Light Switch

Two things just clicked in my head while I was practicing E, A, D major chords and changes.

1) I had been playing A as a barre chord with the 1st (index) finger and just pressing the flat of the finger across strings 1-4 (second frett) and then strumming 5 to 2. This was because I had seen it demonstrated and it was much easier than trying to fit all 3 fat fingers in that space on 2nd fret.

Well, it clicked that I was making life very hard on myself, since it was making it very hard to get the tip of my first finger on its string in the next chord.

So now I am practicing getting my fat fingers pressed in on 2nd fret. So much easier to change from there.

2) It seems like making the D major chord is much easier if I get fingers 1 and 2 down on second fret, and then I kind of swing/curl my 3rd (ring) finger onto the 3rd fret. I was trying to make it one single motion, but it seems easier if I anchor my first two fingers first.

Likewise E major seems easier if I anchor the 1st finger on the first fret before placing fingers 3 and 2 together on the second fret.

It almost seems like some of these chords are easier if you break them into TWO shapes, rather than trying to make them one shape.... Hmm, I'll have to keep thinking about that.