RobbieZ
I am always trying to learn to play as well. Unfortunately, some work is required to achieve a semblance of success. And that implies effort and time.
I can recommend you use all your available fingers, if you still have them: That would be four fingers for fretting strings, leaving the thumb out of the equation for now, and then, five fingers to pluck strings.
A basic exercise to get them all working is to play scales. Ugh. Yes, but do master this one:
You start on the bass E string, open string. With successive fingers (first, middle ring, pinky) press down the string at fret 1, 2, 3 and 4, while keeping the fingers at the fret they pressed. This will help to stretch your fingers. As for the picking hand, start with the thumb for the open string, then fingers 1 (fret 1), middle (fret 2), ring (fret 3), pinky (fret 4) on each successive fret. This will teach you to use all five of those.
Repeat on the A string, D string, g string only to fret 3, b string to fret 4, e string to fret 3 (or 4). And then, work it backwards, all the time using all five fingers to pluck the strings - backwards would mean start with pinky, then ring, then middle, then first, then thumb (fret 4, 3, 2, 1, open string).
This is merely running up and down a semi-tone scale.
String 6 (Bass E)
press with finger: open 1 2 3 4
Note: E F F# G, Ab,
pluck with: thumb first middle ring pinky
and so forth for the other strings.
You only go to fret 3 on string 3 (g) because fret 4 would be string 2 open (b).
Unfortunately this will not teach you to use fingers interchangeably on alternate strings or such. But having your fingers able to stretch across four or five frets, is good. Having the skill to use all five fingers to pick when required is good.
Of course, you can run this exercise using a plectrum as well.
I can recommend getting some classical guitar skills down. Playing multiple notes together, stretching across frets and neck. So, if you do get to lessons at some stage, invest in classical guitar lessons as well.
I have not looked at u-tube or videos on the internet, but I am sure there has to be a lot of good stuff to help. Also a lot of bad stuff to not help. If you understand TAB, and can read music, Premier Guitar has a teaching page, with a lot of stuff I have yet to master. Some of it is rather good finger exercises. Lots of theory.
I have downloaded some excercises like this, the one I have in mind is:
Dear 6-String Sensei: How Do I Improve My Chops?
By Lily Maase
premierguitar.com
A lot of stuff on that site.
Have fun.
