Switching Chords: A Better Way To Learn (and Teach)

Recently I had a chance to sit down and play some tunes with a Fretboard Anatomy reader.

She was telling me how frustrated she was with barre chords, so I thought I’d take a few minutes today to show you how to tackle switching chords, particularly those tricky ones.

Recap

• set a timer
• use calendar alarms to be sure you’re working on it everyday
• chord squeezing
• then chord squeezing with a slight lift
• then chord squeezing with a bigger lift
• then chord squeezing with fully outstretched hand
• once you can make the chord reliably, introduce switching chords
• set a metronome for 60-80bpm
• play whole notes – you have all four beats to make the switch
• once that’s not difficult, switch to half notes
• then quarter notes
• then consider speeding up the metronome