How to Smooth Out Your Chord Changes
How to Smooth Out Your Chord Changes
Hey guys, Brad Litton from SimpleGuitar.com. This blog post transcribes my YouTube lesson on the factors that go into smooth chord changes — and the exercises that actually get them there.
If you know you need chords, but the changes feel impossible, this is the work.
First: The Chord Has to Be Clean
Before the squeezes: form the chord and pick through each string. You want a clean sound. Get that first.
I often start new students with one finger on C (just the first three strings), then add the second finger, then the third. You can jump into full three-finger C. Do whatever's easier for you.
Full C from the lesson: first finger first fret of the second string, first string open, third string open, second finger second fret of the fourth string, third finger third fret of the fifth string.
Chord Squeezes (Build the Shape as One Unit)
Set a timer for one minute each round. Squeeze all fingers at the same time, relax all at the same time. Not one finger, then the next. The brain needs this as one unit.
Don't race. Count each rep: squeeze, relax. Aim for about 50–60 reps in the minute.
Round 1: fingers stay on the strings. Squeeze hard, then relax (strings go dead, fingers don't leave).
Round 2: when you relax, lift a hair's width off the strings, then squeeze again.
Round 3: lift about a quarter inch. Keep fingers over the strings they play.
Round 4: about half an inch.
Round 5: about an inch.
Round 6: squeeze, then open the hand all the way, then squeeze all fingers down together.
Six minutes. If you're getting ~50 reps each round, that's around 300 times forming that chord. In a song it would take forever to get that many reps. Do this for a few minutes a day on the chord that's giving you trouble — C, G, D, A, E, whatever.
Then add strumming: squeeze, strum, relax. Combine forming it with hitting it.
You still have to use the chord in real songs. This just shortens the window.
The Actual Change (Example: D to G)
Pick the change that's killing you. In the lesson I grabbed the Beatles' "Help" and used D to G, then G to A.
Use a four-finger G so your third finger can stay on the third fret of the second string — that's a common finger between D and G.
Timer, one minute:
- Fretting hand only. D squeeze, G squeeze, D, G. As many as you can. All fingers of each chord as one unit.
- Two or three rounds of that.
- Then strum: clean D, clean G, as many as you can in a minute.
- Write the count down so you can see it go up (20, 23, 29…). Some days you'll go backwards. Fatigue, arthritis, whatever. Keep doing the reps.
Then the next sticky change — G to A — same way. If you want, all three: D, G, A.
Then Do It In Time (Anticipation)
In "Help," D is on beat 1, G on beat 3, A on the next beat 1. Simplify with half notes (two beats each):
Strum D on 1, hold through 2. G on 3, hold through 4. A on 1 of the next bar.
Count out loud. Metronome. Tap your foot. I like a drum beat because it subdivides.
Most people wait until it's time to play the next chord to start changing. You have to start the change before it's time to play it.
When you hit D on beat 1, think about G. On beat 2 you're already moving so you land G on beat 3. Same into A on the next 1.
If you haven't done the squeezes, you'll be thinking "how do I play G again?" instead of "next is G." Muscle memory first. Then anticipate.
Use this with any chord — even a weird one. A few minutes of squeezes and timed changes, then put it in real music.
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.
