You'll Never Get Stuck on a Chord Change Again
You'll Never Get Stuck on a Chord Change Again
Hey guys, Brad Litton from SimpleGuitar.com. This blog post transcribes my YouTube lesson on switching chords by moving all your fingers at once so you don't freeze mid-song.
You know the story. You're playing something special for your wife or your friends. G chord is going great. Then you hit C, your fingers freeze, you move one at a time, the music grinds to a halt, and the moment's gone.
You're not alone. I've been there too.
As adult learners we feel pressure to play well for people we care about. One finger at a time slows everything down, breaks the rhythm, and kills your confidence. Moving all your fingers together is faster, smoother, and keeps the song flowing.
Why One Finger at a Time Kills the Moment
Example: G to C. If you go 1, 2, 3, that clunky transition stops the music dead.
Instead: lift all your fingers and place them down together in the new shape.
G fingering from the lesson: second finger third fret sixth string, first finger second fret fifth string, third finger third fret first string.
Most people lift off G, then drop first, then second, then third onto C — or third then second then first. That's what kills it.
Picture the C in your head first. Then lift all fingers just slightly. Move them together. Land on C together. Visualizing the next shape before you move builds confidence.
Step 1: Chord Squeezes (Each Chord by Itself)
You have to have each chord down independently first.
Make G. Relax all fingers off the strings at once — but keep them in the shape. Don't fling them. Hover over the strings they need. Lightly touch the right frets with no pressure. Then squeeze.
Relax, touch, squeeze. Relax, touch, squeeze.
Do that 50 or 60 times. If you time it, about a minute. Accuracy, not speed. All fingers relax together, touch together, squeeze together.
Do G. Then do C (or whatever you're changing to). G to C is just the example.
Step 2: Change in the Air
G. Lift / relax off. Get fingers in position over C. Touch C. Squeeze. All three fingers for C at the same time — not 1, 2, 3.
It's going to be hard. You can do it. I believe in you.
Trick: spend more time going super slow. It's counterintuitive, but slow shortens the window to fast. Spend more time slow and you'll go fast sooner.
Step 3: Metronome
Phone app, or type "metronome" into Google. Start around 60 BPM. Change each chord on the beat. Speed up as you get better.
If you can do clean changes for a minute and get about 60 changes in a minute, you're going to be good.
Step 4: Put It in a Song
G, C, and D. All three fingers at once onto C. All three at once onto D.
Keep the hand relaxed. Move the fingers as little as you can. Don't fly off the fretboard. Keep it small.
A few minutes a day of squeezes and all-fingers-at-once changes, and you'll be amazed how fast the confidence shows up.
Common Mistakes
- Don't tense up or grip the neck too hard. Extra tension slows you down.
- Don't move without picturing the next chord. You have to know your chords.
- Don't rush before you're accurate. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
If you're struggling, record your hands on your phone, or practice in front of a mirror. Spot the issue. Fix it. Then you won't freeze mid-song.
We work this kind of thing in coaching too — including the Guitar Mastery Circle — with feedback. Start with the squeezes tonight. If you want a simple place to start, grab my free Top 10 Things to Learn on Guitar First at http://simpleguitar.com/top10.
And hang out with other adult guitar players in the Simple Guitar Facebook group: http://facebook.com/groups/simpleguitar.
About the Author
Brad from Simple Guitar helps adult learners play the songs they love without the frustration. Visit simpleguitar.com for more free resources and lessons.
