BC-132 • The C Chord

[justinguitar]

Questions...

Lesson link: http://justinguitar.com/en/BC-132-C-chord.php

[Tetsuo]

Hi there. Me again! 

I was trying the C Chord and got some problems.

When doing it my thumb seen not to be 90 degrees behind the neck.. it seens like it points to the HEAD of the guitar. Not parallel to the neck..but pointing Ddiagonally (in a 120 degree perhaps). Is it OK? It seen to happen with the G chort too.

Thanks

[rendelven]

Hi there. Me again! 

I was trying the C Chord and got some problems.

When doing it my thumb seen not to be 90 degrees behind the neck.. it seens like it points to the HEAD of the guitar. Not parallel to the neck..but pointing Ddiagonally (in a 120 degree perhaps). Is it OK? It seen to happen with the G chort too.

Thanks

Did you watch the entire video? Justin explains that for the C chord your thumb placement kind of moves 'up' a little bit and your fingers are more angled towards your 'eyes' instead of straight up and down.  I suggest re-watching the video and looking at his thumb and finger placements and angles.

[Tetsuo]

Yes, i watched the entire lesson. Im not the king of person who ask without looking for a answer first.
Justin dont say anything about the thumb moving UP. He said that we should not keep it UP, as beginners.
When looking to his thumb, sometimes in the lesson it points a bit to the head of the guitar... but it could be something to avoid when we are beginners. (in truth i dont know)

Justin sometimes plays with his thumb UP in the guitar... but as he said, its not good for beginners. So, im wondering if the thumb has to be 90 degress with the neck of the guitar.... for beginners.

I dont know if u really understand my question.... its not about the thumb being UP.
My english is really poor, so.. i apologize.

Thanks!

[rendelven]

Justin sometimes plays with his thumb UP in the guitar... but as he said, its not good for beginners. So, im wondering if the thumb has to be 90 degress with the neck of the guitar.... for beginners.

If you start the video and go to 1:30 it will take you to the point where he is talking about tricks and tips to doing your C chord. I am assuming that your confusion is about where you put your thumb (as a beginner). ( In the middle of the neck or 'UP' ). He explains that having your thumb directly in the middle actually makes the chord a little more difficult to play. He explains that your fingers need to be angled instead of parallel with the frets. He doesn't explain what he's doing with hit thumb, so you need to watch it carefully.

So, for beginner's it may be actually easier to move your thumb UP instead of having it perfectly 90 degrees.

Hope that helps.

[Tetsuo]

Hi there.
Thanks for the reply.

But my question is not about the thumb being in the middle of the neck or UP.

"So, for beginner's it may be actually easier to move your thumb UP instead of having it perfectly 90 degrees."

I dont understand what u mean here, cause your thumb being UP has anything to do with 90 degrees, i think..but i may be a little confused.
What do u mean by "thumb UP"? perhaps here is the confusion.

In truth i understand the thing about angle the fingers.
In the video i saw Justin thumb pointing to the guitar's head (diagonally).

I will give an example... at 2:27 his thumb is almost 90 degrees with the neck... but at 2:00 his thumb is point to the guitar's head.

Im just wondering what is correct..perhaps both.

Thanks again.

[rendelven]

I will give an example... at 2:27 his thumb is almost 90 degrees with the neck... but at 2:00 his thumb is point to the guitar's head.

Im just wondering what is correct..perhaps both.

Thanks again.

A lot of it depends on what chord you come from and what chord you are going to. I looked at both points you mentioned in the video. At the 2:27 mark his thumb is around the 2nd fret - at the "top" of the neck. This is the thumb position you are wanting to achieve. Which is more comfortable for you to do?

[Tetsuo]

At first i was confortable with the the thumb pointing to the guitar's head..but now...with some practice..im doing it like Justin in 2:27.

Got some problems changing chords while strumming yet...but still training ....

Many thanks!

[BenCr]

When i play C in a song I usually place my fingers down in order, 1st finger (b string), 2nd finger (d string), 3rd finger(a string).

Is this a bad habbit? Should i be aiming to place all 3 fingers down on the strings at the same time or is it ok to play this way?

thanks
Ben

[Chutzpah]

Ben, do you mean you put one finger down at a time then play?

If so, don't worry. As you practice more you'll begin to put them down all at once, just takes time.

[selrondir]

Hi, just now learning the C chord today. Justin mentions in the video that it is easier for the fingers to be angled somewhat so that they point toward the eyes and not the ceiling, and that it's more difficult to stretch the fingers so that they're "square." It's actually the opposite for me; I have an easier time getting all of the notes clear when my fingers are pointed at the ceiling, and when i try to angle them, the notes strings either buzz or are muted. I haven't tried chord changes with this one yet, so I don't know which would be easier, but should I go ahead and really work on practicing with my fingers angled? Is it better overall than having my fingers square?

[Muffinz]

Hi, just now learning the C chord today. Justin mentions in the video that it is easier for the fingers to be angled somewhat so that they point toward the eyes and not the ceiling, and that it's more difficult to stretch the fingers so that they're "square." It's actually the opposite for me; I have an easier time getting all of the notes clear when my fingers are pointed at the ceiling, and when i try to angle them, the notes strings either buzz or are muted. I haven't tried chord changes with this one yet, so I don't know which would be easier, but should I go ahead and really work on practicing with my fingers angled? Is it better overall than having my fingers square?

Everybody have different hands and fingers so what works for justin might not always work for everybody else. So just practice it as it feels easiest and most relaxed

[nk]

Hi selrondir

The only thing that i could say to you is that you have to practice the "proper" way to play before you get used to play on the "easy" way. Because while you keep on improving you´ll find that the "easy" method has become an obstacule to keep on gettin´better.

Hope you understand my english

Bye

[ImagineLED]

Thanks Justin,
I didn't have much problem with this chord for some reason, really like the fact that you told us about muting the sixth string with our 3rd finger, I would have never thought of that
My pinky feels kind of awkward when playing this, is this because I'm not used to the stretching or something?

[GaryBee]

Hi All,

Just moved to stage 3, so the C chord is my slowest chord change, but I know the answer to that, practise, practise, practise.

My question is about muting the low E string. What is the reason for this, can you not just strum the 5 strings to get the chord? Or does this become more useful later.

Many thanks in advance.