This section here is on switching chords. Now, obviously you got to be able to switch them, sometimes you got to make those changes lightning fast. And here is what you can do to improve that and make your chord switches not only accurate but lightning fast.
First thing you are going to need is this little device here, which is called the metronome. This is just a simple little time keeper. Once, we start this, (demonstrating) three, four, one, two, three, and four. It will keep your time for you. Now, when it comes to switching chords, what I like to do is to play a game and the game is called four, three, two and one. Here is how it starts (Guitar playing). Take a chord progression (Guitar playing). We are going to start, for example, it could be any chords.
Now, let us start with the chord C, (Guitar playing) G, (Guitar playing) and D (Guitar playing) and back to C (Guitar playing). So C, (Guitar playing) G, (Guitar playing) D, (Guitar playing) and C.
Now, here is how the game is played. We are going to start the metronome. We are going to set your metronome and you can buy one of this at your local music store. Just ask the guy for a metronome and they will hook you right up, I am sure. We are going to start at 60 bits per minute.
Just like the clock (demonstrating) one, two, three and four. Now, as you cycle through the chords C, G, D and C. We are going to start off and you are going to have four counts to get from one chord to the next, the four chords we talked about. C (Guitar playing) G (Guitar playing) D and C.
So, we are going to count to ourselves, one, two, three, four, play the C (Guitar playing) one, two, three, four, be at that G (Guitar playing) two, three, go to the D (Guitar playing) one, two, three, four (Guitar playing) two three, four. So you need to strike that chord on the one beat. You know, one, two, three, four, one, two, three, and four on that one.
So we are going to do this one more time. I am going to give you a four count and we are going to play the chords C (Guitar playing) G (Guitar playing) D (Guitar playing) and C (Guitar playing) you will have four counts to get from one chord to another.
So as soon as you strike that chord, hustle right over to that other chord because you only got four seconds to get over there which might seem like a lot of time but you are going to see that a whole lot of time. So, here we go. I am going to give you a four count, one, two, three, four, C (Guitar playing) two, three, four (Guitar playing) two three, four, D (Guitar playing) two, three, back to C (Guitar playing) two.
Let us try that one more time. C (Guitar playing) two, three, four, G (Guitar playing) two, three, four, D (Guitar playing) two, three, four and C (Guitar playing) and then you are done. That is going to take you a little time. I suggest that you do not begin by putting your metronome on playing those chords for a little while and get to where you think you can change them okay.
Then, when you think you have to handle on it, then put your metronome on it because we do not want to go too fast and it will discourage you from playing. So, like I said, just practice the chords by themselves for awhile and then, when you feel confident that you got it, then put the metronome. Now, in keeping what we are talking about that whole four, three, two, one thing. Let us say you have that four, three, two, one. You have mastered that like what we just did here a minute ago. Then, we are going to try using the metronome in counting threes.
So, you are only getting three count in and then on that one, one, two, three, one, two, three on that one. You got to be on that chord and that is where you make everyone of your chords changes after that, right. So, here we go, I am going to give you three count and we are going to play those same chord, C, G, D and C. Ready, here we go. One, two, three, (Guitar playing) one, two, three, (Guitar playing) one, two, three, (Guitar playing) one, two, three, (Guitar playing) one, two, three, go it?
So, it is just a little bit faster. Now, after that, one you have mastered that, then we are going to do two’s, which means, you are only going to get two counts now to go through those chords, C, G, D and C again. So, are you ready to try two’s now? Alright, here we go. You are only going to get a two count in. So, it will sound like this, one, two (Guitar playing) one, two, (Guitar playing) one, two, (Guitar playing) one, two, (Guitar playing) one, two. One more time, (Guitar playing) one, two, (Guitar playing) one, two, (Guitar playing) one, two and (Guitar playing) one, two there we go.
Now, finally, once you get that (Guitar playing) if you are feeling a little balky, we are going to try once, which you really got to hustle to get that together okay. Remember, 60 bits per minute. Now, what I am going to do on this one. I am going to give you a four count (Guitar playing) but then, you have to change one chord for each C, G, D, C, again, C, G, D, and C. Ready, here it goes.
(Demonstrating) one, two three, four, (Guitar playing)
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