Some good chord changing exercises???? (Page 1 of 2)

Mine is a simple yet effective bit of advice. Much like shooting pool(billiards). Don't think about the chord you are playing, instead think about the next chord you will be playing.  Visualize the next chord in your mind, apply, then repeat until the song is done. You're always one step ahead.

If you like basic rock, blues, gospel, and country then try doing the 3 chord one four and five progression in each key. these groups of chords...

A D E           
B E F
C F G
D G A
E A B
F B C
G C D

Hi Clansman,

When I am practicing I always spend some time just playing chords at random, keeping a regular rhythm of course. Write a sequence, but keep changing the sequence or use songs to follow if it helps.

Now for me I am looking for a sequence of chords changes I can use in song writing but for you if you find you stumble on a particular change you can repeat it to get it smooth. Very obvious, but important, is to keep the tempo going, even if you muff a chord (muff a chord and keep going and very few will notice, muff a chord and stop and the world will know).

Roger

Ditto what Roger says regarding tempo, and I will add it is helpful for me to use a metronome. Start slow and speed it up as you improve. The metronome is great for me because I can then easily track my progress. Here's the free online one that I use:

http://www.metronomeonline.com/

Practice the chord progression as shown. Stick with a progression until you are comfortable with the changes. Mix them up a little as you play 1 - 4 - 5 then play 1 - 5 - 4 and throw in an minor chord as you go along. Take your time and go slow as you want to develope "musle memory" with your fingers. The speed for quick changes will come in time. After you get to where you are making changes slow and easy with a progression, then go to another progression, BUT keep practicing them all. For starters I would stick with a "G" chord progression, a "C" chord progression. a "D" chord progression  and a "E" chord progression as I think these are the most popular.

Nela

try this D G C F  or E A D G C part of the cycle of 4ths backwards from C its the cycle of 5ths try changing a chord for every beat till you can do it with ease then speed it up

To get started, I picked out some songs I wanted to do.  For each song, I wrote down each chord change.  Then I practiced each chord change a few hundred times a night.  I didn't even strum or do anything with my right hand.  I did it all as left hand training.  I did not try and figure out the easy way to get between chords (though I do that now).  I completely removed all fingers and tried to press each new chord correctly and quickly. 

Once playing a chord and then another chord fairly quickly, I started to think about exactly how to 'leverage' existing position.  Which fingers need to move, which don't.  That sort of thing.  Then I went about much the same sort of exercise with this additional knowledge.

I don't know if that's the right way to do it, but it's what I did and it seemed to work out OK.  A buddy of mine who teaches guitar and has been playing pro for decades was impressed with my agility at getting between open chords after about six months of playing.  He said most his students are still learning the chord forms that I was shifting between with ease. 

- Zurf

One important aspect of chord changing that I have not seen mentioned is to NEVER stop strumming. The stumming hand has to keep the rythem going and , as least to me, is just as important as making the chord changes. Also, by not stopping you can hide some minor "late changes" between chords and be able to keep the timing of the song goimg.

Nela

C - I
D - II
E - III
F - IV
G - V
A - VI
B - VII
C - VIII

Construct any major scale from your root note:
Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half
Or if you are from Europe and use semitones rather than whole step or half step:
Two, Two, One, Two, Two, Two, One

The basic rock and country chord pattern is I, IV, I, V.  Using the C major scale above, that's C, F, C, G.  If you do it in G, it's G, C, G, D.    If you do it in D then it's D, A, D, G.  If you can figure out WHY its GCGD or DADG to get I, IV, I, IV then you're doing great and well on your way.

Blues sometimes uses what's called a blues scale and flattens the third and sometimes also the seventh (which is a regular minor scale). 

Good luck.  Check into the theory forum on Chordie.  It's amazing.  Simply amazing reading in there from good teachers.

- Zurf

Vandean, I have been playing for years off and on and I still have to have chords and words in front of me.  I've just accepted it and move on.  I am envious of people who just pick up the guitar and start playing from memory.

I have found it helpful to just use a chord chart and try progressions to and from each chord on the chart. Some work well and then some chords don't blend too well. Once you get used to doing the chords and you remember how then is the time to use them in songs.

Great stuff.....however, a friend of mine (and yes, he's one of those that play several instruments......by ear) says that you can "hear" which way the song is going. If the song is in A, then you should be able to, by process of elimination, and in the time it takes to change chordes, know what the next chord should be.

Im self taught (2 years now and a vocab of swear words from frustration that would make a sailor jealous). I can play mostly all open chordes as well as the basic barre chordes, but for the life of me, cannot remember chorde sequences.

We have started playing a few gigs, but becomes a hassel setting up as its the mics, music stands, books, monitors, etc