The Goal

Many beginners can play chords individually, but the rhythm falls apart when switching. This lesson builds the skill of keeping your strumming steady while your fretting hand moves efficiently.

Common Beginner Chord Pairs

• E major ↔ A major
• A major ↔ D major
• Em ↔ G
• C ↔ G (when you're ready for C)

Anchor Fingers

An anchor finger is a finger that stays on (or near) the same place during a chord change. Using anchors makes switching faster and smoother.

• Look for shared notes between two chords.
• Try to keep at least one finger touching the guitar as a guide.
• Sliding one finger to a nearby fret can also act as an anchor.

Chord Change Exercise – 4 Beat Loop

1. Choose two chords (example: E → A).
2. Strum the first chord four times: 1 2 3 4.
3. Switch to the next chord and repeat four times.
4. Loop back and forth slowly and evenly.

Slow Motion Practice

• Forget the strumming for a moment and just move the fretting hand.
• Say the chord names aloud as you switch.
• Move your fingers slowly and stay close to the strings.

Adding Rhythm Back In

1. Start with simple downstrums on 1–2–3–4.
2. Keep your strumming hand moving even if your left hand is late.
3. Don’t stop the rhythm — let the chord sound wrong for a beat if needed.

Suggested Practice

• Spend 2–3 minutes each on:
  • E ↔ A
  • A ↔ D
  • Em ↔ G
• Increase tempo only when the movement feels relaxed.

Downloadable Practice Sheet

Download Lesson 5 – Chord Change Exercises (PDF)

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