Common Challenges and Solutions for Beginning/Intermediate Players – Part 1 - Chord Switches and Strumming

There are several very common sources of frustration for beginning and intermediate guitar players. The good news is, there are solutions for all of these that anyone can master! Whatever your goals are, whatever your age or your perceived talent level, the solution is probably easier than you think. Many problems – that students are often tempted to quit over - likely can be solved with the right technique and just a few weeks of practice (really!) J

1. Smooth Chord Switches - Left Hand Essentials

• Use anchor or pivot fingers. An anchor finger is a common finger between 2 chords. If one doesn’t exist, it can often be created. Don’t lose your place on the fingerboard – and valuable time - by lifting your fingers completely off (if you can help it).
• Use the most logical fingering you can with the strongest fingers possible.
• DON’T let your fingers lean on each other! This is unnecessary (a sign of weak fingers) and will prevent you from making fast switches.
• Watch your hand angle. Keep your fingers parallel to the frets, hand facing forward. Your elbow should be relaxed, not pulling in or out.

<- 1 is anchor <- 2 is anchor

More examples: Full (4 finger) G to D – 3 is anchor. Create an anchor using 2 when moving from an A bar chord to a Bm.

2. Ability to Play in Correct Rhythm – Right Hand Essentials

This is the key to making your playing sound like the actual songs, and rhythm CAN BE LEARNED! There is a reason that the right hand (most peoples’ dominant hand) is in charge of rhythm – it’s because that’s what holds the music together. You can cover up left hand mistakes much easier than you can right hand ones. Beginners OFTEN neglect the right hand because the left hand actions seem so much more difficult.

• Get a metronome. Count out loud and tap your foot. Count to 4 (each count is a down strum) and make sure the left hand is keeping up while the right hand never hesitates. If you can’t do this, slow down until you can and work it back up.
• Keep the right hand in motion even when it’s not playing the strings. This is critical to keeping in time.

** Contact Leanne for a free email lesson on rhythm exercises.

©2008 Leanne Regalla. All Rights Reserved. May not be duplicated or distributed without permission.

Leanne Regalla

Amazing Cool Music Place, 509 Mill Street, Coraopolis, PA 15108 412-269-0846

www.amazingcool.com

leanne@amazingcool.com