In this lesson
A chord change asks your fretting hand to reach a new shape while your strumming hand keeps its place in the beat. Learn the movement slowly enough to hear the notes, then give it a definite arrival time. You can work on one change from a song without playing the whole song each time.
Try a change with shared finger positions
This Am-to-C example uses standard tuning, E A D G B E from the lowest-pitched string to the highest. String 6 is low E; string 1 is high E.
| Chord | Finger positions | Open strings and strumming range |
|---|---|---|
| A minor (Am) | Index: B string (2), fret 1. Middle: D string (4), fret 2. Ring: G string (3), fret 2. | A (5) and high E (1) open. Strum strings 5 to 1; leave out low E (6). |
| C major (C) | Index: B string (2), fret 1. Middle: D string (4), fret 2. Ring: A string (5), fret 3. | G (3) and high E (1) open. Strum strings 5 to 1; leave out low E (6). |
Pick each chord’s five intended strings separately before practising the change. If a note buzzes or is muted, check whether the finger is just behind the fret wire and whether another finger is touching the string. Use only enough pressure to sound it clearly. The new-chord checks explain this in more detail.
For these fingerings, the index and middle fingers can stay where they are while the ring finger moves between the G string at fret 2 and the A string at fret 3. Try that slowly, releasing unnecessary pressure. You can lift and reset the shared fingers if keeping them in place makes you tense. A shared position is an option for the change, not a requirement to hold the hand still.
For other shapes, use the first-chord fingerings or chord charts. Check each new pair rather than assuming the same fingers can stay down.
Learn the movement without a timer
- Form Am and check its intended strings.
- Release enough pressure to move, then form C. Pause to place a finger if needed.
- Check C and return to Am.
- Notice one recurring problem, such as the ring finger touching the open G string in C. Adjust and try the change again.
Keep the movement comfortable and avoid lifting the fingers farther than you need. If a shape feels out of reach, check the guitar and hand position or choose a smaller shape. Take breaks and stop if playing hurts. Seek qualified healthcare advice if pain or other symptoms persist or keep returning.
Add one change per four-beat bar
Use 4/4, with four quarter-note beats in each bar. Count a full 1 2 3 4 before starting.
- In bar 1, strum Am once on beat 1 and let it ring while you count 2, 3 and 4.
- In bar 2, strum C on beat 1 and count the remaining beats.
- Return to Am on beat 1 of bar 3 and repeat the two-bar sequence.
The gap between 4 and the next 1 is the same length as between the other numbered beats. If the change needs more time, reduce the tempo or give each chord two complete bars. You can also stop and practise the movement separately before returning to the count.
With the online metronome, select four beats per bar and let one click mark each number. Try 60 BPM as an example and adjust to a pace you can follow. Think ahead to the next shape while counting, and aim to sound it on the intended beat.
When the change is manageable, try one downstrum on every numbered beat while keeping each chord for a whole bar. The beginner strumming lesson adds counted upstrokes; the easy progressions give you other chord sequences and bar lengths.
Optional: count changes for a minute
A timer can help you compare attempts at the same task. Use a pair you can already form comfortably and stop early if you need a break. This drill has no target score or required daily duration.
For this version, start on Am without counting it. Change to C and strum its intended strings; count one if they sound clearly. Return to Am and check it for the second change. Continue in that way, counting each clear arrival once. A round trip from Am to C and back to Am counts as two changes.
Write down the chord pair, fingerings and what you counted as clear. Compare under the same conditions on another day. More counted changes alone do not establish steadier timing, easier movement or readiness for a song’s tempo; return to the four-beat exercise to check the timing.
Source notes
D’Addario’s routine with Justin Guitar separates chord clarity from change practice and suggests tracking successful changes. The finger placements above follow its written Am instructions and Fender’s C instructions. The count and scoring convention here are specified for these exercises.