Here is another way to practice switching between guitar chords:
Let’s use this extremely common chord progression:
The most effective way to master this is to ease into the chord switches using an easy strum pattern and working up to the one above.
Lets start with whole notes:
- Grab the G chord and strum it on beat 1.
- Let it ring for beats 1 and 2.
- Lift the chord on beat 3.
- Place the Em chord down during beat 4.
- Strum Em on beat 1 and continue in the same manner for the next chord. 1 2 LIFT PLACE…etc
- Play the thru the whole progression with out stopping at least 2 times.
- Use a metronome.
try it along with the recording.
Now lets try it with half notes:
- Strum the G chord on beat 1.
- Lift and place Em on beat 2.
- Strum Em on beat 3.
- Play thru the rest of progression in the same manner.
- Repeat progression multiple times.
* If this is too hard try a slower tempo or go back and work on the previous example more. You can also try working on the specific chord or two that gives you trouble using the GRAB, STRUM LET GO REPEAT method.
Now let’s try quarter notes:
- Strum the G on beats 1.
- Immediately lift/place the next chord on the 2nd half of that beat.
- Strum Em on beat 2 and continue through the rest in the same manner.
- Repeat the progression more that once at least..
* All the above example were recorded at the same tempo so that get faster proportionately. If any example is too fast you can try also try it at a slower tempo with your metronome.
Finally, try this strum pattern using 8th notes:
= Down Strum 
= Up Strum
- Strum chord on beats 1+2+3+4+ using a down strum on the numbers and an up on the +’s.
- Lift and place on the + or “and” of beat 4. If you lift properly you should be strumming up on open strings. Yes open strings. If you held on to the chord to the very last strum you wouldn’t have anytime to switch to the next chord. It happens for a short time and is almost unnoticeable as long as you don’t don’t dig in to it.
- Continue through the progression and repeat.
- Again if you have trouble, try slowing down the tempo and work on hard spots individually. I often have my students just play 4 + 1, the part where the the chords change.
Previous Lesson: Switching Between Guitar Chords Part I
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