Welcome to the Forum Sotiris
No you leave the anchor finger down or slide it to help keep your hand in place as you change chords. You will find as you get faster at changes you may start to lift it off the fret board. Either way is good. Later on you’ll find that there are no anchor fingers on some chords like C to G
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Thank you very much for your answer. It’s very helpful! I appreciate it!
Hello, is it normal to be slowed down by my strumming between A and D? I feel like my fretting hand is coming on well and perfect chords and transitions are starting to look good. However I feel like I’m constantly having to avert my eyes towards my strumming hand to make sure I’m not strumming the open A string during the D chord. Should I be muting it? Or is this just something I am going to have to keep working at?
Yes, this is normal. Your brain has to figure out how to do two new things at the same time. Since neither strumming nor fretting chords is 2nd nature YET, you will have to slow down. Eventually, they will both become 2nd nature.
As a goal, you should strum, mute with strumming hand, change to next chord, strum, mute with strumming hand, etc.
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Hi Rick, in a word, yes. Simply adding strumming on a rhythm to your chord changes is adding an entirely new cognitive element to juggle! Add to that the fact that you want to miss some strings - that’s a lot for the brain to work on. So of course, one slows down.
Also, I believe it’s fine at this stage to look at your strumming hand. The way I think of it is: how else am I going to learn how to do this? Of course, you’ll eventually stop that “cheat”, though I’m sure I see pros looking at their strumming/picking hand or their fretting hand when playing complicated things. As for the A string - no need to try and mute it. To be honest I’m not sure how that might be done without using the thumb, and that’s far too advanced for this level. (In fact, I’ll never be able to do that simply because my hand and fingers are not long enough!) And because A is part of the D chord (D - F# - A) it won’t sound bad if you play it accidentally. 
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Great, thanks both. It’s as I thought that it was just going to take time. I’ll keep at it slow to avoid making mistakes and hopefully I can gradually get faster.
I did wonder why when I strummed the A string accidently with the D chord it sounded pretty good!
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41 strums first try!
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66 chord changes on my first go. Wasn’t pretty, but it counts! This course is great thank you for sharing your knowledge for free! Omgggg
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Hello! I don’t think I’ve kinda got the first thinger exactly at the right point, but I’ve made 24 chord A-D changes on my first try! By the way, I’m talking from Brazil here and I’m completely new to guitar. Thank you for the course, one friend recommended it to me and I’m really enjoying it. I plan to learn a song for my long distance girlfiend at Christmas!
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Hello!
The practice routine for module 1 includes 1 minute changes from A to D and another exercise from D to A. Am I missing something, because I feel like they are the same exercise except for the first chord you play?
Hello Jeremy,
Yep, same chord pairing, but different mechanics ( and eventually muscle memory) required, depending on the direction of the switch.
In this pairing, most beginning players would find the
A > D somewhat harder than D > A.
Cheers, Shane
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Right, that makes more sense 
For some reason I was counting each chord as one repetition instead of every time you play the second chord.
A > D is much harder for me also.
Thanks!
Just started playing at 62. Im at the start of my third week, Im up to about 23 A to D. Doesnt sound great though. I have a Tanglewood Acoustic Parlor which I do like the size of with 12 gauge string (bit painful). Didnt realise that Electric Guitar would be easier, looking at electric guitars but really dont know what to get, as it needs to last a bit having already bought an acoustic.
Thank you for all your help Justin. I’m doing so well and my name is coy
Thank you for all your help.
21 changes for my first go
Hi Jill,
Welcome to the community. Before investing in an electric guitar, I would fit a set of 10 gauge strings to your acoustic. 12G is way too heavy for a beginner IMO. I’ve been playing for a few years and I still use 10s on my acoustic.
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Jill,
Have to second what @jacksprat says above… lighter gauge strings are way cheaper than a new guitar…
plus, this early in your journey it’s not always easy to figure out where you will be/what you’re going to want or need in a year or two!
Tod
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Hi Diesel @Deedge, welcome to the community! Well done getting 21 changes on your first try. Do keep us posted on your progress, and don’t be shy about asking questions - we’ve all been beginners (I still am one!).
We’d love to learn about what brought you here…if you have a minute consider introducing yourself over here. 
Will definately get these strings changed. Thank you
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Thank you. Yes need to get the strings sorted.
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