Guitar Theory - D shape - D chord - Anchor Exercise

In this video, we look at the D-shape up close, and then slide the D-shape all the way down the fretboard, to frets 2 and 3, where it will become the Open D chord.

While we only have our fingers on 3 strings, keep in mind that there is a 4th string right there that is open, and that is the D string.

So in theory, if you play that Open D string, as the lowest note sounded, that string would become your D root note, and this D shaped chord would simply have a different name depending on where you are on the fretboard.

It would be a matter of music theory to go thru and learn all the proper names of these chords, but for today, whats most important is to listen to how they sound.

Also, in this exercise, we do some

open-hand-close-hand exercises,

Where we start with our fingers gently resting on the strings (mute),

and then open all 3 of our fingers, so they just barely come off the strings, so theres a gap between your finger and the string, thats about as big as the gap between the open string and the fret.

Do these open-close hand exercises until you get to where you can lift all 3 fingers at the same time, and put them all back down at the same time, in the right place.

Also, these open-close exercises are good for developing a feel for the minimum grip strength needed to fret notes and make them sound right.

When we are beginners, our fingers are weak, our fingertips are soft, and so we really have to squeeze the strings as hard as possible to fret them good...

But as we play longer, we get stronger, and we no longer need to squeeze as hard as we can.

So you kinda have to re-calibrate your grip strength after you’ve been playing a while.

Do these open-close exercises two different ways.

1) try to make it sound slightly different each time for 100 times. (Pretending mistakes are on purpose)

2) try to make it sound exactly the same each time for 100 times

Lastly, in this exercise, we use the ring finger as an anchor, or pivot, that stays put, while the rest of the fingers move around.

This ring finger anchor, on this particular D chord, is a very important trick for every guitar player to know.

Why?

Because the “3 chord trick”, on guitar, is usually the G-C-D 1-4-5

And that ring finger anchor will stay there for all 3 chords, which could be the entire song.

By having just ONE anchor point, on these particular 3 chords, enables the guitar player to focus on more important things, like singing.

From a songwriting standpoint, its about the most simple way there is of putting your song lyrics to 3 chords

So if you have been following these beginning guitar videos from the start, you should know that you are getting very close to being at the intermediate level.