I referred to this earlier post, because I do something very similar, and it seems very effective.
Don’t have a good name for the exercise yet, but…
Play (press strings and strum) / Slap / Hover / Touch
…is the gist of it.
The differences from Richard’s exercise are:
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you strum the chord each time. This gives you a quality check. It also highlights any sympathetic tension in your fretting hand that may occur when you strum
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you slap the strings after each strum. This forces you to reset your fingers and reform the chord, and seems to reduce tension. I find this less disruptive than slapping your knee, as some people recommend.
For me the hover - forming the chord “in the air” without touching the strings - is usually the hardest part. So I usually start out touching one string at a time at first. I experiment with putting fingers down in different orders, then 2 fingers at once, and they seem to learn how to move all at once after a while.
I do it no tempo at first, speaking each step out loud, until it starts to flow. Then I do it against a straight 4/4 drumbeat, with hi-hats on the 8th notes. (Metronome also works…but feels less musical). As slow as necessary to stay relaxed and precise. 40 - 60 BPM usually works for me, but don’t be afraid to go slower.
Do "Play"on beat 1; “Slap” on beat 2, etc.
At all times, the focus is on relaxation, agility, and precision. Not speed!
After a while (often several days or more) your fingers start to effortlessly form the chord shape in the air, and drop down on the strings without fumbling or tension.
Then just press all the strings and strum. Repeat ad infinium, speeding up incrementally.
I’m in the process of relearning my technique with thumb muting, and this really seems to be helping.
If anybody tries this, please follow up with your experience, questions, suggested improvements, etc.