Guitar chord changes
Changing chords in time is the wall most beginners hit. Each page shows which fingers can stay down, where the others go, and opens a one-minute drill.01
Start here: the beginner ladder
The classic first changes, in the order most teachers use. Move on when you can make about 30 clean changes a minute.
- A ⇄ D slide finger 3 along the B string, move 1 and 2
- D ⇄ E slide finger 1 along the G string, move 2 and 3
- A ⇄ E nothing stays down, so land all fingers as one shape
- Em ⇄ G nothing stays down, so land all fingers as one shape
- C ⇄ G nothing stays down, so land all fingers as one shape
- G ⇄ D nothing stays down, so land all fingers as one shape
- Am ⇄ E nothing stays down, so land all fingers as one shape
- C ⇄ F keep finger 1 down, move 2 and 3
02
Every open-chord change
Easy
Medium
Hard
How to practise them
Pick one change, set a one-minute timer and switch back and forth as many times as you can. Write the number down, and do it again tomorrow. Read the full one-minute changes guide.
Open the drill