I’ve been playing bass for years and focused a lot on technique. I’ve now switched to guitar for about six months, but I’m still struggling with muscle memory. The transitions between different chord shapes, positions, or strings feel messy.
I mostly practice sitting down and notice that the neck wobbles a bit when I change shapes. So, I’m thinking about adjusting my posture to stop that wobble and focus on just my hands and fingers instead of my whole arm.
I’ve come to realize that no matter what else I practice, I need to spend at least 20 minutes a day just on chord changes.
Has anyone here found good resources (like blogs, YouTube channels, or drills) that helped them speed up chord changes? Anything beyond just switching between two shapes over and over?
I mostly practice sitting down and notice that the neck wobbles a bit when I change shapes
Have you tried using a strap even while sitting? It really helps take some of the tension off. The strap supports the guitar, and you don’t have to struggle to hold it up. That way, you can focus on the other things.
Just switching between chord shapes over and over can get boring. You can learn this naturally by playing real songs. Plus, 6 months isn’t too long on guitar. You’ll get better with time.
Maybe try learning some easy songs that use the chords you want to master? It’ll keep you motivated. You can probably find lists of easy chord-based songs with a quick search.
That said, practice drills can help, but 20 minutes seems like a lot. Maybe try 5 minutes of drills, then move on to songs? It’s important to have fun with it, or you might lose interest in playing.
@Vick
“Just learning songs” means you can isolate the hard parts and focus on those until you get them right. I think it’s a great approach because you get real context for what you’re learning. I also work on some 15 common progressions in a video course that you hear in most songs.
@Terry
That makes me feel better. I also realized that it’s not just about the shapes but how I place my thumb on the neck. If it’s too high, my fingers don’t curl enough. Going slow helps me see how my hand naturally moves.
I’m trying to visualize it too, but I still can’t ‘feel’ the chords in my hand without the neck. I could almost play an invisible bass, but with guitar, I need the neck to get the feel. It’s like there’s so much information at once, and with bass, it’s more straightforward with just one finger at a time.
That makes me feel better. I realize too it’s not just shape but also where I position my thumb on the back of the neck.
Right, you need to move your thumb up and down the neck to make the chord changes work. It’s all about keeping your hand relaxed, letting the weight of your hand do most of the work.
I still can’t just ‘feel’ chords in my hand without the neck.
The only solution is practice. For me, it helps to watch an instructor’s hand movements carefully. I slow the video down to 30% and try to match how they move their fingers and thumb. I pay attention to the order they use and how they form each chord. Then I practice moving between chords the same way. It helps with learning the right movements quickly.
Also, some chords were impossible for me at first. When I started playing funk, I struggled with 9th and 13th chords (especially with the pinky!). But after about a year and a half of practicing basics like open chords and barre chords, those same chords became easier.
