At one point or another, every guitarist has encountered problems in chord changing. Learning a song and getting those changes from one chord to another is not really the easiest thing to master, especially if you are new to playing the guitar and you are still trying to master all the chords, too.
There are, however, some things you can remember that will help you as you go along in mastering chord changes.
Tip 1: There is no need to rush
That is something that you have to stick into your head – nobody is forcing you to learn all at once, and you should not be in a hurry to master everything overnight. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you are not able to smoothly transition from one chord to another right away. Remember that even the guitarists we all look up to were once students like you – they were certainly not born playing the guitar that way. They had to work hard, too, to get to where they are. So cut yourself some slack and take it easy. Pace yourself as you learn, and work at a rate that suits you best.
Tip 2: Know the different chord positions
There is great advantage in knowing the different chord positions for each particular chord. Later on as you advance in your guitar playing, you will find that when you play music, some chord positions are better suited for particular songs because of the chord combinations used. In time, you will be able to identify what chord positions work best in the songs you play, so it is a good exercise now for you to learn the different chord positions. Aside from broadening your knowledge, it will also give you the advantage of practicing switching from one position to another, and this helps you improve on moving from one position to another in a quick but accurate manner, as well.
Tip 3: Familiarize yourself with chord shapes
You will find that certain chords (especially barre chords) are basically made up of chord shapes of the basic chords we are already familiar with. Once you understand and know the basic shapes or patterns that make up the more complex chords, you will be able to move more easily from one chord to another because the basic components that “make up” a chord are already committed to your memory.
Tip 4: Start small and build from there
Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to tackle huge projects all at once. Start small, like practicing switching between two basic chords first. Practice moving between these two chords until you can do it smoothly and without that awkward pause. Try doing it while keeping a steady strumming rhythm, or by using a metronome so that you stay in beat. When you have mastered switching between the two chords, you can add another one, and practice switching between the three. Add a new chord every time you master the pattern.
Tip 5: Build muscle memory
Playing chords basically involve your fret hand being able to play a wide variety of chords from memory. The trick here is to get yourself to memorize these chords until your fret hand commits to memory the shapes you do or positions your hand makes to form the different chords. You can switch chords a lot faster if you already know the chords by heart.
You can do this simple exercise for memorizing chords: pick up your guitar and just press down on the strings the chord you are practicing. You don’t have to strum the strings, just press down to form the chord. Hold it in position for about 10 seconds, and then lift up your fingers, and then return to the position. Repeat this for about five to seven times, and then add another chord. Keep working through the exercise, and add more chords when you have fully mastered one chord.
These are just some tips for you to remember so that you can achieve smoother transitions between your chord changes. Of course, nothing beats consistent practice and dedication. Just be patient and keep working hard, and you will get better!