Chord changes

[John Bertotti]

Trying to learn chords of the four finger variety and changes between them. Been having problems with that. Not smooth fluid or even remotely good. Misplaced fingers more foten then not. Any tips to get it to come together or just keep plodding on till it improves?


Wanted to do a skpe Lesson with John but my internet has been flaky enough to make be put it off till it improves. Will be getting fiber optic in the next some time after the first of the year. I'm out in the country a ways so it is amazing I will be getting it at all but once I do a lesson or so will be possible.

[Patrick Killeen]

My usual method is to practice the chord changes slowly and deliberately. Fret one chord, strum it slowly to make sure I've hit all the strings cleanly, fret the next and so on. Go as slowly as you need to get it right and your fingers will eventually fall into place naturally allowing you to speed up.

Patrick

[John McGann]

Hi John- Meanwhile... ;)

Watch what happens when you go from one chord shape to the next. Do any fingers actually stay on the same string? If so, be sure to leave them in place. Try s l o w l y moving one finger at a time to it's new position on the next chord, so that you know exactly which finger moves to which string. The goal is to move all 4 fingers as a unit at the same time, but before that 'macro-movement' you can work on the 'micro-moves'. Try moving the 1st two fingers as a unit first, then add the 3rd and finally the 4th.

Bear in mind the further you lift the fingers and replant, the longer it takes. Try to hover near the fingerboard.

When you can connect them smoothly at a slow pace, get the metronome out and build speed. Once the fingers know where to go, and you practice the move (back and forth) a lot, it will become automatic. Repeat by a dozen different chord switches and viola- you'll be faster and smoother.

When you have a mental picture of what you are doing, and can see the move in your mind, you can get your hands to work more efficiently.

[groveland]

What these guys said. Plus, find all the inversions of a 4-note chord. No matter where you are, there's likely an inversion of that next chord near you! And then there's a really good chance you don't have to move more than a finger or two to grab the next chord in that inversion.

[Rob Gerety]

But also, yes, it does take time. It will come if you keep at it. One day you'll wake up and what was previously impossible will be second nature.

[EarlG]

Just my begginnerish opinion but you really don't need most four finger chords most of the time.

Have you got the three finger chords down really well? Then go on and work the four finger chords in where it's kind of easy and practice them at home.

They have gotten a lot easier and usable at jams for me, but I still just use them where they are easy.

[Rob Gerety]

Another thing that I do with tough stretches is to work them out up the fretboard where the stretches are smaller first until they are smooth and then move them to the lower fretboard.

[John Bertotti]

Thanks everyone couple things.
I do not know inversions and only have an idea of what they are.
I do not know three finger chords other then one chop chord and it took years to be able to stretch enough to add the forth finger.
Thanks again everyone it is a big help.

[EarlG]

Here are some three finger (or note) chords including a chop chord on the g-d-a strings:

E x224 that leaves out the 4 on the G string to make it a three finger so it's unapproved by many
G 755x chop chord
G 12 9 10 x
C 523x (same as 12 9 10 just moved up)

I have a feeling you already know these even though you say you only know one three finger chord.

Also, G 7523 get's really pretty easy pretty fast if you just keep using it.

I'm posting this because it will probably generate some comments and learning for me. :)

[John Bertotti]

7523 is a chop chord and in a nut shell till now I didn't realize what the #s represented. Inthis case the 7 is referrng to the 7th fret on the G string, correct. If so I now can understand the numbering. Now would someone please explain inversions. I am guessing it is alternate fingerings for any given chord. Is this correct?

[AZStu]

Now would someone please explain inversions. I am guessing it is alternate fingerings for any given chord. Is this correct?

An inversion is a voicing of the chord where the root isn't the lowest note

For example

Root position of G major G B D - 0 0 2 x
First Inversion - B G D - 4 5 5 x
Second Inversion - D B G - 7 910 x

All are G chords but "stacked" differently

[EarlG]

John, you got the numbering correct.

[groveland]

You probably noticed my signature line in my first post. There's a discussion about 4-finger chords and the [very simple if you learn it] process for finding the next inversion of any 4-finger shape.

You will be a chord encyclopedia.

[John Bertotti]

I hadn't explored it I just did. I will have to go over this a lot to get it. Thanks!

You getting snow, groveland, It's getting nasty wet here maybe a snowday will pop up soon so I can have some playing time!