Guitar problems?

Question

I'm learning to play guitar at the moment and I'm having real problems switching between A and D chord. I just can't seem to be able to change frets smoothly without taking up too musch time and messing it up.
Anyone got any tips to help this guitarist in distress? Anything appreciated.

Answer 1

practice practice practice...also instead of making the A chord using the D G & B strings just lay the index finger down across the bottom four (DGBE), well known shortcut

Answer 2

Practice is the only way to crack it.

Having said that, you've made me think about what my fingers do when I switch from A to D.

When I'm fretting an A chord, my third finger is on the B string at the 2nd fret. (first and second fingers are on d and g strings respectively both at 2nd fret).
When I jump from A to D, my third finger doesn't actually come off the string. I only lift the fist and second fingers.
The third finger stays on the B string as a point of reference to guide the other fingers.
My third finger simply slides along the B string to the 3rd fret, and the other two fingers drop into place behind it in the classic triangular D chord shape.

Does this make any sense to you, or am I rambling like a lunatic here?.

The method that Djayfenix mentioned will also work, but make sure you don't press in the E string. If you do, you won't be playing a D, you'll be playing a D6 chord.

Answer 3

Well as you see above, you have to practice. No way around that, but its a given. Someone mentioned muscle memory, and yes, that's at the center of the problem and gets better as you practice. Another very crucial point is efficiency. Make sure you are chording in such a way that you have to move as few fingers as possible. Whenever possible slide a finger instead of pick it up and move it. When you do pick up a finger, only pick it up as far as you have too. Just a few basics of efficiency as it applies to chording. Also when you practice don't go for speed, go for acuracy. If it takes you several seconds to go from A to D, just focus on landing it right and efficient. Speed will come with time. If you've ever watched someone play an amazing piece of music, and though, it doesn't even look like they are playing that, thats a good example of efficiency.

Answer 4

Don't worry too much, that chord change is not so tough. You just need to practice more... like at least 1 hour a day. If you're serious about learning.
By the way, when I first evaluate a new student, I have him/her make a D to C chord change and vice versa. Much more difficult since all the fingers go to different strings. If student can not do that, he is still beginner.

Answer 5

when you are first learning to play the guitar its not gonna be easy to go from chord to chord it will take some time but the more you practice at it the faster you will be able to go ...an exercise to help you move your fingers along faster from fret to fret is putting your index finger on a fret now pluck the first string and when you do that you quickly put your middle finger on the next fret those are called push on's you keep doing that with all of your fingers as you go up the strings when your done you do the same thing only backwards you pluck the string and pull your finger off the string..those are called push off's ..hope that helps but trust me i know i play guitar and when you first learn you just wanna be able to rock out and jam along and be pro ..but your fingers will sore in the beging and after you learn the chords things will go alot smoother and just keep practicing going from chord to chord fret to fret and just paste yourself so you dont get frusterated ..playing the guitar is something you should be able to do without getting angry it shuld be fun and enjoyable so just keep going chord to chord as fast as possible and you will be able to go chord to chord and playing songs before you know it..hope that helps :D

Answer 6

PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE....Start with the simple chords first (bars and opens) It will get easy with time (if you practice) When you get in the "D" chord ), try sliding up the neck to the 5th fret , and then the 9th (this will give you eye-hand skills while working on the "D" chord. When your not playing , try taping your fingers together (thumb to index , thumb to middle , thumb to ring , thumb to pinky , thumb to ring ...and so on )with your strumming hand hold your pick and try to twirl it (like the drummers do with drumsticks) This builds the mussels you will need to play . GOOD LUCK and DON'T GIVE-UP IT TAKES TIME TO LEARN - EVEN MORE TIME TO BE GOOD !!!

Answer 7

I know it's not what you want to hear, but all you can do is practice.

I know this may seem odd, but make sure your hands are warm. I have prblems moving quickly if my hands are cold.


But other than that, all you can do is practice. There is no trick, no secret methods.

If you have to, just switch several times back and forth to develop a muscle memory to the strings and frets. Don't strum, just swich. It will all come in good time.

Answer 8

You just have to be patient and give it time , especially at the learning stage. You won't get quick results overnight - but it will come. While you're working at learning things , just set aside some time to experiment with other techniques , make stuff up , have fun and just dive into sounds that are pleasing to you - the other stuff will follow.

Answer 9

Are you using the right fingers on the right string and fret as going from A to D and back is one of the easiest.

Answer 10

Practice helps. Also see if you can get yourself a good guitar with a fast neck (easier to span) and shallow action (easier to change position because less pressure needed to make the notes).