Over and over again I see requests for something on the basics of using the GEDmatch.com site. Although I have many many posts about GEDMatch, a set of presentation slides, and a GEDmatch utilities manual (still being updated, sorry Barton) on this site, something even simpler is needed since most ancestry.com DNA testers suffer severe shock on being presented with the no nonsense screens at GEDmatch.
The good news is that professional genetic genealogist Angie Bush has put together an introductory video on GEDmatch which I am embedding here for all of you.
Angie is a molecular biologist as well as a professional genealogist, so is a very qualified genetic genealogist, unlike us passionate amateurs. Better yet, she can explain difficult concepts in plain English! She has a GEDmatch basics guide for sale at a nominal cost on her site at:
http://www.genesandtrees.com/products-and-services.html
She also runs a google+ discussion group named DNA Genetic Genealogy Interest Group:
https://plus.google.com/communities/114217342110393647763
Hi Kitty!
thank you so much for all this information! Unfortunatly, I’m one of those people, who STILL doesn’t get how to calculate %. You say add all the cms above a certain nr and what’s on the X and divide bij 72. But how do I add up all the cms? My first result says : 10.2 CM and the largest is 10.2 I don’t know what I should add up? Hope you can explain!
Best,
Nynke
Nynke –
I really do not use percentages for anything. But take that 10.2 which is the only matching segment and thus the total and then divide it. Spreadsheets are good at that. I thought it was 71 you divided by so I get .14%
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Thanks for the information, I just uploaded and am truly looking for matches
Kitty,
how do i get to the $5.95 material? Not at the genes and trees.
Does immediate donation let me have a more complete understanding of Gedmatch tools immediately at the beginning??
KD –
Angie has taken down the online sale for her guide as it was not cost effective for her to do. However if you use the contact form on her site, I am sure you can arrange to buy it
As to paying for GEDmatch right away, no that will not give you a more complete understanding. Probably wait until you want to use the triangulation tool … There are many posts here that can help your understanding plus a guide in my downloads area.
Kitty
Thankyou for this help.
I am still a little confused regarding how to work out the Percentage match as you didngt mention Ancestry. is this because there are only 2 figures; Autosomal Total and X-DNA Total? I presume I still divide by 71.4?
Yvonne
Apologies, I missed your comment, I do not use percentages much but sure divide by 70 to get an approximate percentage or by 68 to get a more accurate one (divide into total cMs without the X). See http://blog.kittycooper.com/2016/08/michelles-ancestrydna-tips
I must confess that I am totally lost in GEDMATCH and am looking for a guide who can give me some instruction by phone, while I am trying to explore matches. I have listened to Angie’s intro twice but cannot even get started beyond signing on.
I have so many posts here about GEDmatch see http://blog.kittycooper.com/tag/gedmatch
But perhaps this one?
http://blog.kittycooper.com/2016/06/gedmatch-tools-2016/
which links to slides from a presentation that walk you through using GEDmatch
Sigh…why have I only just come across your site! Brilliantly informative and makes GEDMATCH user friendly. Thank you so much I will be sharing this many times.