Alternate chord fingerings

Welcome to the madhouse.

There is no absolutely always correct way to finger a chord. The fingering that works for you is the best way to do it. And I don't always finger the same chord the same way all the time. I try to find the most efficient way to play it and make the change to the next chord. That means I sometimes use a fingering that's not my standard approach.
So you do what works best for you in any given situation.

I think as long as you don't break your fingers and as long as it sounds good, you're ok!
In this particular case (Gmajor), you could use your ring finger on the third fret of the B string. still the same chord but just a different voicing (I hope this is the right term?)
I'm doing it this way, too.

You might try different methodes of a chord fingering and see how they relate to other chords. sometimes a different fingering can relly decrease the difficulty of switching chords.

that's atleast my little experience and the impression I got from other people here on the forum.

hope this helps,
motz

my cousin uses his middle, ring and pinky to finger a G because he finds it easier to get to a C from that position.. incase you were wondering..

i to was playing the high e string with my ring finger it was a lot more comfortable for me but my instructor has me working on use my pinky .for a easier change to the c chord.but i seem to pull the low e string down when i reach for the high e with my pinky :oops: . guess thats why they call it pratice

It depends on the context. The 'best' fingering for a chord doesn't depend on the chord itself, it depends on what comes before and after it.

For instance, if you're changing from D to A, and using fingering 1-3-2 for the D chord and 1-2-3 for the A chord, you're moving all three fingers. Substitute the 2-1-3 fingering for A and you're only moving two.

If you're going to A from E, the 2-1-3 fingering means you're sliding the index finger on the G string and moving the other two... while 1-2-3 means moving all three. Another viable option here is 2-3-4, where your 2nd and 3rd fingers move as a 'block'.

If you're going to A from B7, the 2-1-3 fingering requires moving them all... but 1-2-3 allows you to slide your index finger along the D string.

The chord you're going to will have a similar effect on what the 'best' fingering is - in general, the fingering that leads to the least motion in finger placement, thumb repositioning, and hand rotation will give you the most fluid results in your playing.

I use more fingerings of the open A voicing than any other I can think of:

1-2-3, 2-1-3, 2-3-4, 1-1-1, 3-3-3... I've even used 1-1-2 to speed up a change. The better you understand the fingerboard options, the more flexible you'll be.

IMHO, learning alternate fingerings is a GREAT thing......... it took me FOREVER to learn to move everything over one finger in order to make it easier to go from a plain chord to a barre. So, now, if I know there aren't going to be any barres, I use the standard fingering, but, if I know a barre (or several barres) are coming, I know to use the alternate fingering before I get to the barre so that my index finger is free to barre. (Plus, my pinkie is now a lot stronger and has a much better callous on it than it did when all I was doing was standard fingering). Hope that makes sense.

If, for example, you're playing a G chord with the fingering most teachers will show you...using fingers 1,2 and 3.....try changing to a G7, you'll find all your fingers have to move....but if you play the G chord with the 2,3 4 fingering, you'll find it a lot easier to play the G7 or even the G sus 4 chords....

Vic

Oh, and as Twisted Fingers pointed out to me, it's also a lot easier to change to a C chord with the 2-3-4 fingering....

I started using the alternate method for the G chord just to make the change to the c chord faster. My hands are kind of small, and it didn't take that long to learn, now I prefer using the pinky on the 1st sting. Learn both, it helps.