How to Switch Chords Smoother and Faster on Guitar

Picture this.

You’re playing a beautiful piece of music, but suddenly you hit a wall.

It’s a chord switch that stops you in your tracks.

You freeze.

Your fingers get confused and end up in the wrong place.

I’ve been there.

Playing a chord by itself is fairly simple.

But getting from one chord to another can be quite a challenge!

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Here are three strategies that make chord switches smoother, quicker, and more enjoyable:

1. Start Slow

Practice the chord switch slowly with metronome.

Start by playing the first chord on a click and letting three clicks go by before you play the next chord. This gives you time to figure out what the fingers need to do to get from one chord to another.

When that feels easy, try only letting two clicks go by. Then only one click. Then no clicks in between chords.

2. Move Each Finger Directly

The closest distance between two points is a straight line. This is obvious, but we may forget to apply it to our chord switches.

No two chord switches are exactly the same. Switching from a G chord to a D chord requires different finger movements than switching from a G chord to a C chord.

Notice exactly what each finger needs to do to get from one chord to the next.

3. Categorize Types of Finger Movements

When you consider what an individual finger needs to do in a chord switch, there are only four options:

a. Common finger – This is a finger that stays in the same place in both chords.Think of the 1^st and 2^nd fingers when switching from an open position C chord to an Am chord.

b. Guide finger – This is a finger that stays on the same string but changes fret. Think of the 3^rd finger when switching from an open position D7 chord to a G chord.

c. Relative finger – This is a finger that stays on the same fret but changes string. Think of 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd fingers when switching from an open position C chord to a G7 chord.

d. Roaming finger – This is a finger that changes string and fret. Think of the 3^rd finger when switching from an open position C chord to an Am chord.

The above categories get harder as you move down the list. So take advantage of common fingers and guide fingers when you can.

As you use these strategies, your chord switches will become smoother and quicker.

As a result, your enjoyment of playing guitar will increase.

Keep making music!