A Chords

Hello everyone!

This is my first post to these forums, though I've been reading them a lot. I finally reached an impasse where playing around with the instrument on my own, watching videos, and reading forum posts hasn't been able to answer my question.

I started playing mandolin about two and a half weeks ago. In the last week, I've been using the Greg Horne book and CD since I've read good things about it on this site. I've played through a good portion of the first two and a half chapters, but A chords have been my stumbling block. I can make the E, D and C chords just fine, but, for whatever reason I just can't get the A chords right.

My experiences so far have been as so...I'm hoping one of you may have a tip or trick you've discovered that may help me work through this...if you do, please please share:

(Oh! I should note that I have teeny-tiny sized hands, but adult sized fingers with rounded finger tips. My fingers aren't huge by any means, just not slender either. I should also note that my mando has been professional set up, so it's not the instrument, it's just me failing *sigh*)

- For the A major chord: When I place both first and second fingers onto the second fret of the E and D strings, the stretch to the fourth fret on the A string is nearly impossible. My third finger just doesn't stretch that far down in that direction. I'd just use my pinky finger, but I know later down the line, it goes on another string entirely. Imagining that it just takes some practice at stretching the muscle between the second and third fingers to get it right, I've tried forcing my fingers into position, but when I do this, my pinky finger bends itself downward in a weird manner which isn't terribly comfortable, and I imagine will cause different problems later on.

- For all A chords (including the A5): When putting my the first and second fingers on the second fret of the E and D strings, I can't get the E string to ring. If I get the E string to ring, I can't get the D string to do so, one or the other just goes "thump". I think it's because my fingers are too big to both fit onto the fret...yet...I know adults with adult sized fingers play this instrument, so there must be a way to do this!

Playing around with positioning, I've found that if I bring my thumb around to the backside of the instrument, and then contort my wrist in an unnatural fashion to the point it hurts (in a way that would make a violin player cringe), I can get both of those strings to sound nice...but..common sense tells me that this can't be right.

Alternatively, I can keep my wrist and thumb in comfortable and natural positions and bring the thumb further up around the fret board, but, that makes that stretch for the A major (described above) literally impossible, so I don't think that can be right either.

Anyway, considering that the A chords are found within the first 20 pages of the book I'm using, I kinda think it's likely that these should be "easy" chords to make, and I'm just not understanding something that I should be doing. I keep trying and trying, but I'm at a loss to figure it out, and so I thought I'd ask you nice folks. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks much!

You could try a two finger chord - second fret on G and D. I know that some to the stretches are difficult for me too. I struggle with a F chord and am know practicing a different form. You can play chords in many ways. It is just finding one that works for you, at least this is what I am told.

Lilac...not sure if this will encourage you or not...but it's my belief that chords are just DANG HARD for everyone as we begin to try to make them.

I do know that I'm still working on mostly 2 and 3 finger chords but most of those are significantly easier to make than they were a few months ago.

I've made up index cards of 15 two and three finger chords and most days I practice memorizing and make these chords. They're 'getting there.' Time for me to put in a couple of the easier 4 finger chords. Those seem IMPOSSIBLE to me at this point...but then some of the three finger ones seemed so at first.

Don't mean to downplay how hard this is...but will say that I just think it takes significant time and work to get the chords going.

Karon

A full A major contains A C# and E. An A5 is just the A and the E. If you're Ok with the sound, an A5 can be substituted for an A major chord. The A5 can be played on 4 strings or just 2 or 3 strings. A major can be played on 3 or 4 strings. What that means is that you can strum just hitting the top or bottom strings or you can mute a string by leaning into it with a finger on an adjacent string and still have a chord.

The top G sting has an A at the second fret and a C# at the sixth fret. The D string has an E at the second fret and an A at the seventh fret. The A string is an A open and a C# at the fourth fret. The E (bottom) string is an E open and an A at the fifth fret.

Combine them anyway that works for you. Just strumming the bottom 2 strings open gives you an A5.

Edit: I should add that when I fret A major I barre the G and D strings at the second fret with just my forefinger, use my third finger on the A string fourth fret and my pinky on the E string fifth fret.

Thanks everyone for the responses!

I'll keep practicing and I think it eventually should come more naturally. As Karon mentioned, chords are likely just hard for everyone as they begin. My brother, who is an excellent guitar player -- but doesn't know a thing about mandolin -- said something similar when I cried to him.

I'll try the two of your advice, Nanami and Bing, and practice the two finger chords. I've had some troubles with the chord on just the G and D string, but, I think it should come with time. Either that or I'll work on building up the strength to accurately make the barre chord. Actually the barre chord, in the long run, sounds like it could be easier than the two finger chord since I can barre two strings with the index finger, not worry about shoving the second finger into the narrow space on the fret, and then when placing the third finger on the A string, the pinky has somewhere to go (on the E string) besides squeezing itself out of the way.

Try 9700 using your first two fingers, leaving the E&A strings to ring open. The Cafe has a great page of 2 finger chords you can download.

Also try these. http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...-for-Beginners

Cool chord chart! Thanks for the link! I printed that baby out. It's so nice that it's all on one page. Goodness that should come in handy when I feel like practicing with making chords.

Yeah it is a nice chart. I like the two finger chords but sometimes the three finger chords sound better. My pinkie is still not ready to play yet. Check out the tips and tricks forum here for a lot of good information.

I think that the ringing open chords sound great on mandolin. I don't used the "chop" too much when I play, since I'm not usually playing bluegrass. I play it in a more open old timey way strumming almost like a guitar. Chords on mandolin are a LOT harder to play than on a guitar. I've played guitar for 16 years, so I know.