changing chords

jchandj71 · 10-19-2005, 04:43 AM

I have a problem changing from one chord to another.I'm currently learning strumming especially when it means strumming with different chords.I have trouble memorizing the chords.Can anyone help me with that? Laura

SeattleRuss · 10-19-2005, 04:59 AM

Laura,

I know it sounds like too simple of an answer but...just keep doing it. I know it seems to take forever but if you put lots of time into it and don't give up, you will be able to go from chord to chord more smoothly.

Stratosaurus · 10-19-2005, 05:02 AM

Exactly what Russ said. Keep it up, you'll get it soon! Don't give up, or you'll wonder if you would have been any good somewhere down the road.

The best way to remember chords is to just play them many, many times. Soon you will barely even have to think about it. Like driving a car with a manual transmission; hard at first but eventually you forget it's even there.

syan · 10-22-2005, 01:03 AM

I might just be weird, but when I used to have trouble changing from one chord to another, what I used to do was play them as arpeggios, using the chord fingering. Not fast, as the idea for me was that I didn't have to get all the fingers in the right place at once, just so long as I had each *finger* where it had to be at the right time. I didn't mess around with alternate picking it, I just used a really slow strum, since I was trying to simulate changing to the chord.

I don't know if anyone else does this...

Malcolm · 10-22-2005, 03:28 AM

That's a good idea, and as you place them --- where you get good chrisp sounds from them ----- study how your fingers got there, i.e. going from a G to a C what is the least finger movement I can make and still get good chrisp chords................. By the way, it's your finger tips that should be hurting. Finger tips, not the meaty part of your finger.

Roobs · 01-04-2006, 06:30 PM

a good tip ive learned, which seemed to help my girlfriend a lot when first learning guitar, is to be able to visualize the shape of each chord. For example, D major looks like a little triangle up top with an extra open string - you don't have to be as literal as that, but you just want to be able to visualize them in your head. Then, when playing them, never put just one finger down at a time, try placing that entire shape down on the strings. It will be hard at first, but it will help you to see the particular spots that need more work too.

AndyP · 01-04-2006, 09:34 PM

Hang in there. For me, whenever I'm trying to digest something new on my guitar I break it down into very small parts. Practice the changes by themselves and don't worry about the chord progression of the song at first.

Once you can change smoothly from one chord to another and back again, then learn the progression. You may find changing back and forth between two chords repeatedly, helpful as an exercise.

Hope that helps.

AndyP · 01-04-2006, 09:40 PM

One other thing, to help you remeber the fingerings. Try to make a mental snapshot of the chord diagram and think of it while you finger the chord.

If you aren't using chord diagrams look for some online or something.

10-19-2005, 04:43 AM	#1
jchandj71 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Jersey City,New Jersey Posts: 9	changing chords I have a problem changing from one chord to another.I'm currently learning strumming especially when it means strumming with different chords.I have trouble memorizing the chords.Can anyone help me with that? Laura

10-19-2005, 04:59 AM	#2
SeattleRuss Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 623	Laura, I know it sounds like too simple of an answer but...just keep doing it. I know it seems to take forever but if you put lots of time into it and don't give up, you will be able to go from chord to chord more smoothly. __________________ Russ http://www.russletson.com

10-19-2005, 05:02 AM	#3
Stratosaurus Registered Geek Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southern Oregon, USA Posts: 259	Exactly what Russ said. Keep it up, you'll get it soon! Don't give up, or you'll wonder if you would have been any good somewhere down the road. The best way to remember chords is to just play them many, many times. Soon you will barely even have to think about it. Like driving a car with a manual transmission; hard at first but eventually you forget it's even there. __________________ Home is where you hang your guitar.

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10-22-2005, 01:03 AM	#4
syan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ny Posts: 58	I might just be weird, but when I used to have trouble changing from one chord to another, what I used to do was play them as arpeggios, using the chord fingering. Not fast, as the idea for me was that I didn't have to get all the fingers in the right place at once, just so long as I had each finger where it had to be at the right time. I didn't mess around with alternate picking it, I just used a really slow strum, since I was trying to simulate changing to the chord. I don't know if anyone else does this...

10-22-2005, 03:28 AM	#5
Malcolm Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Deep East Texas Piney Woods Posts: 2,280	That's a good idea, and as you place them --- where you get good chrisp sounds from them ----- study how your fingers got there, i.e. going from a G to a C what is the least finger movement I can make and still get good chrisp chords................. By the way, it's your finger tips that should be hurting. Finger tips, not the meaty part of your finger.

01-04-2006, 06:30 PM	#6
Roobs Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 32	a good tip ive learned, which seemed to help my girlfriend a lot when first learning guitar, is to be able to visualize the shape of each chord. For example, D major looks like a little triangle up top with an extra open string - you don't have to be as literal as that, but you just want to be able to visualize them in your head. Then, when playing them, never put just one finger down at a time, try placing that entire shape down on the strings. It will be hard at first, but it will help you to see the particular spots that need more work too.

01-04-2006, 09:34 PM	#7
AndyP Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 18	Hang in there. For me, whenever I'm trying to digest something new on my guitar I break it down into very small parts. Practice the changes by themselves and don't worry about the chord progression of the song at first. Once you can change smoothly from one chord to another and back again, then learn the progression. You may find changing back and forth between two chords repeatedly, helpful as an exercise. Hope that helps.

01-04-2006, 09:40 PM	#8
AndyP Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 18	One other thing, to help you remeber the fingerings. Try to make a mental snapshot of the chord diagram and think of it while you finger the chord. If you aren't using chord diagrams look for some online or something.