Anyone play the guitar?

Are you trying to play bar chords straight off?

Practice as much as you can. When you've done that, practice some more and then after that, keep practicing.

I can remember when I started I thought it was impossible to play a C major open chord - but it comes eventually.

2 things I wish I'd done at the start would be to lean open G major with fingers 3,2,4 instead of 2,1,3 'cos it makes the switch to C major much quicker (and that's a very common change) and also to split the learning between sitting and standing - I learnt while sitting and it seems like a while different world when I stand to play.

I find that once you develop a "bad" habit, it's very hard to break. Look out for youtube videos (and websites) by Marty Schwartz and/or Justin Sandercoe - they have some very good beginners stuff and tips there.

I'll chuck a couple of others in - you might find it easier if you "warm up" before playing to loosen up your wrist and fingers - just do some basic chords & strumming.

To start with just concentrate on a few basic chords and changes, e.g. A,D,E or D,A,G and mix up the order. Then move to C,F,G, then do some minor chords. Once you have those mastered, there's an awful lot of songs you can play.

Hold the guitar correctly and it's so much easier its all about the angle of your hand..make sure you angle your hand to the left not direct flat down on the strings
practice bar chords moving up the frets then your halfway there GL

If it's steel strung get light strings to learn on otherwise it could put you off for life

Top tip is make sure your elbow is pointing to the right towards the guitar body if your hand feels comfortable on the frets you have it sussed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNySt2m_pDk
If you get this good give us a call

Place the body in the correct place against your body and lift the neck higher. You'll notice spanish guitarists might event sit with it at a 45' angle and the left hand even up at eye level, it puts less twist on the wrist. The "punk guitarist" with a stupid long strap and holding it like a replacement c*ck may look cool but it makes life harder and you won't see lead guitarists do that, it's basic ergonomics.

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

Been playing a bit of guitar for 20 years on and off.

Still can't play a feckin bar chord

Nice one Jack.

Maybe you need a hat like this chap is wearing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQNFA15W9B4

Carp though I am, I have always found electric guitar easier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBq7XRa6uZM

"This is kinda intermediate stuff" (well it started out that way)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-_q9gcKxjE

Keep doing what you're doing with the open chords but also learn to play 5th chords rooted on the E and A strings ... a very basic movable two (or three if you prefer) fingered shape and the staple of most rock guitar rhythm playing. Relatively easy to master and many, many songs can be played this way. gl

Yes,may turn out to be a bargain fingers crossed

I used to teach guitar, and my income was dependent on ensuring the students kept coming back. As such, I would always start beginners with a `three chord trick`, knowing they could easily master them, and would be enthusiastically strumming along to songs they knew, within the first class. The easiest three chord trick on the guitar is `A`, `D` and `E`. With these three chords, you can play 95% of all Country, Blues, Reggae, Rock`n`Roll songs you`ve ever heard of, as well as countless other songs that don`t fit those categories. Maintaining the enthusiasm is crucial and, having gone from nowhere to being able to play along to so many standards, almost immediately, really helps.

Steel and nylon strings have been mentioned, but I don`t think anyone has explained why; steel strings cut into the fingers of a beginner, and can become painful fairly quickly, most off-putting. The nylon ones won`t do that, but they do produce an entirely different sound. There is a balance to be found, depending on what type of music you want to play, but I`d suggest nylon. As a beginner, even if you want to play heavy metal, you won`t realise that there`s much difference in the sound, but your fingertips will be grateful enough to allow you to get past the painful stage, at which point you switch to steel. Then, be amazed at how different, and better it sounds. If you want to play something like Flamenco, you`ll probably stick with the nylon.

FORGET BAR(RE) CHORDS!!! Far, far too difficult at this stage, you need to stay enthused, and barre chords won`t be doing that yet, they`re for another day.

Don`t know if you`re old enough to remember Status Quo, but they built a very long career on the back of perhaps the simplest bit of guitar playing ever devised. (And not even devised by themselves, it`s been around forever). Teaching, 30 years ago, my pupils all knew them, and their music; therefore, after I`d spent the first 45 minutes of the first lesson teaching them A, D and E, I`d use the last 15 minutes teaching them how to do the Status Quo thing. It`s so simple, and was so instantly recognisable, the pupils would go away delighted with themselves at being already able to play Status Quo. Although all guitarists will know what I mean when referring to it as `the Status Quo thing`, the very same moves are used in untold rock/blues songs as well, you`ll hear it every time you turn on the radio. At risk of repeating myself, but maintaining enthusiasm is crucial, and that worked the trick beautifully.

andoid apps work fine