Anchor Fingers

By Raymund Tamayo

Anchor fingers are essential in making faster chord changes. There will be a separate topic about changing chords down the line, which is a part of your three targets. But since you have already learned about the Em and C chords, it would be best to know about the anchor fingers as early as now.

An anchor finger is the fretting finger that stays in place when you change chords. In the Em-C chord change, the anchor finger is the middle finger pressing the No. 4 string on the second fret.

Keep in mind that not all chord changes have anchor fingers.

Assignment

Practice reading and playing the Em, C, G and D chords one at a time using a single downstrum for each chord. Aside from practicing these chords, continue practicing Exercises 1 and 2 from Session One.

Do them three times a day – one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening – for 15 minutes each time. Do this for the next six days until Session Three.

Practice Tips

1. You need to memorize the basic chords and play them until it is natural. Practice fretting the chords on the fretboard, then lifting them up slightly, before pressing them back again in the same manner. Do this over and over until you get a good grip of it in your memory.

2. You need to be able to play chords with a clear sound. The goal is to get every note of every chord to sound properly. Take time in practicing this. You can apply the same exercise in the previous tip. Fret the chord, pick all the strings, and downstrum once. Then lift your fingers up slightly off the fretboard before pressing back again in the same chord, pick and strum. Do this again and again as well.