G Chord family

Hey Rich, the G family chords are what I think is tripping you up (G, Cadd9, D/F#, and Em7), as opposed to the traditional C, D, and Em. Probably the main issue is with your pinky and ring finger getting that clear sound. If you could solve that problem, then I’m assuming you would be fine with these chords.

Your ring and especially pinky finger will be your 2 weakest fingers, and will naturally be the first to give up and tire you out. But just like with anything, they can be conditioned with regular practice, to build up muscle and callouses in order to press down harder and longer. But the practice needs to be consistent, even just a 15 to 30 minutes every day or two.

Also remember to press down on the sweet spot of the fret (3/4ths of the way up, not in the exact center) and press with the tips of your finger. If you are doing these things and still have rattling or chattering strings, don’t worry about it too much. Don’t let it stress you out. Just accept that you are doing what you can and understand that with time and consistent practice, it will get cleaner and cleaner as the fingers get stronger.

Also, if you’d rather, the Cadd9 can be exchanged with the traditional C, and the D/F# can be exchanged with the traditional D, and the Em7 can be exchanged with the traditional Em. It’s really a matter of personal preference. The Cadd9, D/F#, and Em7 make transitioning between chords easier, which is usually a larger challenge for people. These chords alleviate that problem for the G chord family. If transitions are not so much an issue for you, then you can try using the traditional ones if you’d rather.