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How to Keep Your Fingers Touching the Strings of the Guitar

One of the biggest challenges for someone trying to learn guitar involves hand dexterity, particularly with the hand that does the chord work. To make the guitar sound pure and correct, your fingers must be in the right location and firmly applied to the guitar string. Otherwise the sound produces with a fuzzy vibration or the wrong tone. Development of proper finger application on a guitar takes technique and practice. Don't worry if your music doesn't sound right with the first attempt. Even the piano player and composer Mozart had to practice to become a musical genius.

Things You'll Need

Guitar
Guitar finger exercise tool
Guitar strings

Instructions

- 1
  Use the hand that you will position chords with and place your thumb on the back of the guitar neck. Wrap your hand around the bottom of the guitar and your fingers upward toward the string. Practice curving your hand so your palm does not muffle the bottom string and your fingers can reach the top, thicker string.
- 2
  Practice playing different guitar chords to get used to the different positions. Keep your fingers close and work on chord positions that do not stretch out your hand. Avoid trying to cover a note with your hand fully extended over five or more frets -- this will give you a cramp in your hand.
- 3
  Practice using a guitar finger exercise tool with your chord hand when not playing the guitar. Squeeze the tool the same way you would an exercise grip tool. Work each finger with the tool so that you build up finger strength evenly. Practice with the tool every day.
- 4
  Perform hand stretches and exercises each day with your chord hand. Stretch your fingers carefully so they remain flexible. Straighten your hand and curl it regularly for a set number of times each day.
- 5
  Relax your hand in warm water for a few minutes after playing guitar or exercising. Let the muscles calm down from the work you put them through.

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