Tips RE:Chords

StupidLikeAFox

Hey all,
Ive jus started learnin guitar this weekend, know a couple of the common chords. Only problem is gettin from one chord to the other. I know practice will make perfect, but are there any exercises/tips i can do to help get used to it?

jcoote

have a look here http://freeguitarvideos.com/Beginner/Beg_02.html

if u don't have broadband have a look on www.cyberfret.com site i'm sure there is something useful in there

Giblet

Try look at what you're playing when you change chords. What fingers are moving, how far they need to move, and is there anyway to restrict that movement to the shortest/quickest route

nohshow

When I started, I kicked off with two chords, C and G7, which were quick and easy to learn. Next was F, slightly more complicated. Then I practiced going from C to F and back until it felt comfortable, then from G7 to F. Next chord I learned was D, which I always learned to play by barring the G,B and E at the second fret and adding the D with my third finger. It took a while to comfortably move from this to F, then from it to C and then D to G7, but eventually it felt right. Incidentally, it's also why I play the G Major the way I do (little finger on the third fret), since it wasn't until a month or so later that I learned the G Major chord.

Boring stuff so far, okay, I'll grant you, so to cut to the chase: Pick a chord and move from it to each of the others you know, one at a time, until you feel good about each transition. Then start from another chord and do the same thing. Don't start off with the ones you already find difficult, this will only discourage you. Next, learn a song.

(I'm self-taught, but it doesn't make me a bad person)

Good luck.

BossArky

When I was learning to play guitar years ago I knew I could switch chords properly when I could play along with Oasis' "Don't look back in Anger"... its got a good few simple chords that are great for beginner stuff.