well that's something normal for everyone, our fingers are not used to be in military shape
so, first the basic position is like
your thumb on one side (in the middle) and the other four fingers opposite, about at the same distance (like you could put a ruler to make them (the fingertip) all stay on top of the ruler. this isn't even guitar related, you can just try it without the guitar.
with the guitar, it takes time, it takes mind control as well, you have to try to control your fingers and sometime's it's hard because another finger is pressing a string, that's when the other fingers go nuts
you can do this extremely slow, just to get your fingers used to respond to your brain.then, in terms of "real" exercices, you can do this. put one finger on each string, the four treble strings. and one finger on each fret.
in terms of tablature it goes like this: (from the 9th to 12th fret)
e 12 (little?finger)
b 11 (ring)
g 10 (middle)
d 9 (index)
a 0
e 0
then, with all sorts of combinations you can find (1=index, 2=middle, 3=ring, 4=little), going from easier to harder ofc, like 1 2, 2 3, 3 4, 1 2 3, 2 3 4,....... 12 (like both at the same time), etc etc..... 13, 14, 24, whatever, 123, 234 etc etc
with these combinations, what you do is. all the fingers rest on the string without pressing it. but they rest on it. then with the finger(s) for the combination you are doing, you press the string, not until the string touches the fretboard, but just a little bit. you do this for a few seconds, then you change combination, etc..
ofc, this isn't stuff that ppl do when they are starting, you don't have to do this, and i only do this occasionally and i only learned about it this year. but even without this, what's important is that you make your mind control your fingers (with time, it will come either way, these things and mind control just help it be more "organized" and "flawless")
and you are right, if you want to play faster you want to put your fingers near the strings, so that they won't "travel" as long (and as slow
). it's not just about being slow or not, it's also about effort that you spare your fingers.when you do this sort of brain exercise, you'll freak out within minutes so don't worry
it really feels like your brain is doing some heavy work hehe. maybe not this one, but if you want i can give you an exercise to do hammers and pulls, after 5 minutes you'll want to shake your hand as if there was a freaky parasite inside it haha.do keep in mind, though, that these exercises are easier for the electric guitar because of the guitar neck, how hard/easy it is to press the strings, how far are the strings from the fingerboard, etc
but in a classical guitar they are annoying!