| Guitar chords can be difficult for the beginner, there | | | | player. |
| seems to be so many chords to learn and how do | | | | The solution is to re-design the chord shapes in a way |
| you remember all of them? Anyone who has ever | | | | that only requires 2 or 3 fingers with minimum finger |
| tried to learn the guitar will remember, endless difficult | | | | movement between chords. Modify any chord shape |
| chord shapes, buzzing strings and unmusical sounds. | | | | so that you are only playing the first 3 or 4 strings. this |
| Try these four tips and you will be well on your way to | | | | will give you a good sounding chord without all the |
| overcoming the guitar chord blues. | | | | unnecessary stretching. |
| Tip 1 -- memory cards | | | | Tip 3 -- chord stamp |
| The best way to recall chord names and associate | | | | When you are changing chords take special note of |
| the chord name with the correct chord shape is via | | | | how your fingers make up the chord shape. |
| data memory cards. Simply use a blank index card | | | | The idea is to have all your fingers stamp down on the |
| with the chord name on one side of the card and the | | | | chord in one single movement, not two of three |
| correct chord shape on the other side of the card. | | | | movements. Think of your fingers coming down on the |
| Use these data memory cards like question and | | | | strings like a rubber stamp. |
| answer cards, look at them each day adding new | | | | Tip 4 -- metronome |
| cards as you learn more chords. The concept is, you | | | | Once you know the chord shape you will need to |
| would have three piles of cards -- a daily pile, weekly | | | | develop speed and accuracy with your chord |
| pile and monthly pile. | | | | changes. |
| Once you get the answer correct place the card in a | | | | Use a metronome to monitor your progress. Start by |
| weekly pile, at the end of the week, test yourself with | | | | setting the metronome to 60 beat per minute. Select a |
| all the chords in the weekly pile, the data cards that | | | | chord progression to practice, strum the chord on the |
| you correctly answered from the weekly pile move to | | | | first beat of the bar and listen to the metronome for |
| the monthly pile, the cards that were answered | | | | the remaining three beats. The idea is to get the next |
| incorrectly go back to the daily pile. | | | | chord change accurately on the first beat of the next |
| You will be able to remember an enormous number of | | | | bar, if the chord change isn't accurate, slow the |
| chords using this method. | | | | metronome down. |
| Tip 2 -- easy shapes | | | | We want to use the metronome to track our |
| Most of the chord shapes presented in commercially | | | | progress, don't set the metronome and try to reach |
| available guitar "chord books" are too difficult for | | | | the tempo, rather use the metronome to monitor our |
| beginners. The generic chord shapes contained in | | | | daily progress. Gradually increase the tempo over time. |
| these books are technically correct however highly | | | | The most important thing to keep in mind is to tap your |
| impractical for the guitarist, even an experienced | | | | foot and concentrate on developing your rhythm. |