Uncle Bob's Guitar Lessons
Lesson 6 - Chord Change Tricks
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Combining the C to G Chord Change and C to F Chord Change techniques, this is a 'shortcut' method for switching from a G chord to a C chord and then to an F chord. Traditionally, you play your C and F chords like the following:
This is an extremely difficult technique to master when playing a song that has several quick changes between these chords. Here's why this is so difficult:
- The index finger (1) has to jump from B on the 5th string to the the C on the 2nd string, then jump from the C on the 2nd string to barre all 6 strings.
- The middle finger (2) has to jump from the G on the 6th string to the E on the 4th string, then jump from the E on the 4th string to the A on the 3rd string.
- The ring finger (3) has to jump from the G on the 1st string to the C on the 5th string, then stays in place on the 5th string.
- The pinky (4) is not used for the first two chords, but has to be added for the F on the 4th string.
Instead of playing the traditional way, I often prefer to use the chords shown in the following illustration:
Once again, this is a lot less movement. Here's what happens:
- The index finger (1) begins unused, then plays the C on the 2nd string, and then only barres the first two strings.
- The middle (2) and ring (3) fingers have to move over just one string for each successive chord change.
- The pinky (4) begins with G on the 1st string, and then is not used for the next two chords.
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