How To Play Guitar Chords – Chord Changes:
The next big challenge you will find with playing chords is called chord transitions, or changing between chords.
In this example, let’s try to move (or transition), smoothly between a G Major chord and a D7 chord, while keeping your strumming pattern rock solid. What you cannot do is play the G chord right up until it time to change to the D7 chord and then pause to change chords – as a rhythm guitarist, this will not do.
The key do doing this in the beginning is to start out very slowly and keep your tempo slow and even, be sure not to pause or skip a beat when you change chords.
Now let’s look at the next exercise. Let’s change between the Dm and G7.
In this exercise we will learn the principle of common notes and common fingering. What I mean by this is the search for common notes that are shared between the 2 chords. This is a very useful technique that is used by guitarists. Notice the common notes between the G7 and the Dm for instance – the are on the 1st string (the F note) and the 4th string (the D note open).
Start by fingering the Dm chord, and give it a strum. Then to finger the G7, move your 2nd finger to the 5th string, 2nd fret and move your 3rd finger the the 6th string, 3rd fret. You now have the G7 chord placement.
Your first finger does not move at all and acts like as an anchor finger. This method allows you to efficiently move between chords. So you can see that even if you only have one finger that remains in a chord change, you will save a lot of waisted motion and that finger acts like a hinge or a fulcrum.
Now let’s change between the C and Am chords. Start by fingering the C chord and give it a strum. To move to the Am, you only have to change one finger. Simply move the third finger to the 3rd string, 2nd fret.
So, let’s review some of the secrets to chord changes that we have learned in this lesson:
How To Play Guitar Chords – Anchor Fingers
Keep one or more common-note fingers in place when you change chords. Be sure to study the chords prior to playing them to see which chords this applies to. This method really speeds things up and gets you playing your chord changes very quickly and efficiently.
How To Play Guitar Chords – Anchor Finger Sliding
This is one of the best and easiest methods that I utilize to be keep chord changes very efficient. This is done by simply releasing the pressure from a fingered note, move that finger to a new fret position and re-apply pressure to press down the string. This was done when we changed from the D7 to the G.
How To Play Guitar Chords – Multiple Finger Movements:
This is done by move 2 or even 3 fingers all at the same time. The fingers may have to be repositioned a bit to play slightly different positions on each fret, but as long as they are moved in one group, it is much easier to both memorize the chord, and move your fingers quickly. Let’s look at an example that implements both of these strategies in one chord change:
How To Play Guitar Chords – Change from a D7 to a G.
Although not shown in the exercise, let’s give this a try anyway. It simply uses a few of the secrets listed above to help you easily change between these 2 chords.
Place your fingers into position and strum a D7 chord. Now we will want to change to the G Major chord
To shift to a G chord, lift the 2nd and 3rd fingers slightly above the strings – no more than 1/4 inch.
At the same time, release the pressure of your 3rd finger, but keep it resting on the 1st string and slide it into it’s new position up to the 3rd fret.
And…. move BOTH your 1st and 2nd fingers into their new position on the 5th and 6th strings. Be sure to move both of these finger in tandem, so you save as much energy as possible.
Just refer to the example below for each of these techniques. Start out very slowly until you have the chords mastered, they gradually gain speed. Above all else, do not skip a beat or pause the timing in any way. Note the timing that is listed between the notation staff and the TAB staff.
Chord Changing Secrets
I wanted to learn to play guitar but had no idea where to start. I didn’t even know how to change the strings on my guitar. Luckily I found this book. This book teaches you everything you need to know including how to string, tune, and hold your guitar. I learned to play chords and finger picking faster than I ever thought possible. The slow, iterative approach builds upon previous lessons which give you the skills to tackle the next lesson. A lot of books I have seen throw you right into the deep end which can be frustrating for beginners. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to play a guitar. If not for this book I probably would have become frustrated and quit playing before I even began.