a finger lying on its soft pad leans on the string next door and mutes it. Stand each finger on its tip, close behind the fret wire, and keep the nails short. 2. Yellow, the thumb and the bottom of the hand: when the hand grabs the neck like a handrail, the soft part of the palm smothers the thin string. Leave a little daylight between your palm and the neck. The thumb supports; it doesn't squeeze. 3. Green, the wrist: a wrist sagging under the neck (or cocked up like a waiter's tray) makes the fingers lie flat on the lower strings. Keep the hinge fairly straight, inside a comfortable range. THE EASY FIX: stop tipping the guitar back to see your fingers. Sit it upright, face out into the room, and let the neck rise a little toward your shoulder. Build the chord looking if you need to, then roll the guitar upright and strum. The self-check: pick the strings of the chord one at a time, slowly. A string that thunks tells you where to look. Everything is described for a right-handed player. If you play left-handed, mirror it. Sources mentioned: Lauren Bateman's guide to muted strings, Douglas Niedt on buzzing strings, Fretjam on how to hold a guitar, the CDC arthritis survey (2010-2012), Rachael Seidler (2007) on older adults learning motor skills, and the Arthritis Foundation on heat for stiff joints. THE BOOKS Gentle Chords ($27), Ten Songs, Thirty Days ($47), or The Complete Gentle Guitar Library, all three volumes ($97): https://ericsguitar.netlify.app/?b=1&... YOUR TURN Do the upright test: build your chord tipped back, roll the guitar upright, and strum. Write one word in the comments: better, or same. I read them. Next lesson: why older players press the strings too hard. A WORD OF CARE This video is for general education only. It is not medical advice. Some soreness in the fingertips during the first few weeks is normal. Pain in the joints, sharp pain, numbness, tingling, a finger that catches, or swelling is not: stop, and talk to your doctor or a hand therapist before you play again. If you use warmth for stiff hands, keep it warm, not hot, and skip heat on a recent injury or during a flare. Never force a finger, thumb or wrist into a position that hurts. Results vary from person to person. Eric is a digital presenter. #guitarlessons #beginnerguitar #guitarover60