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Reading Guitar Chords

Jan 27, 2012 Guitar tabs
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Learn to Switch Between Beginner Guitar Chords

This article is the 3rd beginner Guitar Lesson in a small series. My previous articles got you up to speed with choosing the right guitar and then tuning your guitar by ear. The focus of this article is on how to play and switch between basic guitar chords. This leads to strumming chords to your favorite songs.But first you need to memorize the basic chord shapes on your guitar. Then you need to be able to switch back and forth between those chords. What it all boils down to is muscle memory. You need to get your “reps” in just like at the gym:-)Forget chord dictionaries that have confusing diagrams of 10,000 different chords! Ultimately, you only need to learn a dozen or so. And if you can master switching those chords and get a handful of strumming patterns, you’ll be sounding pretty good!What are those chords? I’m glad you asked. In the “major” group of chords you’ll need C A G E D. In the “minor” group you’ll need A minor E minor and D minor. In the “dominant” family of chords you’ll need C7 A7 E7 and D7. Eventually you’ll need a couple of more chords such as F and B7, but wait until you master a few of the ones I listed first. I don’t want you giving up in frustration!You may have noticed that the major family of chords just has a letter name. The “major” is understood when nothing else is specified. Also, it’s good to know that each chord type has a different “color.” Major is bright and stable, minor is dark and moody, dominant chords are bright and bluesy. Each of these chords also serve particular functions in music. This isn’t necessary for you to learn unless you are really burning to understand music theory;-)OK. Let’s work through an example of how you might practice and master some of these beginner guitar chords. If you are a real beginner to guitar you may want to check out the “absolute beginner” chords on my website. They are a good way to start getting used to pressing down on the guitar strings and getting the tones to ring clearly. Otherwise, use the “beginner” guitar chords on the same page. There’s also a video on the page where I demonstrate some important things for you. The link to that page is at the end of this article. But first you need to learn how to memorize a chord shape. This is sometimes also referred to as a “grip.” There is no strumming involved in this exercise.Choose a chord. Press down on the appropriate strings and frets. Check that each string is ringing clearly. You may need to adjust your fingers. Once you get the best sound you can, take a look at where you fingers are placed. Take your hand off the guitar completely. Try putting it back on the same chord… without relying on the chord diagram. Spend 5 minutes or so on this. Get the “grip” and then remove your hand. You can choose a 2nd chord to work on in this manner if you wish. I wouldn’t recommend more than 2 if you’re just Beginning Guitar Lessons though. After a few days if you feel you’ve got some muscle memory and the chords are getting easier, you can go on to the following exercise. I’ll use G and C for our example. Again, we’re not even strumming. You can do these exercises while you watch the telly!Start with a G. Just getting the ‘grip.” Visualize the shape of the C, but don’t move your hand yet. When you “see” where your fingers need to go for C, move them slowly and try to land accurately on the C shape. Follow the same procedure to go back to G. Don’t just move your fingers in the air and then try to figure out where they have to go! Make sure you visualize the chord you are going to. Then do your best to get there accurately. Practice switching back and forth between the 2 chords in this manner. After a few days, bring a new guitar chord into the mix. Don’t forget to periodically check that the chords are ringing as clearly as you can get them. Once you have the basics of the above exercises, you can try adding strumming:-) An incredibly effective yet simple technique is this next exercise.Choose 2 chords that you’ve already learned like in the exercises above. Start strumming using only simple down strums. Visualize the chord you want to switch to. Don’t switch yet. Make sure you have a clear idea of it in your mind first. Then without stopping strumming, jump! If you miss the chord, keep strumming. Just adjust your fingers accordingly while you continue to strum. Same thing going back to the first chord. Never stop strumming! This is extremely important if you want the quickest results possible. You’ll find that within a few days you’ll be switching back and forth smoothly between those 2 chords. I’ve seen it work for my private students thousands of times:-) If you lack the “cour

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