changing chords...huh...tough!!!

[anti_trust]

hey all! i am really new to guitars.I have no idea where to start learning from.Is it the chords that i shud learn or something else that comes first?i have been trying on the basic open chords....but its too hard for me to change chords.I take a huge pause while doing that!I need some assistance....:)

[Coffee]

Long pauses comes with the territory when learning chords. The nice thing about chords is that if you have any kind of a voice (and before you say you can't sing listen to Bob Dylan and Neil Young) you have something to sing along to. The voice is everyones free gift.

Take your time. Do it right and don't worry about keeping a strict rhythm while learning the new chord positions. Keep your fingers close to the frets or you will get quite a bit of buzzing. It's common to blame the left hand when the right hand is the problem and the other way around. Hang in there. Your hands and brain will soon learn what they are supposed to do.

As far as other things, make up a simple melody or figure out how to play a common simple songs melody. This will train your hands and your ear at the same time.

[anti_trust]

Well i've been talking to quite a lot of ppl abt this and they sey that changing chords smoothly just comes with practice.I am really working on it and i hope to get on with it.
What exactly did u mean by playing a songs melody...i mean i dont know the songs chords and stuff so whatever that i play doesnt sound like any song....lol!
I hope i have started off with the rite thing....as in learning chords at first?
I am so desperate to play my guitars to tunes of songs...but i guess thats on the later stage.Anyways i'll keep trying ..... :D

[fatstrat]

You might want to learn how to change chords by switching between power chords. The finger positions for power chords are so basic that all you have to do is move your hand and not think about what position to put your fingers in. Hopefully you will be able to get this way with normal chords too. Once you memorize the chord very well and can play it without a chord book you should be able to switch between them.

-Mark

[Coffee]

What kind of music do you like to play.

I could give you a couple of simple progressions if you like. Or, tell me what chords you're learning and I'll use those.

By melody, I mean the notes that would normally be sung. For example 'Happy birthday to you' etc. Figuring out the notes is great ear training. As far as power chords, often if a person is interested in rock specifically, this is a great way to get started. It can also be stifling since suddenly you can make music and you stop learning, satisfied with just what you know. The broader your understanding the better.

[anti_trust]

Hi there!
Well the kind of music i like is usually slow stuff.....i aint into heavy music like rock.....i'd like to play songs like...*everything i do* and *when u say nothing at all*....u get the idea rite abt what kinda songs i listen to.
I am working on teh basic chords.....like G,G7,C,D7.....chords like these!
One more thing i wanted to know......the strumming patterns also matter rite.....suppose if u tell me to play a few chords....i'd even have to know of a certain strumming pattern for them rite?
Waiting for a reply from u........

[Dann]

I am new to guitar as well, so I have the same problem. I decided to learn the basic chords and use those to practice my technique transitioning between them. Once I knew about 9, I picked maybe 4 of them and I just started practicing stumming a simple pattern (4 strums in a row relatively slow) and moving between the chords. I was incredibly slow in the beginning, but after doing it over and over about everyday, I am able to actually play a melody. I made up the melodies at first, then I hit the internet, got a couple of songs by the 'Cowboy Junkies' with a simple strum pattern, put in the cd and played along until I had something that sounded remotly the same. I am finding that once I get warmed up I can move between better if I don't watch my left hand the entire time. (Never thought I would be able to)!

That is where I am now, still practicing these and trying to make some up that I think sound decent to me. Some of the chord prgressions that I am using are: G-F-C, C-Am-E-F-C-G, G-D-Am-C.

I feel that these really stretch me at this time.
Like I said, I have only been playing a few months, I don't know if this the correct way to start, but I sure am having fun! But I am definately going for lessons when I can afford them consistently!

Have fun!
Dann

[Coffee]

Anti-

Dann's right. A good approach when you find you're starting to move reasonably between chords is to then go to a very simple pattern like a chord strum per beat. This is excellent practice and not as simple as it sounds.

A good way to do it is to use a metronome, or if someone in your house has a electronic keyboard that will do rhythm use that. The metronome is nice because it will tell you how fast you're going and they're only about $20 for an inexpensive quartz one. If you're like most of us, at first when you're playing with a metronome ticking you will be absolutely convinced it isn't working right but stick to it and it will get better.

Slow and correct technique is far more important than fast and sloppy. It'll come faster than you expect. You'll find that other rhythms will come but your priority at the beginning is to get your timing and your chord fingering down.

Power chords as previously suggested are not particularly good for your style of music. They have their place but learning what fits for us is what we will learn the fastest.

One other thing. When you feel ready, start playing with other guitarists, just sitting around and learning off each other is invaluable and don't let any of them tell you your not very good. Every one of us is at a specific development stage and not all of us are interested in the same things. Be true to what you want to play.

A couple of progressions you could use with those chords are both in the key of G but start with a different chord.

G C D7 or C D7 G or D7 C G

If you play the first two chords with four beats each and then the last chord with eight beats it will likely sound most natural. Then just start fooling around with the chords to develop your ear and to create your own thing. Eg G C D7 C G etc.

Then learn an Aminor chord and put it in the place of the C or an Em and put it in the place of the G.

I'll keep an eye on this thread for you and Dann

:D

[anti_trust]

Hey there....
I am really working on the major chords at the moment.....
i just wanted to know....that strumming up adn down the strings is kinda boring....i am sure strumming plays a major role in how a tune sounds...its not only the chords that we shud lay emphasis on.I need to know more abt the strmming patterns?

[Coffee]

For rhythm patterns, try this http://www.cyberfret.com/techniques/strumming/101/index.htm