I need to play g and e and c chords but whenever i play the 4th string is always being put down or touched accidentaly producing a humming dead sound. How can i prevent this? (Yes i curl my fingers!!! I also hold the guitar properly)
I’ve been playing for about 20 years and I have stubby little fingers… they’re pretty strong, but damn stubby. I have friends who can play circles around me with their happy, slender, spider fingers, but I can still hold my own.
You just need to keep at it and find a way to finagle your fingers in to a position so that you can play clean chords. Once you figure out how to make that happen it will become natural for you and you won’t have to think about it any more.
If you’re playing an E, and pressing the 4th string down with your 3rd finger, and it’s buzzing, you are probably not pressing down quite hard enough. You may benefit from using a Gripmaster or other such exercising device to build some more strength in to your fingers. I’d go for this light one in yellow for starters…
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006FLBSO/ref=asc_df_B0006FLBSO869835?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=googlecom09c9-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B0006FLBSO
Also, if you are learning on an acoustic, you may find it easier to switch to electric at first since it takes MUCH less strength to make chords on an electric guitar.
Above all just keep at it, an hour or two a day if you can, and you’ll find you overcome this minor obstacle.
…of course, if all else fails you can always go to open tunings and get good at using a slide. …worked out well for Bonnie Raitt.
–good luck!