Without doubt the first major hurdle for most beginner guitarists is the challenge of transitioning from one chord to another smoothly and cleanly while simultaneously keeping a rhythm going. Does this sound like you? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there, and thankfully help is at hand (pun intended).
One analogy I like to use when teaching my students is to think of your rhythm hand (right hand for right handed guitarists) as a car engine, and your left hand as the gearbox. The idea is that you start the engine (your right hand) and don’t stall the engine as you change gears (the chords) with your left hand.
Ultimately we want a smooth, seamless gear change (chord change) without missing a beat. If you’re one of these people crunching gears (chords) or stalling the engine (stopping the rhythm) as you attempt to get from one chord to the next here are a few tips that with practice should get you to the next pit stop.
Step 1: Know the chord
Let’s just rewind for a minute and talk about the chords you’ve already learnt before we move on. Are they sounding musical? If you’re not quite happy with the sound as you strum this is likely to put you off and affect your ability to change chords.
A few tips for your fretting hand:
• Make sure your fingers are as close to the frets as possible. They can rest up against the frets but not cover them or they may mute the strings.
• Fingers should be standing fairly upright with all your knuckles bent so fingers don’t get in the way of other strings.
• Fingernails should be short enough that they don’t touch the fretboard when fingers are standing upright.
• Support the back of the guitar neck with your thumb directly behind your fingers. It should be facing more or less upright and not bent.
• Do NOT touch the guitar neck with the palm of your hand. Only the tips of your fingers and first segment of your thumb should be making contact with the guitar neck.
It’s a good idea to hold down each chord you know and listen carefully as you strum. If the sound isn’t pleasant try to analyze the problem by going systematically through the points above. Make adjustments if you need to then try again.
If the sound still isn’t right to your ears it may be something else such as incorrect posture or the guitar may have a bad action and need setting up properly. It may be that you’re using an unsuitable size guitar pick or perhaps strumming the wrong part of the guitar. These are things that a professional guitar teacher can help you with, so consider taking at least a few lessons to get started.
A question before we move on. Do you really know the chords you think you know? Can you visualize the shape before you place your fingers down? You should be able to play each chord without looking at a chord diagram. There should be a mental picture in your mind’s eye that you can recall just by thinking of it. This is something that you CAN practice in your sleep!
Assuming you can get a reasonably clear sound and are fairly familiar with the chords you’re trying to play let’s take the next step.
Step 2: Chord connections
When we learn our first chords the usual procedure is to place fingers down one at the time starting with your 1st, then 2nd, then 3rd finger etc. For example to play a C Major chord you would place your 1st finger next to the 1st fret of the 2nd string, then your 2nd finger next to the 2nd fret of the 4th string, then your 3rd finger next to the 3rd fret of the 5th string.
The order that you put your fingers down may vary but that’s not my point. The fact is that you probably do it one at a time at the moment. Our goal ultimately is to place your fingers down all at the same time. We’re not going to go there yet because there are a few things that would be helpful to know before we make that leap.
The pivot finger
There are times when you don’t have to take all your fingers off the first chord as you change to the next one. A pivot finger is a finger that stays in the same place when other fingers move to change from one chord to another. For example both the A minor chord and the C Major chord share common placements with the 1st and 2nd fingers (the pivot fingers) so it’s only necessary to shift your 3rd finger when changing between these chords.
Some chords have multiple fingering possibilities so it gets a little confusing when you’re starting out. When I teach beginners I try to use fingerings for each chord that can make use of common pivot fingers. For example when playing E minor if you use 1st and 2nd fingers (rather than 2nd and 3rd) the 2nd finger can be used as a pivot when changing to C or Am. Also your 1st finger can be a pivot when changing from Em to G and back again.
When using a pivot finger try to keep it only lightly resting on the string as you change between chords. In other words hold the first chord down and strum to make sure it’s sounding right then slightly release the pressure from your thumb on the back of the neck while keeping the pivot finger(s) in place lightly resting on the string. When you’re on the new chord press them in again and strum. Your thumb should always be resting on the back of the guitar neck even when you’re not pressing in as the chord changes.
The guide finger
Sometimes there are no fingers in common between chords, but if you look a little closer you’ll find other connections such as chords that have fingers on the same string. We can utilize these fingers to guide from one place to another. A guide finger is a finger that stays on the same string as it slides to another fret as you change chords.
An example of using a guide finger would be changing from D7 to G. As you change from D7 try to keep your 3rd finger lightly leaning on the first string as you glide across from the 2nd to 3rd fret while moving your 1st and 2nd fingers into place for the G chord. Use the same guide finger when changing back again.
Another example of using a guide finger is changing between D and E chords. When changing from D chord your 1st finger can glide across from the 2nd fret of the 3rd string to the 1st fret of the 3rd string as the other 2 fingers move into place for the E chord. Try to think of the string as a mono rail for your guide finger as it moves back and forth.
As with the pivot finger above, when using a guide finger try to keep it only lightly resting on the string as you change between chords. Hold the first chord down and strum to make sure it’s sounding ok then slightly release the pressure from your thumb on the back of the neck while keeping the guide finger lightly resting on the string as you glide across to the new fret position. When you’re on the new chord press them in again and strum.
Common shapes
What happens if there doesn’t appear to be a common connection between two chords? Look a bit closer and there might be one! For example the E Major and A minor chord are the same shape. All fingers are in the same position relative to one another but are placed on different strings.
In this case you should move all fingers as a group so the chord shape stays the same when lifting all three fingers off one chord and putting them down on the next one. Try this – Hold down an E chord and strum it to make sure it’s sounding ok. Next release the pressure slightly from your thumb then let all 3 fingers fall down one string together to the Am chord, then press in again and strum.
Hopefully all your fingers have landed on the new chord at the same time. The aim is to keep your fingers from flying in different directions as you change from chord to chord. It takes a lot of concentration and possibly a lot of practice to keep this from happening.
You’ll also find common partial shapes between some chords. Your 1st and 2nd fingers are in exactly the same position relative to one another on C, Dm and E chords. When changing between these chords try to keep your 1st and 2nd fingers as a group and land on the fretboard at the same time before adding the remaining finger on the new chord.
Try holding down a C chord, strum then release and keep your first two fingers the same distance apart as you move to Dm. Land on Dm with your first two fingers at the same time then add the 3rd finger. Next strum Dm, release then move to E, again keeping your first two fingers the same distance apart. Repeat.
When changing between D7 and G you can make use of a guide finger as mentioned above and also use the common partial shape of your first two fingers. On both chords they are one string and one fret away from each other so move them as a group.
Step 3: Three golden rules
Ok, so sometimes there really isn’t anything in common between two chord shapes. Take for example the C and G chords (that’s the three finger version of G, using 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers). These chords are used together all the time but look nothing alike. There’s no way to use pivot fingers, guide fingers or utilize common shapes to change from one to another chord.
Typically a beginner guitarist would change from C to G chord by placing one finger at a time – clunk, clunk and clunk. We’ve been there done that so it’s time to up the ante. As I mentioned earlier, our goal is to place all our fingers down at the same time when changing from chord to chord. Not an easy task if the shapes are nothing alike.
Try this – Hold down a C chord and strum so you can hear if your fingers are in the right place. All good? Release and prepare to change to the G chord. Slowly lift your fingers off the fretboard and try to make the shape of the G chord in mid-air before landing them on the fretboard. When the G chord is in position, strum and listen to the sound. How did you go? Did your fingers land on the chord all at the same time or did they fly uncontrollably in different directions? Probably. Try again.
Another thing I should mention is that we’re trying to get from A to B (in this case actually C to G) in the most efficient way. In order words each finger should move in the straightest possible line from one chord to the next. At the moment when your fingers move off the fretboard they may appear to have a mind of their own but with practice you will be able to control them.
Here are the three golden rules that will lead to success:
1) Go slowly
2) Go slowly
3) Go slowly
I can’t overstate this. The slower that you move, the faster you will be able to move once you’ve mastered it. Do everything in slow motion – especially the part when your fingers come off the fretboard. Pretend you’re on the moon where everything moves much slower than on Earth. The aim is to control your fingers and not to let them control you.
Try this technique with every chord you know. For example take one chord (maybe C) and change between that chord and every other chord you know. Do the same with D, then G etc. Make sure you’re trying to form the chord in mid-air slowly with your fingers moving as little as possible before they land on the next chord. Initially they may not go down at the same time but give it time and they will. Remember to follow the three golden rules above!
Step 4: The car engine and gearbox
I’ve spent a lot of time talking about your fretting hand and thinking about how the chord changes so now it’s time to bring in your strumming hand and create some rhythm. Remember the analogy I talked about at the start? Here it is again…
One analogy I like to use when teaching my students is to think of your rhythm hand (right hand for right handed guitarists) as a car engine, and your left hand as the gearbox. The idea is that you start the engine (your right hand) and don’t stall the engine as you change gears (the chords) with your left hand.
Unlike a car however we don’t want to progressively get faster! We want to stay at exactly the same tempo (speed) throughout the song (or exercise in this case). One way to do this is to use a metronome. In case you don’t know what a metronome is – “a device used by musicians that marks time at a selected rate by giving a regular click.” Type the word “metronome” into your favorite search engine and download one for free, then read on…
Ok are we ready? It’s time to start the engine. Set the metronome to about 90 bpm (90 beats per minute) and press play. Hold down your favorite chord and try to strum in time with the metronome. You should be doing a down strum every time you hear a click. This may feel unnatural to do at first but persevere. Are you getting the hang of it? Your strumming hand is the engine and it has to keep going perfectly in time before we move on. Stop and start a few times to get the feel of it.
Let’s move on. Start your engine (the metronome) and play along with your favorite chord (let’s say C for example) using down stokes in time with the metronome. Pick a chord to change to (let’s say a nice easy one like Em). Continue playing along with the C chord. When you’re ready try to change gears (chords) to Em. Remember your engine (your strumming hand) has to keep going. Don’t stall!
How did you do? Did you stop the rhythm as you changed chords? Did you forget about the metronome? Maybe. Maybe not. You’re doing some serious multi-tasking here – one ear listening to the metronome, one ear listening to your guitar, one hand strumming along and the other one changing between chords. It’s going to take quite a few attempts to get the hang of.
Let’s try again. Remember our three golden rules? Go slowly! The rhythm of the metronome is set fairly slow but also you need to move slowly between the chords. This may seem counter intuitive but it’s important. You are aiming for control – not speed. Don’t worry if your fingers haven’t reached the next chord as you strum the strings. This may not sound that great to your ears but it’s better than stopping as you change chords.
Here’s another similar exercise that will help with your coordination. Simply start the metronome and strum along WITHOUT your fretting hand on a chord. That’s right – just open strings! Now slowly hold down any chord as you continue to strum. Don’t stop strumming in time with the metronome. Now take you fretting hand completely off the fretboard. Now slowly place your fingers back down on another chord. Repeat.
This not only helps with coordination but also helps you get used to the idea that it’s ok to keep playing even if your fretting hand isn’t quite in position yet. In reality that’s exactly what happens when you change chords in a song. The more you practice, the less you’ll notice that gap between the chords.
When you’re feeling confident you should try these exercises without the metronome. After a while you’ll develop your own inbuilt metronome. It may be a bit wobbly at first but the more you practice the better your inbuilt sense of timing will become.
So that’s it! 4 steps for smooth chord changes.
Step 1: Know the chord
Step 2: Chord connections
Step 3: Three golden rules
Step 4: The car engine and gearbox.
If you’d like more help I’d recommend doing my free complete beginners guitar tutorial which uses this exact method and takes you in a structured sequence from the very beginning of your guitar journey through to being a confident advanced beginner ready to take the next step. Check it out here. Good luck!
