-
Improve speed of switching Chords
I have trouble switching chords at even reasonable speed
-
This discussion was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by
Francis R.
-
This discussion was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by
-
6 Replies
-
This is a common issue amongst newer players (meaning upwards 2-3 years, and sometimes longer). There are several things to do, but the absolute easiest way to learn finger placement and transitioning more quickly, in my opinion, is to set a metronome for 4/4 and at the. Speed of 40 or even lower, if needed. Take the first 2 chords in a scale or a song. On Beats 1, 2, 3 get your fingers placed properly for the 1st chord; Then on beat 4 strum down 1x. Then take the next 3 beats to get your fingers properly placed for the next chord; then on the 4th 1strum. Go back and forth. When you can do it 10x in a row without an error, then increase the speed by 5 beats; repeat strum down once, then back to the 1st chord. this back and forth between chords. Because the small increments in speed, you won’t feel the difference in speed. You’re building strong muscle memory. Before you know it you’ll be well above 100 bpm. Then go to the 2nd chord and choose the next chord next to it, and start afresh with that combination, and so forth 7ntil you’ve done every c9mbinati9n next to one anothe4..
-
This is a fantastic idea! Thank you. I’ll give it a try.
-
-
Loraine has great advice there, as it gets you used to working with a metronome (which I am still terrible at). Another route is to try the quick draw technique that Tony has, where you just put your fretting hand at your side or around the neck of the guitar, and go from one chord to the next as fast as you can as many times as you can for about a minute. (Justinguitar calls these the one minute drills). You keep track of how many times you went from G to C for an example. Next day, do it again, and keep working it over and over. Soon you will start to see it getting easier. Remember, it is all a marathon, not a sprint, so no big hurry to get there. Don’t beat yourself up over something that all guitar players experienced as we are on this learning journey.
-
<div>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAgc7hr44WM</div>
Couldn’t find Tony’s version, but here is Justins.
-
<div>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtiOP-p8ttY</div>
Found it after all
-
Been thinking about this question for a few days now, @Loraine lays out fantastic mechanics for how to get faster changes but there is a mindset also that takes much longer to develop (thus the need for ungodly repetition in order to achieve success). Mindset: embrace the absence of tension in playing…. I will say it one more time because it is that important to speed precision and accuracy,… the absence of tension is the key to those three things, speed, precision and accuracy. it all comes down to this, exploring the art of using the least amount of pressure to get a string to make the sound you want. I found this to be a long process but once clued in, it added a new level of enthusiasm and interest as things went into higher gear as a result of relaxing but it is more than relaxing. Relaxing may be less accurate than “removing tension.” Tension. That is the word. Mind tension, body tension. There must be enough to make the sound but not an ounce of pressure more. In mind time is the stressor creating tension. speed management it the key to mental tension. If I chased speed I was always behind, but I could slowly sneak up on it. Shout out to @Carol-3M-Stillhand for introducing this concept to me.
Log in to reply.