There are other ways your left hand can fret notes. You can also use the pads of your finger, or the entire length of your finger. The basic principles of using the tips of your fingers still apply though! Remember to apply enough pressure to the strings to hold them down against the frets in order to get a good, clear sounding note when you pick or strum the strings (with your right hand).

Not too much pressure, not too little, just enough!

Again, regardless of which part of your left hand fingers you use to fret notes, you should always attempt to get your finger(s) as close to the fret as possible without being on top of it. The closer to the fret you can place your finger, the more leverage you can get and as a result the note will sound better and it will be physically easier to play. But, you do not want to be right on top of the fret because that will result in a poor sound.

We are after a controlled, smooth, efficient motion when we fret notes with the left hand.