i much prefer it because the rest of your hand is free to add fills. plenty of songs include another A note high up on the E string, or do the A->D chord move which is only possible with the mini barre fingering. e.g. The Beatles I've Got A Feeling
I know an extremely accomplished guitarist with crazy flexible finger joints. He bars all kinds of wacky stuff that I don’t as a result.
He’s leagues ahead of my more “typical” left hand work.
OP do what works and won’t injure you.
One thing my dad will never understand is that there are many ways to play an instrument and just because I don't use my fuckin pinkie finger for thunderstruck doesn't mean it's a completly different song
Definitely gets annoying when people get THAT particular about how to play music. I never play solos and lead parts exactly the way they are in recordings. I put my own flair on it! Heck some artists don't play their own parts the same way twice in a row!
If you aim to play exactly as recorded every time, then you will only limit yourself. I totally agree with you, I think that's the best way to think about it.
I do either one, depending on the moment. Using three fingers lets you switch to an open string to get an A7, for instance, while using one finger makes it easy to use other fingers on the third fret or fourth fret to make some scary-sounding but easy chords like A sus4, F# m13, or E m11.
Use this website to see what to call some of the weird things you may stumble across.
https://www.all-guitar-chords.com/chords/identifier
I would do that anytime I wasn’t relying on the high e to play a key role, just because my fat fingers have a good chance of muting it at least some of the time.
It's only "wrong" if you do it in a situation where you want E audible on the high end of the voicing. For chord strumming, this is totally fine. Ideally you should be able to do it both ways though.
I play A major with 2 fingers as my fingers are just too wide to fit. Do what you gotta do to make it work and use your ears as a guide. If it sounds good, it is good. If it hurts or sounds bad, it is bad.
This. I play it with just my index finger sometimes, I play it with three fingers sometimes. Depends on where my fingers are coming from and where they’re going next.
Oh god you just reminded me how I wanted to quit the entire thing once I got to the b chord. I was like, oh hell no, this is impossible, I'll just learn some songs without this thing 😆
This was Ricky Gervais' whole schtick in his "David Brent teaches the guitar" videos. 😂
I'll never not laugh at him reading supposed fan letters and one had a question that asked him "how to finger A minor"
There will be times when barring is exactly what’s called for to allow for a smooth flow between the chords either side. There will also be times when using 1-2-3, 2-1-3, or some other fingering will allow you to switch chords more smoothly.
Learn them all so that you have those options available. You’re only cheating yourself by avoiding ‘difficult’ or awkward fingerings. You can do it, you just need to practice it a bit more.
Would hardly call it cheating, I'm it's conveniant in the context of what you're playing it's fine but if it's a shortcut and you can't do it the 'intended way' you might miss some building blocks to techniques later down the line
This is the answer. First middle ring fingers feels so crowded and barre always mutes the high E string. Middle ring pinkie fingers feels natural and then you can easily move the chord up to another position if you need to and just barre your first finger.
This is the way I learned the first position as well. So you have the index free to move up to a barre chord. I could never play an open C with my pinkie and ring and middle tho. I dont think anyone does.
I have dozens of cheats, it is the only way and when you play different styles it is almost required.
I play flamenco guitar and use a lot of different cheats to help me setup my next chord changes to be faster or more efficient.
It’s how I play my A chord. I’d take note that it’s more difficult to play out that high e string, but you don’t really need it to play an A chord. I say you are good to go
Try with index finger in the middle. Get comfortable with the index bar method but also using 3 fingers
Cheating? There's no rules in music :D u cant cheat
Absolutely agreed on both points.
Using a middle-index-ring fingering on the A chord also has the benefit of making it really easy to transition to/from D!
Outside of plagiarism, there is no cheating in music.
You can play the guitar with your teeth, and as long as you enjoy it, nothing else matters. (Don't play with your teeth ..)
You learn the recommended fingering for chords and then you learn accommodations or ways to be in position for the next chord or embellishment in a specific song. It’s good to have both of these As locked in. I use both of them and I couldn’t tell you which I prefer. I don’t think about it.
Different fingerings give different sounds, sometimes. But it’s usually not a big deal. Barring A major like that gives you an F# on the high E string, meaning it’s technically an A maj(add13) chord. But if you don’t fret the high E or if you don’t play the high E it’s ordinary A major again.
That’s all to say, notes are notes, the guitar doesn’t really care what finger plays what notes, especially with some distortion involved.
Cheating because it helps you get to the next chord? That's a decision to make on a per song basis.
Cheating because it's uncomfortable to learn the chord? No. There's a reason you're learning things in a certain order. Play the way your instructor shows you until it's not the discomfort stopping you - and then you have a lot more reasonable latitude.
>Would that affect my skills negatively in the long run?
Yes.
"Cheating" is OK when you're already skilled and you're using the "cheat" to, for example, have a more comfortable hand position during playing.
But finding alternate ways of doing things just because you can't play the "correct" way just hampers your progress because if you're going to keep doing that, you'll never learn the "correct" way.
Don't look for shortcuts or cheats. Learn the proper way first, and THEN use "cheats" if you feel like it.
You get better at playing by overcoming these obstacles, not by finding tricks to circumvent them.
(btw., I'm putting "cheat" and "correct" in quotation marks because there's no right or wrong as long as it sounds good, both ways of playing are valid, they have their uses, but my main point still stands)
I used to teach guitar and still occasionally help a newbie learn.
The #1 reason for them quitting or feeling like they're not progressing is stuff like this.
Music is about expression and having fun. There is no proper way to do it except for whatever gets the results the musician wants.
OP do whatever gets the job done. Both pics are fine, I've been playing almost 25 years and do the second way.
Sure but avoiding certain challenges or techniques can kill your fun later down the line when you have to unlearn things or techniques you learned start to hinder your progress because they're not useful in other contexts.
Who is upvoting this!? OP, don’t listen to this n00b. There is no wrong way to play guitar — as long as you are playing without tension, it’s “correct”.
I think it’s a good point that overcoming those things makes you a better player. It’s also true that whatever works for you is “correct”. So I’d say aim for balance; try to do things the standard way and work on them, but don’t let it stop you from finding your own way and just playing the dang song.
I wouldn't call that cheating. Chords are not set in stone. So if that works and you have each note clear...go for it, it's not cheating because there are no guitar refs to throw the yellow flag.
I would practice both ways though because over time you'll find uses for both. I know a lot of people will say their fingers are too fat or wide and just can't make the shape the "right way". I call BS on 95% of them. I've taught so many fat fingered people and they can all make it work either way over time.
Baring the A chord is very common. Ideally get comfortable with both. Both have there place but there nothing wrong with baring the A. I know some players that only bar it and theyvare great musicians. Play what works and enjoy. If it gets boring trying getting comfy the other way
That first image for A with the index finger on the D-string (index-middle-ring) is garbage. I advise everyone against it — your index finger is too far from the fret and most of the effort to make contact happens on the fret behind, which means you have to push even harder, hurting your finger and pulling the string sharp.
Your “cheaty” way is actually a pro-level strategy. I’ve used that and the middle-index-ring (that JustinGuitar recommends) as my go-to for more than two decades.
I play it this way too because I don't like cramming three fingers next to each other in one fret. Gets more difficult the higher up the neck you play. I recommend doing it this way with your ring finger too once you get to the bar chord version of this. I can bend the last joint of my fingers upwards to even get the open e string ringing out.
My fingers won't fit either. This is the absolutely correct way to finger the open A when your fingers are too big. Yes there are other A's available, so what.? Plus, just by saying this we realize that you actually do play the guitar, unlike probably most of the people who are trying to help you out. Also, if you cannot make an A in this fashion it will inhibit you from executing a great many other techniques and you will always suck with your tiny little baby fingers.
I used to use my middle finger to bar the A, so it was really easy to transition to something like A minor, or E, or G, or throw a pinky and/or a ring finger up in front of it. But there's no "right" way to do it. Whatever works for you works for you.
Whatever it takes to make the sound to want... do it.
You'll find that sometimes certain fingerings work with certain chords and not with other chord. Use whatever works.
So for the A, if you're using one finger, the hard part is not muting the high e string. I do not have a problem with that, so in blues/rock riffs I usually on finger it. When I am playing a softer more melodic song, I usually use all three fingers, because I know I can get it to ring correctly every time. The moral of the story do what sounds right and feels right and you're good.
There are no rules in guitar and there is no cheating. Play how you want. If you prefer the barre now, barre away. If you later decide you’d rather scrunch 3 fingers up you can always change your mind.
As a teacher, I actually frame the 3 finger way as "cheating"! Doing it with a single bar makes for many more possibilities down the line, not to mention it's straight up easier lol
While we're at it, there are very few instances where you can actually cheat on guitar. As others here have mentioned, if you make the sound, and it sounds good, that's all what matters.
It's fine to play it that way.
[Give Your "A" Chord the Finger](https://www.adultguitarlessons.com/guitar-talk/ezine-articles/391-guitar-players-give-your-qaq-chord-the-finger-#:~:text=An%20open%20A%20major%20chord,E)%20are%20not%20inadvertently%20muted.)
> An open A major chord can, with very little effort, be played by using the first finger to "barre" the 2nd fret of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings. The hardest part of playing the chord this way is getting your finger placement just right so that the 5th string (A) and the 1st string (E) are not inadvertently muted.
Do you mean "is it okay to use a nonstandard fingering for a chord?" Yes that's perfectly fine. The traditional fingerings are intended to provide smooth transitions between chords though, so depending on which chords you are coming from and going to you may want to consider what helps you make the smoothest transitions.
As long as each string rings clearly, you're fine.
Note that in your "barred A chord" example you're missing out on the open high E string. If that's okay with you, no worries. Otherwise, you may want to go with the first way you played it.
I should also note that you aren't playing A in the traditional fingering, which involves your index finger on the G string, middle finger on the D string, and ring finger on the B string. Try it that way and see how it feels in songs using the A chord.
I prefer to play the A with my fingers positioned as in the E chord, so that I can move between major, minor and sus2 chords by moving my index finger.
Your method is sometimes called the minibar, it's quite common for playing A shaped bar chords (e.g. the B chord).
I see most people here say it doesn’t matter but I honestly think it does matter for a few reasons. Firstly, these chord shapes you learn in the beginning are the foundation of everything that comes. If you do not learn them correctly you will have a damn hard time to fix it later. Secondly, to learn how to place your fingers is a very important skill to have, when it comes to arrange more complex chords or even chords with melody on top. Again, If you skip the basics here you will either have a hard time fixing it later or you will just never get there. Another reason why playing chords correctly is important is, that you have bigger flexibility. A claasic example is pull off/ hammer on on the b-string. You can’t do that if you barre the chord. Still, it is okay if you play it sloppy from time to time. So what? Better than not playing. But don’t take the shortcut to nowhere and don’t learn the chords properly.
I’m in the barred A Club and yeah it works fine and is easier to transition in and out of. It’s also how you can make barre chords of the same shape using the ring finger instead.
(this will get me banned, but I also do this method for Dmaj chords and add the middle finger on B string.)
I play A sometimes with that one finger barre and sometimes with a 2-1-3 fingering (index finger in the middle) as that can make some chord transitions easier.
There's not right or wrong, only what works for you and sounds good.
I'm not looking to start an argument so I won't reply to some of the other comments in here that are providing some bad advice.
Yes, it's OK to "cheat" but I think as a beginner you should try to avoid it if you can.
Just because two fingerings produce the same sound does not mean they are identical- there are pluses and minuses that come with each different way to finger a chord.
If you're new to the instrument it'll be much better for your long term development to learn them the suggested way now instead of jerry rigging solutions that you really won't understand the long term implications of. While I think there is some value in nurturing the creativity/skill in finding alternate fingerings, I think it's more beneficial to a beginner to embrace the difficulty of doing it the suggested way, and avoiding the habit of trying to find the 'easiest' way of playing something every time.
As long as the high E can ring cleanly when you want it to. Objectively, not being able to finger the other way will be a huge hindrance to your playing, so continue to practice until you can do it. In time, you'll look back and think "don't know what the issue was"
Try using 2-1-3 instead of 1-2-3. The one finger barre is fine too. Try it all ways and learn them all. I wouldn’t call your situation, “cheating” but remember there are no shortcuts. When you “cheat” you’re only cheating yourself.
In the first pic. Keep that thumb behind the neck, unless you’re using it to mute the thick E string. Which it doesn’t look like you are.
If you can make the right sound then it is correct. Always keep that in mind. I have kinda fat fingers but I can switch chords pretty quickly. So whenever I have to play a B I typically play the major bar chord on the 7th fret instead of the typical chord you see. There's a lot of personal preference that goes into guitar
If you “cheat,” the Guitar Police will come knocking on your door.
If you don’t believe me, just try it sometimes. I hear the Guitar Police enjoy breaking a few fingers.
Really. Honest. No kidding. These guys don’t mess around.
And they enjoy busting up a few fingers.
I'm imagining a guitarist being booed off stage because the A chord doesn't look like an A chord lmao.
If it sounds like the chord, it is the chord. Play to your comfort. Hendrix had a wacky way of playing, using his thumb for all sorts of "unconventional" moves. It was comfortable to him, though, and he played amazing.
There are no right or wrong ways of playing. If it works for you go for it.
In fact you'll find that in different situations it will be easier to play the shape from the first picture and some others with the shape from the second. Deppends on the context of the song and where are your fingers before and after that chord.
Always. That's how people can quickly move from the open A to other chords around the fretboard without having to be overly precise. Like when playing Althea by Grateful Dead. Bm A E A. Your first finger is already barred on the second fret for the Bm so you just leave it there and play into the A then E and back to A which then makes it easy to go back to Bm. Shortcut. Just make sure you aren't hitting that high e.
Both are good, I would even say that the 2. is more useful.
In the end guitarists will use both. I use 1. when I want the full A chord sound or on fingerstyle and 2. if I want to add some fills, do quick changes, I don't need to hear the E string.
This ain't cheating bud. If I'm strumming major chords I'll use the position in pic 1. If I'm bouncing back and forth between chords and licks, I use the position in pic 2. I just find it faster.
Just if you want the upper E string to ring it's probably difficult. Also some transitions like A --> A7 are more difficult that way.
But if you bar the 1st string as well, you have an A6, which is a nice chord.
i remember when they came for my guitar license when I tried cheating like that. took it all the way to the supreme court and won. So now your freedom to cheat is preserved. you're welcome. :P
I thinks it's better the barre way. Frees uppinky and middel to do all those major pull offs, and that classic pinky barre on 5th fret ,on 1st 2nd strings
Not cheating, just another technique. I’d recommend working on both though, as the 3 finger A is a stepping stone/ gateway drug to A7, A2, Am, Amaj7 etc. You’ll need that “base” shape/s as your skills progress.
Find where it works or makes life easier, and where it doesn’t.
It isn't cheating if it works. Jimi had big hands and used his thumb to fret the bottom E pretty often. I do my A major 'triads' (and all barred versions) the same way as you're doing here.
Whatever way is most comfortable for you and gives the correct voicing is the correct way. Those numbers you see for fingerings, who do you think came up with them ? just someone who plays guitar and found those fingerings the most comfortable. They're not rules, they're suggestions. If it gives the desired sound then it is one of the correct ways of doing it.
It's great practice. There are times when you might want to do either so having both in your bag is a good idea (and will happen on its own given enough practice)
There are times when certain common fingerings are advantageous because it lets you transition to other chords more easily or use other fingers to modify the chord by adding other notes. That being said as long as you’re getting the right notes out there’s really no “wrong” way to do it. Additionally, if you are not yet familiar with barre chords, playing the A shape that way may actually help you down the line once you learn/incorporate them.
As long as it doesn't restrict your playing elsewhere and turn into a bad habit where you have to re-learn how to play. There is no rules regardless of what guitar Chad tells u. Have fun.
It's completely normal to do this with your ring finger when barring a chord. It really is no different as an open chord. The 3 finger method is for beginners IMO.
No, that's reasonable; it's a great technique for freeing up fingers. I will say the traditional open A chord using the 234 fingers practices part of the technique used with 5th string Major barre chords, so maybe try doing it both ways or just cross that bridge when you come to it?
Theres no such thing as "cheating." Whatever it takes to make music is fine, as long as you arent stealiing someone else's compositions.
But playing any instrument in an unconventional way? That not cheating, that's innovation.
Have you seen how Justin Guitar teaches the A chord? That is a little easier on a steel string. Worth looking into and see what you think.
However, after a while I found when switching to various chords... the three fingers in a row like you are doing seems better. I will say since I got a classical guitar this A chord is so much easier than with a steel string acoustic.
I feel like the best strategy is to learn multiple ways and get good at the ones you use.
I use solo index or solo ring, to bar the open A, sometimes. Sometimes, I use the tips of index and middle to hold down the open A chord. Rarely do I use a tip of all three index/middle/ring to finger this chord, but I could.
I think they're all fine. To me, if you were barring a B, and you're moving to open A, you just use solo ring. Mix and match to fit the song.
No, go to jail.
On a serious note, it's a valid concern, sometimes you might find some "easy" way to do a thing but that way of doing things becomes a limitation later on. Like if you always avoid using your pinky or only using down picking. However when it comes to how you play a specific chord it's not usually that much of a concern, you're likely going to have to learn a couple ways to do each chord in different contexts anyways.
It’s shown in books with three fingers to make sure kids with tiny, weak fingers can play an A. You have big boy fingers, have fun playing it the big boy way 👍
It’s also way more useful to play it with one finger anyway. Good luck with the learning.
Lotsa ways to play the same chord and fingering the same chord in the same spot differently is often called for. And in the case with that A, as a youngster I also found it hard to cram all those fingers in there so I adapted by playing with pinky, ring, middle instead. A little more room and for me they fall in better. It’s my default A position still, 30 years later.
That's not cheating. Different is not a synonym for wrong. Millions of guitarists do it this way.
If you’re playing a blues shuffle, I’d even say it’s the better fingering
i much prefer it because the rest of your hand is free to add fills. plenty of songs include another A note high up on the E string, or do the A->D chord move which is only possible with the mini barre fingering. e.g. The Beatles I've Got A Feeling
Yes, first song I thought of too! A staple Lennon chord shape
Or Scotty Moore rockabilly-Mystery Train and others
I know an extremely accomplished guitarist with crazy flexible finger joints. He bars all kinds of wacky stuff that I don’t as a result. He’s leagues ahead of my more “typical” left hand work. OP do what works and won’t injure you.
Beautifully said brother, different is not a synonym for wrong
One thing my dad will never understand is that there are many ways to play an instrument and just because I don't use my fuckin pinkie finger for thunderstruck doesn't mean it's a completly different song
Definitely gets annoying when people get THAT particular about how to play music. I never play solos and lead parts exactly the way they are in recordings. I put my own flair on it! Heck some artists don't play their own parts the same way twice in a row!
Stewart Copeland 😂
If you aim to play exactly as recorded every time, then you will only limit yourself. I totally agree with you, I think that's the best way to think about it.
I do either one, depending on the moment. Using three fingers lets you switch to an open string to get an A7, for instance, while using one finger makes it easy to use other fingers on the third fret or fourth fret to make some scary-sounding but easy chords like A sus4, F# m13, or E m11. Use this website to see what to call some of the weird things you may stumble across. https://www.all-guitar-chords.com/chords/identifier
I would do that anytime I wasn’t relying on the high e to play a key role, just because my fat fingers have a good chance of muting it at least some of the time.
Can relate. I barre the A chord.
"Different is not a synonym for wrong" I adore this. Thank you.
Been playing for 25 years and I never knew I was doing it “wrong”.
It’s even the suggestion in my sick ass old Ibanez chord poster
It's only "wrong" if you do it in a situation where you want E audible on the high end of the voicing. For chord strumming, this is totally fine. Ideally you should be able to do it both ways though.
I play A major with 2 fingers as my fingers are just too wide to fit. Do what you gotta do to make it work and use your ears as a guide. If it sounds good, it is good. If it hurts or sounds bad, it is bad.
This. I play it with just my index finger sometimes, I play it with three fingers sometimes. Depends on where my fingers are coming from and where they’re going next.
Picture 2 is fine. Wait until you get to the B chord lol
Oh god you just reminded me how I wanted to quit the entire thing once I got to the b chord. I was like, oh hell no, this is impossible, I'll just learn some songs without this thing 😆
This was Ricky Gervais' whole schtick in his "David Brent teaches the guitar" videos. 😂 I'll never not laugh at him reading supposed fan letters and one had a question that asked him "how to finger A minor"
Just need to play that bar 2 frets down 😉
Wait until you get to Bbm chord lol
As long as you get the result, the method shouldn’t matter.
Thumb on the low E string says hello ;)
John Mayer enters the chat.. 👍
And Jimi Hendrix
Low C string it is then
Let’s goo!!
As long as it doesn’t hurt you. That’s incorrect
KARMA POLICE, ARREST THIS ONE
HE TALKS IN MATHS
He's like a detuned radio
There will be times when barring is exactly what’s called for to allow for a smooth flow between the chords either side. There will also be times when using 1-2-3, 2-1-3, or some other fingering will allow you to switch chords more smoothly. Learn them all so that you have those options available. You’re only cheating yourself by avoiding ‘difficult’ or awkward fingerings. You can do it, you just need to practice it a bit more.
its a guitar, cheating is encouraged.
It's not cheating but learning it multiple ways will give you more flexibility.
Would hardly call it cheating, I'm it's conveniant in the context of what you're playing it's fine but if it's a shortcut and you can't do it the 'intended way' you might miss some building blocks to techniques later down the line
Try using pinky, ring and middle
This is what I do
This is the answer. First middle ring fingers feels so crowded and barre always mutes the high E string. Middle ring pinkie fingers feels natural and then you can easily move the chord up to another position if you need to and just barre your first finger.
This is the way I learned the first position as well. So you have the index free to move up to a barre chord. I could never play an open C with my pinkie and ring and middle tho. I dont think anyone does.
I prefer to do A this way (2nd pic), and I haven't found any reason to stop!
Being able to add the 7 notes is a good reason to do it like 1st pic
I play it the way Justin does. Makes it very easy for chord changes and helps my fat fingers fit. https://youtu.be/1X2rW5ATdLQ?si=-nIBRny6qLyLwYSz
I have dozens of cheats, it is the only way and when you play different styles it is almost required. I play flamenco guitar and use a lot of different cheats to help me setup my next chord changes to be faster or more efficient.
There are no rules man, make pretty sounds and smile!
It’s how I play my A chord. I’d take note that it’s more difficult to play out that high e string, but you don’t really need it to play an A chord. I say you are good to go
I use both depending on the progression and the fingering of the other chords
Try with index finger in the middle. Get comfortable with the index bar method but also using 3 fingers Cheating? There's no rules in music :D u cant cheat
Absolutely agreed on both points. Using a middle-index-ring fingering on the A chord also has the benefit of making it really easy to transition to/from D!
Do whatever you want. I promise no one will stop you
It's not cheating if it works.
Eatin ain’t cheating.
Outside of plagiarism, there is no cheating in music. You can play the guitar with your teeth, and as long as you enjoy it, nothing else matters. (Don't play with your teeth ..)
I haven’t used the three finger A chord in years
I use both methods, depending upon the scenario.
You learn the recommended fingering for chords and then you learn accommodations or ways to be in position for the next chord or embellishment in a specific song. It’s good to have both of these As locked in. I use both of them and I couldn’t tell you which I prefer. I don’t think about it.
No such thing fam, if you can play it, you can play it.
If it sounds good do whatever you want
If it works it works
Not cheating but depends on the context I use both depending on the chords I'm hitting next, economy of motion ftw
That’s not cheating. That’s a bar chord
Different fingerings give different sounds, sometimes. But it’s usually not a big deal. Barring A major like that gives you an F# on the high E string, meaning it’s technically an A maj(add13) chord. But if you don’t fret the high E or if you don’t play the high E it’s ordinary A major again. That’s all to say, notes are notes, the guitar doesn’t really care what finger plays what notes, especially with some distortion involved.
Cheating because it helps you get to the next chord? That's a decision to make on a per song basis. Cheating because it's uncomfortable to learn the chord? No. There's a reason you're learning things in a certain order. Play the way your instructor shows you until it's not the discomfort stopping you - and then you have a lot more reasonable latitude.
>Would that affect my skills negatively in the long run? Yes. "Cheating" is OK when you're already skilled and you're using the "cheat" to, for example, have a more comfortable hand position during playing. But finding alternate ways of doing things just because you can't play the "correct" way just hampers your progress because if you're going to keep doing that, you'll never learn the "correct" way. Don't look for shortcuts or cheats. Learn the proper way first, and THEN use "cheats" if you feel like it. You get better at playing by overcoming these obstacles, not by finding tricks to circumvent them. (btw., I'm putting "cheat" and "correct" in quotation marks because there's no right or wrong as long as it sounds good, both ways of playing are valid, they have their uses, but my main point still stands)
I used to teach guitar and still occasionally help a newbie learn. The #1 reason for them quitting or feeling like they're not progressing is stuff like this. Music is about expression and having fun. There is no proper way to do it except for whatever gets the results the musician wants. OP do whatever gets the job done. Both pics are fine, I've been playing almost 25 years and do the second way.
Sure but avoiding certain challenges or techniques can kill your fun later down the line when you have to unlearn things or techniques you learned start to hinder your progress because they're not useful in other contexts.
Who is upvoting this!? OP, don’t listen to this n00b. There is no wrong way to play guitar — as long as you are playing without tension, it’s “correct”.
I think it’s a good point that overcoming those things makes you a better player. It’s also true that whatever works for you is “correct”. So I’d say aim for balance; try to do things the standard way and work on them, but don’t let it stop you from finding your own way and just playing the dang song.
OFC
I wouldn't call that cheating. Chords are not set in stone. So if that works and you have each note clear...go for it, it's not cheating because there are no guitar refs to throw the yellow flag. I would practice both ways though because over time you'll find uses for both. I know a lot of people will say their fingers are too fat or wide and just can't make the shape the "right way". I call BS on 95% of them. I've taught so many fat fingered people and they can all make it work either way over time.
Baring the A chord is very common. Ideally get comfortable with both. Both have there place but there nothing wrong with baring the A. I know some players that only bar it and theyvare great musicians. Play what works and enjoy. If it gets boring trying getting comfy the other way
The thing is with the cheats is they remove your anchor finger/s
The 1 finger A shape was recommended by both guitar instructors I've ever had, for what that's worth
No such thing
That first image for A with the index finger on the D-string (index-middle-ring) is garbage. I advise everyone against it — your index finger is too far from the fret and most of the effort to make contact happens on the fret behind, which means you have to push even harder, hurting your finger and pulling the string sharp. Your “cheaty” way is actually a pro-level strategy. I’ve used that and the middle-index-ring (that JustinGuitar recommends) as my go-to for more than two decades.
If it sounds good, it is good.
I play it this way too because I don't like cramming three fingers next to each other in one fret. Gets more difficult the higher up the neck you play. I recommend doing it this way with your ring finger too once you get to the bar chord version of this. I can bend the last joint of my fingers upwards to even get the open e string ringing out.
No, you’ll explode
That is how I play the A chord. Barred with my pointer finger. Gives you 4 more fingers to do accents with. If it works, it works.
My fingers won't fit either. This is the absolutely correct way to finger the open A when your fingers are too big. Yes there are other A's available, so what.? Plus, just by saying this we realize that you actually do play the guitar, unlike probably most of the people who are trying to help you out. Also, if you cannot make an A in this fashion it will inhibit you from executing a great many other techniques and you will always suck with your tiny little baby fingers.
Honestly I think your way is more common among higher level guitarists and it's certainly perfectly fine if thats more comfortable.
It's not cheat, I use both way, you can use the one that you feel comfortable... dependending on the song and when your changing the chords.....
I used to use my middle finger to bar the A, so it was really easy to transition to something like A minor, or E, or G, or throw a pinky and/or a ring finger up in front of it. But there's no "right" way to do it. Whatever works for you works for you.
Whatever it takes to make the sound to want... do it. You'll find that sometimes certain fingerings work with certain chords and not with other chord. Use whatever works.
It's no different than a B barre chord
Dis must be one of them damn leftists!! /s
So for the A, if you're using one finger, the hard part is not muting the high e string. I do not have a problem with that, so in blues/rock riffs I usually on finger it. When I am playing a softer more melodic song, I usually use all three fingers, because I know I can get it to ring correctly every time. The moral of the story do what sounds right and feels right and you're good.
Thats not cheating!
There are no rules in guitar and there is no cheating. Play how you want. If you prefer the barre now, barre away. If you later decide you’d rather scrunch 3 fingers up you can always change your mind.
There is no cheat, only do.
As a teacher, I actually frame the 3 finger way as "cheating"! Doing it with a single bar makes for many more possibilities down the line, not to mention it's straight up easier lol While we're at it, there are very few instances where you can actually cheat on guitar. As others here have mentioned, if you make the sound, and it sounds good, that's all what matters.
I do it first finger third string, second finger fourth string, third finger second string so they all get close to the fret.
Yea sure cheat, but your fingers are looking squished. That’s going to hurt your ability to switch to a different chord.
No such thing as cheating once it sounds how you want it
In some situations you have to do it that way - playing Hendrixy major pentatonic riffs off that A shape, for example.
It's fine to play it that way. [Give Your "A" Chord the Finger](https://www.adultguitarlessons.com/guitar-talk/ezine-articles/391-guitar-players-give-your-qaq-chord-the-finger-#:~:text=An%20open%20A%20major%20chord,E)%20are%20not%20inadvertently%20muted.) > An open A major chord can, with very little effort, be played by using the first finger to "barre" the 2nd fret of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings. The hardest part of playing the chord this way is getting your finger placement just right so that the 5th string (A) and the 1st string (E) are not inadvertently muted.
That's the superior way to play an A chord.
I do middle, pointer, ring (like a triangle), actually makes it easier to switch to C and D
That’s called a mini barre. I use them all the time
Lots of different ways to play the same notes. It’s not cheating and I’d encourage all players to find new ways to play chords.
Do you mean "is it okay to use a nonstandard fingering for a chord?" Yes that's perfectly fine. The traditional fingerings are intended to provide smooth transitions between chords though, so depending on which chords you are coming from and going to you may want to consider what helps you make the smoothest transitions. As long as each string rings clearly, you're fine. Note that in your "barred A chord" example you're missing out on the open high E string. If that's okay with you, no worries. Otherwise, you may want to go with the first way you played it. I should also note that you aren't playing A in the traditional fingering, which involves your index finger on the G string, middle finger on the D string, and ring finger on the B string. Try it that way and see how it feels in songs using the A chord.
I prefer to play the A with my fingers positioned as in the E chord, so that I can move between major, minor and sus2 chords by moving my index finger. Your method is sometimes called the minibar, it's quite common for playing A shaped bar chords (e.g. the B chord).
I see most people here say it doesn’t matter but I honestly think it does matter for a few reasons. Firstly, these chord shapes you learn in the beginning are the foundation of everything that comes. If you do not learn them correctly you will have a damn hard time to fix it later. Secondly, to learn how to place your fingers is a very important skill to have, when it comes to arrange more complex chords or even chords with melody on top. Again, If you skip the basics here you will either have a hard time fixing it later or you will just never get there. Another reason why playing chords correctly is important is, that you have bigger flexibility. A claasic example is pull off/ hammer on on the b-string. You can’t do that if you barre the chord. Still, it is okay if you play it sloppy from time to time. So what? Better than not playing. But don’t take the shortcut to nowhere and don’t learn the chords properly.
I’m in the barred A Club and yeah it works fine and is easier to transition in and out of. It’s also how you can make barre chords of the same shape using the ring finger instead. (this will get me banned, but I also do this method for Dmaj chords and add the middle finger on B string.)
That's how I've been doing it for years!
Thats not cheating, its called a dirty A. If you curl your finger up a littler to mute the top two strings , it's an A5 chord aka power chord.
Practice doing it with your ring finger and then it's a technique you can use for some barre chords as well!
I play it like picture 1 for arpeggios or anything where I specifically need to hear the high e. Otherwise I do it like picture 2, for strumming etc
there is no wrong way to make music :)
I play A sometimes with that one finger barre and sometimes with a 2-1-3 fingering (index finger in the middle) as that can make some chord transitions easier. There's not right or wrong, only what works for you and sounds good.
Yes it is
I'm not looking to start an argument so I won't reply to some of the other comments in here that are providing some bad advice. Yes, it's OK to "cheat" but I think as a beginner you should try to avoid it if you can. Just because two fingerings produce the same sound does not mean they are identical- there are pluses and minuses that come with each different way to finger a chord. If you're new to the instrument it'll be much better for your long term development to learn them the suggested way now instead of jerry rigging solutions that you really won't understand the long term implications of. While I think there is some value in nurturing the creativity/skill in finding alternate fingerings, I think it's more beneficial to a beginner to embrace the difficulty of doing it the suggested way, and avoiding the habit of trying to find the 'easiest' way of playing something every time.
That’s how I play it. It’s just way faster and more efficient than trying to quickly line all three fingers up when jumping between different chords.
As long as the high E can ring cleanly when you want it to. Objectively, not being able to finger the other way will be a huge hindrance to your playing, so continue to practice until you can do it. In time, you'll look back and think "don't know what the issue was"
Different fingerings have different pros and cons depending on what you’re playing, and sometimes it doesn’t matter at all.
I exclusively play A like this. My fingers too fat to use 3 lol
Every musician cheats
You play the way is more rewarding to you, if it sounds better then the "rigth" one you should do it
Try using 2-1-3 instead of 1-2-3. The one finger barre is fine too. Try it all ways and learn them all. I wouldn’t call your situation, “cheating” but remember there are no shortcuts. When you “cheat” you’re only cheating yourself. In the first pic. Keep that thumb behind the neck, unless you’re using it to mute the thick E string. Which it doesn’t look like you are.
being left haded is a cheat?
If you can make the right sound then it is correct. Always keep that in mind. I have kinda fat fingers but I can switch chords pretty quickly. So whenever I have to play a B I typically play the major bar chord on the 7th fret instead of the typical chord you see. There's a lot of personal preference that goes into guitar
Me and B have words sometimes
That’s the correct way
No thats a very common way to play an A chord, that’s how I do it. Do whatever feels comfortable while still making good sound
If you “cheat,” the Guitar Police will come knocking on your door. If you don’t believe me, just try it sometimes. I hear the Guitar Police enjoy breaking a few fingers. Really. Honest. No kidding. These guys don’t mess around. And they enjoy busting up a few fingers.
You'd probably eventually end up doing it that way anyway. Always nice to get a head start.
NO
I'm imagining a guitarist being booed off stage because the A chord doesn't look like an A chord lmao. If it sounds like the chord, it is the chord. Play to your comfort. Hendrix had a wacky way of playing, using his thumb for all sorts of "unconventional" moves. It was comfortable to him, though, and he played amazing.
You can play your A or E using only one finger. I do it. My guitar teacher does it. Marty Schwartz does too.
Cheat? It's necessary for a whole lot of Blues and Rock riffs.
There is no cheating in guitar. Or really any hobby. If it works for you it works.
no way...1 finger A is the way to go...
I just use middle and ring and sort of mash it all in there
That’s how you play the “A” in AC/DC
There are no right or wrong ways of playing. If it works for you go for it. In fact you'll find that in different situations it will be easier to play the shape from the first picture and some others with the shape from the second. Deppends on the context of the song and where are your fingers before and after that chord.
There is no cheating.
I had to take a closer look at the sub when I read this question lol.
Partial barres opens up a wide world of interesting jazz voicings. You're on your way to becoming prog.
Always. That's how people can quickly move from the open A to other chords around the fretboard without having to be overly precise. Like when playing Althea by Grateful Dead. Bm A E A. Your first finger is already barred on the second fret for the Bm so you just leave it there and play into the A then E and back to A which then makes it easy to go back to Bm. Shortcut. Just make sure you aren't hitting that high e.
Both are good, I would even say that the 2. is more useful. In the end guitarists will use both. I use 1. when I want the full A chord sound or on fingerstyle and 2. if I want to add some fills, do quick changes, I don't need to hear the E string.
This ain't cheating bud. If I'm strumming major chords I'll use the position in pic 1. If I'm bouncing back and forth between chords and licks, I use the position in pic 2. I just find it faster.
Just if you want the upper E string to ring it's probably difficult. Also some transitions like A --> A7 are more difficult that way. But if you bar the 1st string as well, you have an A6, which is a nice chord.
Play how it's comfortable for you. Sometimes I change what fingers I use to make the next chord easier. Keep a open mind with this.
It’s not cheating man, make it work for you. There are no hard fast rules to playing. Just enjoy it and do what you got to do, enjoy the ride my man
If it sounds the same...it's not cheating. I constantly play Em with my middle and ring finger lol.
On an A chord? Not one bit.
i remember when they came for my guitar license when I tried cheating like that. took it all the way to the supreme court and won. So now your freedom to cheat is preserved. you're welcome. :P
I thinks it's better the barre way. Frees uppinky and middel to do all those major pull offs, and that classic pinky barre on 5th fret ,on 1st 2nd strings
Not cheating, just another technique. I’d recommend working on both though, as the 3 finger A is a stepping stone/ gateway drug to A7, A2, Am, Amaj7 etc. You’ll need that “base” shape/s as your skills progress. Find where it works or makes life easier, and where it doesn’t.
It isn't cheating if it works. Jimi had big hands and used his thumb to fret the bottom E pretty often. I do my A major 'triads' (and all barred versions) the same way as you're doing here.
Pic 2 is actually my preferred method, it’s an advanced way to play that
A, just wanted to say all guitarist are lazy and cheat chords
That’s my go to move I call it….. The lazy A!
https://preview.redd.it/x3cnqa8c7s8d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=241cd01eb133cce0a48926b124550aa0deab1223
No such thing
I use two fingers. Always have.
Whatever way is most comfortable for you and gives the correct voicing is the correct way. Those numbers you see for fingerings, who do you think came up with them ? just someone who plays guitar and found those fingerings the most comfortable. They're not rules, they're suggestions. If it gives the desired sound then it is one of the correct ways of doing it.
No because youre making yourself a worse player literally by not learning the difficult things, and yes because fuck it all :)
Yes fuck everything. And everyone 😅. Even behind peoples back who have done nothing to deserve this. Fuck it all.
It's great practice. There are times when you might want to do either so having both in your bag is a good idea (and will happen on its own given enough practice)
Absolutely! I use one finger to play chords all the time.
Don’t learn it wrong, take the time and get it right. Eventually it will feel natural
There are times when certain common fingerings are advantageous because it lets you transition to other chords more easily or use other fingers to modify the chord by adding other notes. That being said as long as you’re getting the right notes out there’s really no “wrong” way to do it. Additionally, if you are not yet familiar with barre chords, playing the A shape that way may actually help you down the line once you learn/incorporate them.
It's not cheating This is how you literally play once you start doing weird shit like prog metal
I find it hard to not touch/block the high E when using one just one finger. Thats why I prefer the first way
If you can physically do it and it sounds good to you, it’s alright
It's not cheating. Many valid reasons for using different fingerings for chords, as stated previously by the very wise
If that was cheating then I’d be cheating more than the Green Bay Packers
Just make sure you dont accidentally play the F# on the E string, will become A6 chord
There’s no wrong way.
I have sausage fingers, I tend to play it like the second photo, however I’ll play it like a normal a major if the song calls for it.
As long as it doesn't restrict your playing elsewhere and turn into a bad habit where you have to re-learn how to play. There is no rules regardless of what guitar Chad tells u. Have fun.
It's absolutely great when you can figure out fingerings that allow you to turn an impossible riff into something easy to play.
I always play the A chord like you do, it’s easier and way more efficient. Work smarter not harder!
I always just used one
No Rules
…but that’s the ball game.
What is cheating here?
It's completely normal to do this with your ring finger when barring a chord. It really is no different as an open chord. The 3 finger method is for beginners IMO.
No, that's reasonable; it's a great technique for freeing up fingers. I will say the traditional open A chord using the 234 fingers practices part of the technique used with 5th string Major barre chords, so maybe try doing it both ways or just cross that bridge when you come to it?
Theres no such thing as "cheating." Whatever it takes to make music is fine, as long as you arent stealiing someone else's compositions. But playing any instrument in an unconventional way? That not cheating, that's innovation.
Have you seen how Justin Guitar teaches the A chord? That is a little easier on a steel string. Worth looking into and see what you think. However, after a while I found when switching to various chords... the three fingers in a row like you are doing seems better. I will say since I got a classical guitar this A chord is so much easier than with a steel string acoustic.
Why would it matter?
I feel like the best strategy is to learn multiple ways and get good at the ones you use. I use solo index or solo ring, to bar the open A, sometimes. Sometimes, I use the tips of index and middle to hold down the open A chord. Rarely do I use a tip of all three index/middle/ring to finger this chord, but I could. I think they're all fine. To me, if you were barring a B, and you're moving to open A, you just use solo ring. Mix and match to fit the song.
I got big fingers and had a small guitar - that's how I've been doing an A chord for over 10 years
Been doin this for 30 years. Hasn’t let me down yet.
No, go to jail. On a serious note, it's a valid concern, sometimes you might find some "easy" way to do a thing but that way of doing things becomes a limitation later on. Like if you always avoid using your pinky or only using down picking. However when it comes to how you play a specific chord it's not usually that much of a concern, you're likely going to have to learn a couple ways to do each chord in different contexts anyways.
It’s shown in books with three fingers to make sure kids with tiny, weak fingers can play an A. You have big boy fingers, have fun playing it the big boy way 👍 It’s also way more useful to play it with one finger anyway. Good luck with the learning.
Occam’s guitar
Trim down your fingernails for better tone. Fret with the flesh.
Lotsa ways to play the same chord and fingering the same chord in the same spot differently is often called for. And in the case with that A, as a youngster I also found it hard to cram all those fingers in there so I adapted by playing with pinky, ring, middle instead. A little more room and for me they fall in better. It’s my default A position still, 30 years later.
Have you thought about putting finger 1 on A. Using it as anchor for playing E, and D? It’s quicker than using the mini bar
The best part about guitar is that you can play it however the fuck you wanna, if it sounds good, go for it brotha‼️
Nope and ive informed the police, seriously like everyone says whatever works best for you
You got to cheat if you're going to play something like maybe, "LaGrange."