When you first start learning to play guitar it can be frustrating. There is a lot going on at once, your strumming hand is strumming your fretting hand is trying to make a shape it’s not used to combined with the fact that your fingers are pressing on strings all at once (a technique you’re not natural used to) and you’re trying to memorize chord shapes and patterns.
It’s not something you pick up the first day of lessons that’s for sure. I read a great article today about how you can improve your ability to make chord shapes and become more consistent. You see the trouble isn’t that you don’t have the ability, rather it can be a matter of you having issues with your mind doing everything at once. These three tips I’m going to share will help you over come the troubles of muting strings, switching chords too slowly or not being able to get the right fingers on the right frets.
1 – Don’t Stop Strumming
No matter what when you’re playing a chord and switching between another keep that strumming hand moving. Often times beginners will have trouble keeping the two hands independent of each other, so if you find your fretting hand stumbling and having troubles switching between the chords don’t stop strumming.
2 – Just Change Chords
Forming chords correctly whether it be slow or fast and switching between them is a separate skill from strumming. Try forming chords without strumming and switching between them. For instance make an E major then switch to a G major and to a D major then an A major. This will get your brain and fretting hand on the same page of what you need to do to make the chords and switch between them.
3 – Pressure Practice
While your making the chords you’re having trouble with press down hard on the strings, then release your hand and hover just above the strings, then press hard again and hold it for a few seconds. This gets your brain and fingers talking and understanding that you need to be moving and using all your fingers at once. This can sometimes be difficult at first to have your fingers all pressing at once since it’s not a natural motion.
This are 3 great practice exercises to work on if you’re finding beginner chords difficult. Whether you’re learning to play using a guitar lesson dvd, form YouTube or a private teacher chords are primary skill you’ll want to learn to take the time to do it right the first time.