Lesson 3 Chord Switching

Lesson 3

Chord Switching

Jump to lesson Contents Lesson 1 · Hello Guitar! Lesson 2 · Chord Placement Lesson 3 · Chord Switching Lesson 4 · Let’s Play Lesson 5 · Le Barre Lesson 6 · Re: Le Barre Lesson 7 · Strumming Lesson 8 · Re: Strumming Lesson 9 · Plucking Lesson 10 · Re-Plucking Lesson 11 · Guitar Theory

In this lesson, we will work on the switching from one chord fingering to another.

Section 1 of 6

3.1 Chord Switching

For beginners, it is common to be slow in changing from one chord fingering to another.

Tip

It is useful to start off with a exaggeratedly slow tempo and gradually increase it as your brain and fingers build muscle memory.

Exercise 3A

G chord G: 3-2-0-0-0-3

Alternate fingering for G chord:

C chord C: x-3-2-0-1-0

Note that there is an “x” above the 6^th string.

This means that this string is not played.

D chord D: x-x-0-2-3-2

Note that there are “x”s above the 5^th and 6^th strings.

This means that these 2 strings are not played.

We will use the song Leaving on a Jet Plane to practice switching between G, C and D chords.

1. The tempo is set to 80 bps; press Play when you are ready to start the practice. The audio starts with a 1-bar count-in, and the click is higher on beat 1.
2. Strum at every first and third beat. Recall each / represents a downward strum. The chart below shows 4 bars at a time and scrolls along as the song plays. Tap any bar to start from there, or use the arrows to browse.
3. Increase the tempo to 90 & then 100 when you get more comfortable at changing between the chords. Use the tempo slider to change the speed.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

3.2 More Chords

At this stage, you should find it easier to hold down the strings firmly for a clean sound.

Now let us work on 3 new chords!

Amx-0-2-2-1-0

Em0-2-2-0-0-0

Dm7x-x-0-2-1-1

Exercise 3B

1. The tempo is set to 60 bps; press Play when you are ready to start the practice. The click is higher on beat 1. Use the tempo slider to go slower or faster.
2. Hold down Am chord.
3. Strum at every beat for 4 bars (i.e. 16 times).
4. In the diagram below, each / represents a downward strum. The beats light up as the audio plays.

Exercise 3C

1. The tempo is set to 60 bps; press Play when you are ready to start the practice. The click is higher on beat 1. Use the tempo slider to go slower or faster.
2. Hold down Em chord.
3. Strum at every beat for 4 bars (i.e. 16 times).
4. In the diagram below, each / represents a downward strum. The beats light up as the audio plays.

Exercise 3D

1. The tempo is set to 60 bps; press Play when you are ready to start the practice. The click is higher on beat 1. Use the tempo slider to go slower or faster.
2. Hold down Dm7 chord.
3. Strum at every beat for 4 bars (i.e. 16 times).
4. In the diagram below, each / represents a downward strum. The beats light up as the audio plays.

Next lessonLesson 4 · Let's Play!

Lesson 2 Chord Placement << | >> Lesson 4 Let's Play!