Open Chords are usually what beginner guitarists learn first on the guitar. But more often than not, they get the technique all wrong.
In this lesson, I’m going to show you what I believe to be the most effective technique for open chords.
Some Analysis
Let’s start with some analysis of professional players. I’ve chosen 5 different players from various generations and styles of music. They are:
Keith Richards, Neil Young, David Gilmore, James Hetfield, and Taylor Swift.
What We’re Looking For:
Thumb Position
Where is the thumb placed? Why is it placed there? How does this affect the other elements below?
Wrist Posture
How does the wrist look? What is the angle?
Palm Position
What parts of the guitar is the palm connecting with?
Finger Angle
How are the fingers angled? How are they spreading themselves across the frets?
Finger Curve
How much are the fingers curled?
Contact Points
What parts of the hand are in contact with what parts of the guitar neck?