I found a E-book online to help me learn how to play the electric guitar. The problem is I don't know how my fingers should touch the strings when trying to play different chords. Also, which finger goes with which number. I know 0 means open stringed.
I start all of my students with the idea that the first finger of th left hand, goes on the first fret of the string. The second finger goes on the second fret, third on the third fret, and fourth on the fourth fret. I literally have them walk their fingers up and down each string to familiarize them with the movement. As we expand across the neck, we embrace the same concept unless:
1. It is uncomfortable, different people have fingers of different lengths, and hands of different sizes and widths
2. There is already finger in the way. In that case (The G chord being an excellent example) the whole hand must be turned and the chord played backwards, in a way.
3. There is already a finger on that string, or a finger gets in the way of another. Some people finger the C chord 1/ 2/ 4/ 3. I finger it 1/ 2/ 3/ 4. Either way works. I like my way because it allows me to move more smoothly up and down and across the neck. Other people are more comfortable with the first fingering because their fingers fall more naturally into that patter (because the fourth finger < pinky > is so much shorter than the third finger)
You are right that "0" means to play the string without touching it with the left hand, as "X" means to mute or not play the string at all.
If you read a chord grid, it is a graphic representation of the neck as you would look at it if you looked down on it. If you are reading tablature, it is like looking across the neck as you are holding the guitar in position. If you are reading notation, it is more like reading handwriting as opposed to pictographs. Notation is designed so that all musicians can use the same system and communicate with each other. It is not one hundred percent successful, and some adaptations are still being made, but we have come a long way from the days when composers actually drew pictures of the instruments they wanted you to play the song on and showed the fingers, and where they needed to be placed. That took a long time and it was really confusing!
I like to start my students with the easiest chords they can possibly play, the one fingered chords. From there I move up to the two fingered chords, and I actually have them move back and forth between those chords before we move to the three fingered chords. I think if you try this approach, it will provide you with valuable insight as to how you finger those chords, and how your hand is supposed to move
Start with the E minor seven chord with a suspension (Emin7sus)
(the left hand does not touch the fretboard)
Move on to the E minor Seven chord (Emin7)
Put your second or third finger down on the second fret of the fifth string – 5/2)
6/0 5/2 4/0 3/0 2/0 1/0
Move on to the E minor chord (Emin)
Put your second and third fingers down on the second frets of the fourth and fifth strings – 4/2 5/2)
6/0 5/2 4/2 3/0 2/0 1/0
Next, the E major chord (E)
Put your second and third fingers down on the second fret of the fourth and fifth strings as you did with the E minor chord. Now, drop your first finger straight down on the first fret of the third string. (5/2 4/2 3/1)
6/0 5/2 4/2 3/1 2/0 1/0
Next, the A minor chord (Amin)
Put your second and third fingers down on the second fret of the Third and Fourth string (just move them over one string) and drop your first finger straight down on the first fret of the second string (4/2 3/2 2/1)
6/0 5/0 4/2 3/2 2/1 1/0
move back and forth between all of these chords, including the E minor seven with a suspension (The easiest chord in the world to play, but the hardest chord in the world to say) until you are comfortable and can change chords without thinking about it. Then move on to learn more chords
E7 – 6/0 5/2 4/0 3/1 2/0 1/0
Amin7 – 6/0 5/0 4/2 3/0 2/1
A7 – 6/0 5/0 4/2 3/2 2/2 1/0 (Play this 1/ 2/ 3, 1/ 3/ 2, 3/ 2/ 1, whichever is most comfortable for you)
C – 6/X 5/X 4/2 3/0 2/1 1/0 Easiest
C – 6/0 5/3 4/2 3/0 2/1 1/0 Next easiest
C – 6/3 5/3 4/2 3/0 2/1 1/0 Most complete
If you have mastered all of these chords, you should be able to move into a chord book with no problem. If you need more help, give me a shout. I willbe glad to explain further.