Hello again, this board must not be too busy since my post from last night was still the last post. Anyhow, I will try another question before I hit Google.

>>>>  does anyone out there know of any books or DVDs that teach basice stretching exercises for the finger and practice regiments for learning chords and then changing chords?? I only know of one from my bass teacher, who is a Ph.D in Music and will also be my guitar teacher after the holidays. I will ask him Monday when I take my son for his violin lesson.

I just hate to keep practicing and doing it incorrectly and then having to learn it all over again ! Maybe I will go over to the intermediate board and see if they have any advice for a newbie.

Please help if you can. Thanks in advance,

Mike

...some people simply use one of those sponge hand-exercise nerf balls to get their fingers "used" to SIMULTANEOUS exercise...then, switch to single-finger exercise to work single fingers.

...however, this does NOT really replicate nor simulate the actual "reach / stretch" encountered on a real guitar neck, which is probably *why* the BEST exercise "tool" is the neck of a real guitar...and simple practice.

...as for *which* fingers to use, unfortunately there's MORE than one way to "make a chord" (see postings)...some fingerings are better suited for rhythm playing while 'other' fingerings are better for melody playing, and still others are best for jazz chordings. For example there are: (a) Cowboy / Folk chords, ie: 6-string C, F and G shapes (predominately at nut); (a) "Grande Barre" chords associated with rock-n-rock; and, (c) "Jazz" chords which typically using only 4-notes.