Chord Changes For Beginner: Intermediates

Most newbies have had trouble with this: They are trying out a new song but they don't understand half of the chords.

The answer is simple although most newbies won't pick up on it.

Let's use a chord that most newbies won't understand: C#7. Most newbies won't know that it is x46464. But some of the more intermediate newbies know that B7 is x24242 but they don't realise that in order to get to C#7 they need to just slide their hand up along the neck. (I myself only realised this the week before I posted this!)

The cool thing is that this also works for all other chords.

For example: Eb is a half-step higher than D, so move D a fret up to make it Eb (xx0232 becomes xx5343)

OR

Abm7 is a step lower than Bbm, so move Bbm7 down 2 frets to fix it.

HOPE THIS HELPS!

Comments

[TheNameOfNoone]

Realized this ages ago, I'm not a beginner tho
Great article. Cheers.

[zillaman]

Very true. I learned this about three months after I started playing, so it doesn't help now, but I would have LOVED to know this when I fist started playing.

Thanks man

[Tiago Sa]

This is why a teacher is so important.

I should also point out that, in chord changes, it's important to keep as many fingers pressing the strings as possible.

Imagine you're going from a D to a G, both major. D major is xx0232 and G major is 320022. The trick is to lift all your fingers EXCEPT for the one pressing the 3rd fret on the second string (which should be your ring finger) and then doing the G major chord with that ring still pressing the 3rd fret on the second string.

Here are some chord transitions to think about:

G to D (and vise versa):
320033 to xx0232 - you keep the 3 on the second string

C to A minor (and vise versa):
x32010 to x02210 - you keep the 2 on the fourth string and the 1 on the second

C to E minor (and vise versa)
x32010 to 022000 - you COULD keep the 2 on the fourth string, but doing an E minor with your index and middle fingers is not the usual approach, but it works great in some cases, specially if you're having your pinky fretting the first string for an added feel.

And while we're on the subject of unusal positions, try this out:
A major - x02220 but use your middle finger on the fourth string, your index on the third and your ring finger on the second (it will feel odd at first but it's probably easier if you have stubby fingers like myself). And then change to a D major - xx0232 while leaving your index finger on the third string.

[RockstarAdam]

Hey Tiago, not ungrateful but you could have made a really sweet lesson of that and raised your contributions (ahem instead of adding it onto mine) but yeah what you said is true

[Tiago Sa]

Will try to do it mate. Thanks for the appreciation.

I didn't do it because a lesson requires something more well thought of and solid, and it's a bit more work than posting a comment

[shotdeer]

Have I missed something? If I move D xx0232 half step higher to Eb it becomes xx1343 not xx5343 as you said.

Or maybe I just don't know.

For example: Eb is a half-step higher than D, so move D a fret up to make it Eb (xx0232 becomes xx5343)