This is a big one! Probably the most and biggest complaint I get when I asked the question “What is your biggest need or frustration when it come it learning the guitar?”
Most beginners will always say and I mean always – “My biggest frustration would be chord changes, I am very slow changing from one chord to another”
Does this ring a bell for you too???
Before I outline what the problem is, and give a specific solution…I have to say if you don’t overcome this challenge…this specific problem, then nothing else will work for you.
No amount of “YouTube videos” no amount of surfing off the internet will work. The songs you learn will not be properly learnt…because of this underling issue.
There are a number of problems you may have, and it all boils down to guitar technique. So you may want to analysis your guitar technique before we tackle this specific issue on how to change chords faster…
- How do you hold the guitar?
- Do you have correct posture or do you slouch?
- Does your guitar sit straight on your lap or does it sit on an angle?
- What about you’re picking technique?
- Do you hold a pick with two fingers or three?
- Do you even use a guitar pick? (A Must)
These are the sort of questions that need to be answered, especially if you have a major passion for the guitar,and you want maximum results and fast! If you already know the answer to them questions then I am assuming you have generally good guitar technique.
If you don’t I would suggest you seek an expert, a guitar specialist who can guide you to sort your guitar technique out.
It may mean investing time and money, but in the long haul it will be worth it. When learning a skill of this nature its all about the technique and the finer details, and it’s the finer details which will ultimately bring you success.
Ok So I kind of went off in a different path there… to speed up your chord changes four things need to happen:
- The ability to play clean chords
- Knowing how many strings to play for a chord
- Right hand and left hand co-ordination
- Finally the hardest step, the ability to move your fingers in pairs from one chord to the next.
The ability to play clean chords effectively
This is kind of a no-brainier, if you can’t play the chords you desire to play…then it doesn’t matter how fast you change, the chords will not sound natural, and the chord changes will not sound natural.
It’s a bit like speaking a new language, it’s not just enough to learn the words…you have to learn the tonality, the lingo etc… So how do you know you’re playing the chords cleanly???
Simple! When you learn a new chord, play the chord as an arpeggio…in other words pick each string of the chord, so you know that you are playing the chord cleanly.
I have taught this simple strategy for years and works every time. Once you get into this habit, and do this as a warm-up…you will soon improve the way you play chords, and then eventually chord changes.
Knowing how many strings to play for a chord
This is very important!! You must, and I mean you must know how many strings to play for a chord, other wise not only will your chord changes sound awful, but so will your chords.
I know too many guitarists, even performing guitarists who still don’t know how many strings you are suppose to play for certain chord. If you don’t know, find out. Learn guitar tablature, or my new system “Chord (Colour-coded) Diagrams” there you will find out how many strings to play for a chord.
Right hand and left hand co-ordination
Once you have mastered the first two steps, the third step is quite tricky, the ability to improve right-hand and left hand Co-ordination.
So say you can play chords cleanly, and you know how many strings you should play for a chord. But you’re having problems changing from the chord E Minor and G Major.
The next step is to try this simple two-step technique:
- First of all, start strumming the chord E Minor.
- While you change to the chord G Major, keeping strumming with your right without stopping. While you change to the next chord.
This is very counter-intuitive…you will notice a massive difference in your chord changes, and the speed of your chord changes.
You see most beginners’ when they start learning how to play the guitar, there mindset is completely different to say an intermediate or advanced guitarist would have.
When a beginner changes to a chord, they stop everything…the strumming, the picking, finger picking… Everything!! They solely concentrate on their left hand, putting one finger on at a time. I have seen it time and time again.
The ability to move your fingers in pairs, from one chord to the next
Again this is a very counter-intuitive step, and probably the most difficult of the 4 steps. What do I mean by moving your fingers in pairs? I have taught 100’s of beginners who wanted to learn the guitar.
I found the most common denominator how must beginners improved in my personal experience was when they started thinking differently, changed there approach when it comes to speeding up chord changes.
At first it was always same approach when changing chords. “When changing a chord I must stop what I’m doing and change a chord with one finger at a time”…which always seemed like an eternity.
But if you want to really improve the speed of your chord changes, I am going to suggest that you change with two fingers at a time.
Let me give you an example of this:
Let’s use our previous example, say you’re having problems changing from the chord E Minor and G Major.
- You have just started strumming the E Minor chord on the guitar, and while using the previous steps I outlined…you have kept strumming while you’re about to change to the G Major Chord…
- You put your 3rd and 4th fingers together and put them on the High E String and B strings on the 3rd fret.
- Immediately followed by your 1st and 2nd fingers, while putting them on the A string and Low E string on the guitar, on the 2nd and 3rd fret respectively.
That way, with practice you will improve the speed of your chord changes…and improve your overall skill level on the guitar, which will ultimately improve the songs you are learning hands down.
I am hope this helps you… If you any questions on this topic, don’t hesitate to leave a comment.
One Reply
your absolutely right james ..i stop every thing just so i can watch an move my fingers one at a time lol. its a mindset that is very hard to break