Hi all, curious on how one practices changing chords. I’m working on A C D E G chords, I start chord changes A-C, A-D, A-E etc. Then C-A, C-D, C-E etc, through all 5 chords for 1 min. each. Does it make any sense or am I just beating myself up. Also all suggestions are welcome.
Assuming you’re doing one-minute changes like Justin suggests (back and forth between two chords), there’s no reason you need to practice both A-C and C-A since they are effectively the same exercise. You really only need each unique pair, and even then, I would probably just pick a handful of them (5 or so) to do each day, otherwise, personally I would get bored with that being my entire practice session.
If you want to work on each one of those changes, you could rotate between sets of them each day. Alternatively, you could focus mostly on the ones that give you trouble, or better yet, the ones you need for songs that you are learning.
3 Likes
Appreciated, thanks
you could layer your practice
1: just the changes
2: timed changes, with a drum beat or metronome
3: compound changes (ex, 3 or 4 chord sequences instead of goign back and forth)
4: timed compound changes
2 Likes
Appreciated, I do count how many changes i make in that minute, added in for a little incentive and also count individual 3 min. finger placement. Just in case anyones interested:joy:
. Sorry
1 Like
Hi Brewie
From my own experience of not being to get to grips with guitar properly for 50 years, I would say that initially you need to familiarise yourself with a new chord so that you can grab it from other chords you already are good with. Once you have 2 or 3, then find a simple song that you can use to play using it and chords you know. This is really the process Justin teaches.
Have look at https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/super-easy-2-chord-songs-b1-114
and https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-module-5-b1-507
What I always find hard when learning a new chord is being able to change from to it in the context of a song whilst strumming a rhythm, it is beginning to become easier now to learn a new chord shape 6 months on from starting to play guitar again.
I hope this helps, it does get easier with practice.
1 Like
Thanks! Much Appreciated
1 Like
That’s all good.
Those chords feature together in millions of songs.
I would alter that.
C with Am not A major.
C with Em not E major.
C with E and / or A are seldom featured together in songs.
3 Likes
I mostly just learn the chord changes for the songs I’m playing, since I get bored very easily without a melody. When I learn a new chord for a song, let’s say Fm# barre for ‘Sweet Baby James’, I do perfect chord practice for a few minutes, then the changes I need for the song for 5 minutes or less, and then I mostly just play the song, and/or the section with the new chord. After the initial session, I only go back to changes on bad days, when my changes are too slow for the song.
2 Likes
Bad days are horrible! Thanks! We’re not alone.
1 Like
Ditto this.
You should be able to go around all combinations of A D and E as a starting point but after that learn the changes that the song you’re learning has in it. Play enough songs and you’ll cover all of the common changes soon enough. Don’t get bogged down in practice exercises and leave no time for the enjoyable bits - playing songs
3 Likes
A very simple answer from my perspective is to play the recommended songs for each module. ie apply the chords you have learnt where they are intended to be played.
When I went through the old Beginner’s Course, each stage introduced new chords and a number of songs using those chords were suggested. With the BSB Songbooks 1 & 2, there was 20 songs per stage, plenty to get you teeth into,
I played and learnt as many songs as I could, even those I did not like or gel with (I’ll mention Swift and Spears again) but liking the songs was less important than using and applying the chords.
This holds true for today’s Grade System and modules. Someone around here once said learn songs learn songs learn songs. Can’t think of a better way to practice chord changess.
1MCs are a useful exercise but not a substitute for playing songs.
My 0,02 euros.
2 Likes