No matter what style of music they play, guitarists must be able to switch smoothly between chords while keeping steady time and adhering to the almighty groove.
Whether strumming basic open-position
No matter what style of music they play, guitarists must be able to switch smoothly between chords while keeping steady time and adhering to the almighty groove.
Whether strumming basic open-position chords at relaxed tempos or attempting to nail complex barre chords at breakneck tempos, it’s important for your chord-to-chord movement to be fluid.
This lesson offers fundamental chord-switching techniques that are applicable to all styles and situations. As you’re playing these figures, it will be helpful to think ahead at all times and visualize the upcoming chord before fretting it.
Now bust out that ax, make sure it’s in tune, and get ready to switch things up.
OPEN-STRING STRUMMING
Let's start out with some cowboy chords. In FIGURE 1, there's an open-string strum on each upbeat preceding a chord change. This might seem weird, but don't fret; since the open strings are mostly consonant with the key signature, there's no clash in harmony, and strumming the open strings will buy you some time between chords during which you can form the fingerings "in the air." Note that similar shapes, such as the open E and Am chords—which are played with the same fingering but on different string sets—tend to facilitate smooth switching.
FIGURE 1
DISSONANT TRANSITIONS
In FIGURE 2, the open-string technique is applied to six- and five-note barre chords. In this case, the open strings are not consonant with the key signature, Eb major. They do, however, create an interesting dissonance throughout the figure. When switching between chords that have the same fingering—like the Bb and Ab chords in bar 2—keep your fret-hand fingers locked in the shape. Also, as you play through the progression, be sure to maintain a steady 16th-note strumming motion with your