Smoothly switching chords can be one of the greatest challenges facing musicians. To make this task easier, players should become aware of where each finger goes during each change and practice making this transition as slow and natural as possible.
Robert suggests leading with the finger that has the furthest distance to go; this way, all other fingers will naturally follow in its wake and eventually arrive at their destinations.
1. G Major
G is one of the most frequently employed chords, as its versatility allows it to work well with multiple melody notes and melody forms. You will likely come across G in various melodies; its consonant melody pitch over C can also be observed using basic Schenkerian analysis (not covered here).
Beginners usually start off learning this chord because it does not require too much strength or finger stretching to play it, while there are a few easy variations that can help improve fingering and strumming techniques. Beginners might prefer starting off with three finger shapes as these offer more fullness than four finger ones; both shapes can also work well when transposing to different keys with a capo.
2. C Major
C Major is often one of the first chords guitarists learn. While its open position makes it straightforward and accessible, its variety allows guitarists to compose different musical forms by changing its form or position.
Begin by placing your index finger across all five strings at the third fret and creating a C barre chord (also referred to as a cowboy chord).
Move up to the eighth fret and repeat this process, using your index finger to bar all strings at the second fret – this will create a C major triad which you can then use in many songs including Night Changes by One Direction.
3. D Major
D Major is one of the most frequently employed guitar chords, being featured in numerous popular songs such as Over the Hills and Far Away by Led Zeppelin and Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver.
This chord shape is a second-position D chord, meaning its lowest note falls on string six’s fifth fret. There are various open voicings of this shape; the most commonly employed involves leaving out some or all of its bottom strings for a bright sound.
To transition smoothly between this D shape and G or A shape, it can help to move your 1st finger over after the 2nd finger rather than before it. This makes the change less jarring. In addition, practice muting lower strings to avoid buzzy sounding chords.
4. E Major
E Major is a major scale that begins and ends on the note E and has four sharps and three white notes. Notably, E Major shares its notes with G Major, C Major, and F-flat Major; thus making chord patterns in this key easier for guitar players to memorize without counting out extra sharps and flats.
The E chord can be found in many songs, from rock riffs to some of the earliest known compositions like Greensleeves. When learning this basic E chord, experiment with variations – for instance you could create jazzy chord by placing your pinky finger at fret 2 of the first string while leaving off your ring finger – until you find one you like!
5. F Major
F Major is an accessible key that makes for simple yet beautiful music, not requiring much finger strength but necessitating some coordination to produce a beautiful tone.
Anna provides you with step-by-step instruction for playing a full barred F Major chord before transitioning into an easier three note version suitable for beginner guitarists. Anna recommends placing your thumb behind the neck so there is an empty space large enough to hold an egg, providing ample leverage when pressing down on strings.
This video also shows how to switch from G to C chord. When transitioning, it is best to move all fingers before your 1st, as this will ensure a more seamless and effortless change over time.