| One of the most significant problems guitarists of all | | | | only to track your progress. |
| levels encounter is the ability to change chords quickly | | | | 3. Guitar Grids - divide your strings into four string grids. |
| and accurately. | | | | It's amazing how many great guitar sounds you can |
| It's not simply a matter of practice makes perfect, | | | | achieve by playing triads (three note chords), often |
| rather a case of "perfect practice" make perfect. | | | | triad playing is overlooked as something only beginning |
| The best way to accelerate our guitar playing is to | | | | guitar players use for playing nursery rhymes. |
| avoid learning something the wrong way and then | | | | Start by dividing the six strings of your guitar into four |
| reinforcing that bad habit by practicing our mistakes. | | | | string grids, each grid consisting of three strings. |
| Once we learn something it is very hard to re-train our | | | | String grid 1: strings 1, 2 & 3 |
| nervous system, keep in mind that it takes one | | | | String grid 2: strings 2, 3 & 4 |
| hundred consecutive correct inputs to replace one | | | | String grid 3: strings 3, 4 & 5 |
| incorrect piece of information. | | | | String grid 4: strings 4, 5 & 6 |
| Here's three tips for learning guitar chords and | | | | The idea is to restrict yourself to only one string grid |
| overcoming difficulties with chord changes : | | | | and learn to play all the chords of the harmonized |
| 1. Single Movement chord change - When moving | | | | scale entirely on that string grid. |
| from one chord to the next it is essential that your left | | | | For example, play the following chords on string grid 1: |
| hand fingers (assuming you are a right handed player) | | | | C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim & C |
| stamp down on the strings in onesingle movement...like | | | | Then learn how to play the same chords entirely on |
| a rubber stamp! | | | | string grid 2: |
| 2. Metronome practice - left hand motor skill training | | | | When training with a metronome you will notice that |
| program | | | | your tempo will vary from day to day, this is to be |
| (a) choose a chord shape you are having difficulties | | | | expected. Keep in mind your target tempo and be |
| with. | | | | prepared to work slowly towards that tempo. |
| (b) Tap your foot and adjust your metronome to the | | | | Remember that we want to avoid making costly |
| tempo you feel comfortable with. | | | | mistakes that will require an enormous amount of |
| (c) Let the metronome click for a few bars, when you | | | | re-training to fix. |
| are ready strum the chord once on the first beat and | | | | Most fast songs on the radio are performed at a |
| continue tapping your foot for the remaining three | | | | tempo between mm=100 to mm=120, keeping this in |
| beats. | | | | mind when you practice will keep you focused on |
| (d) Our first tempo objective is a successful | | | | accurate playing. |
| performance of the chord you have selected at a | | | | By practicing your chord changes slowly and |
| metronome tempo of 60 beats per minute (mm=60). | | | | accurately, then gradually increasing your metronome |
| (e) Do not set your metronome to a desired speed | | | | tempo over a number of weeks you will notice a new |
| and try to rise to meet it. rather, use the metronome | | | | confidence in your chord playing. |