Anticipate and Improve Your Chord Changes
Try using a little anticipation whilst learning how to play guitar. You may find that your ability to change chords quickly and cleanly improves rapidly.
I know you may think that you have enough on your plate, what with trying to remember where your fingers go, how many strings to hit, how hard to hit them, at what angle, and all the other things that you have to be conscious of.
Believe me, if you can add a little anticipation, you will move forward much more quickly.
Lets examine how to put the skill of anticipation into practice.
We'll use the chords E Major followed by G# minor. These are the first two chords in the song Whistle for the Choir by the Fratellis.
The first chord, the E Major is fretted as usual using fingers 2 and 3 on the 5th and 4th strings at fret 2.
The first finger frets the G# at the first fret of the G string. Play 4 strums of this chord.
The chord in the next bar is a G# minor. In actual fact the chord shown on the diagram is a G# minor with a D# bass note. Dont worry about that for the moment. I have shown the chord below as it easier to finger than the full barre chord.
E G#m
E||--0----0----0----0----|--4----4----4----4----|
B||--0----0----0----0----|--4----4----4----4----|
G||--1----1----1----1----|--4----4----4----4----|
D||--2----2----2----2----|--6----6----6----6----|
A||--2----2----2----2----|--6----6----6----6----|
E||--0----0----0----0----|----------------------|
This is fretted with fingers 3 and 4 on the A and D strings at the 6th fret, and your index finger barred across the 4th fret of stings 1 2 and 3.
I know this chord may still be a problem to some players, but I will suggest an alternative form later.
Now its time to anticipate.
As you strum the E Major chord, notice that your little finger is next to your third finger. Now imagine the 3rd and 4th finger moving together as one unit up the neck to land on the 6th fret of the 5th and 4th strings. Dont worry this can be done in a split second. It takes much longer to read, than it does to visualise. It isn't neccesary to think about this a lot, indeed you wont have time to think about it a lot. Just play nice even strums on the E Major and be very aware of where your fingers are going for the next chord.
As you then move into the position for the G# minor, your index finger can lie right across the top 3 strings on the 4th fret, where it will now naturally fall.
If you have a problem getting the full G# minor shape you can just use your index finger on the top 3 strings. Please be aware though that now this chord becomes a triad on the top 3 strings. If you play the 4th string open with it, it will sound strange as the D note isnt part of the chord.
Your focus and anticipation must now be on the 4th fret and getting your index finger, which in the E major is fretting the 1st fret G string, over to the top 3 strings at the 4th fret.
Purposely making use of anticipation and visualisation in chord changes is very useful, and will speed up your progress. It just calls for a bit more mental preparation than is usual.
You will only need to do this exercise until your fingers 'muscle memory' is strengthened.
Before you know it you will be changing from chord to chord with fluency and speed, without even thinking about it.
