Can I play an "A" Chord with my middle finger instead of my index Finger???

[GuiTarPlaya]

Can I Play an "A" Chord with my middle finger instead of my Index finger, cuz it says to use ur index, but it is ALOT easyer to Bar notes with my Middle Finger. Im just not sure about if it would be too much work changing chords... PLZ respond.

[Perfect4th]

I would suggest against it. If you use your middle finger you have only two more fingers to work with. Why reduce your options.

If you practice with your index finger it will strenghten and become more comfortable. Many people also want to elimnate using thier pinky, but I couldn't play classical or Van Halen without it.

Peace!

[GuiTarPlaya]

Thnx! Ill keep practicing. Also, could anyone tell me if you can play a major scale starting on Any fret? or just whole notes?

[slaughteredsoul]

Dont u use both fingers for the A chord,index AND middle finger???

[The Fury]

GuiTarPlaya- Yes, how else could you play a G# major scale, or any other sharp or flat scale. Check out the theory and scale lessons.

slaughteredsoul- you can play an A chord with one finger, just barre the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings and mute the 1st string with the same finger.

[GuiTarPlaya]

Thnx for the help, ill keep practicing and studying... !

[Krieselman13]

But I was taught to play the A chord with 3 fingers, my index, middle, and ring. Is this the right way to do it?

[Pezcore]

any way which works is the 'right' way i suppose. personally i just barre with my index finger because it leave me more fingers free to do other stuff, but it took alot of practice to get used to it without damping the high E string.
whatever works for you.

[Tommytoon]

I find it easier personally to do the A with 3 fingers. Being an acoustic player, it frees me up to do pulls and hammers and the like...A to A7 and such. And it was also because I couldn't collapse my finger well enough to hit all 3 strings and not hit the high E....this is until recently.

Whatever way works for you and your style is best...just keep practising and trying.

[Pezcore]

i can play either method equally well, so depends more on what im playing really

[Phil]

I find using three fingers better. Once you can do it right you'll find the index finger will act as a convenient "pivot" point for chord changes. Like, when playing A and shifting to D you only need to move too fingers, the index remains in place and provides support for the change. Then to get E you just slide the index across one fret and move the middle and pinky into place again :) piece of cake, hehe.

oops, forgot to mention how i finger that chord, that method only works if you do this :-

----------
-----R---
-----I----
-----M---
----------
----------

[ferr3t]

Using three fingers is a lot better, you can easily slide right into a D and you you can pull of and hammer on, and sound other chords...i seriously suggest using three fingers...you'll find it much easier to do chord changes within the key.

[slaughteredsoul]

wow phew!! for a while i thought i might as well throw away my guitar if i can't even get an A chord right! but i was right all along :)