Chords and Hand Coordination

Yeah - i've read a lot about athletes using the visualisation too - with excellent results.

I took up the guitar about 4 weeks ago, and have the same "dyslexia" problem too, although I can go some changes now - but anything with D or C in it, I sort of grand to a halt while I sort my fingers out....

Some advice from me.

It was only a year or two ago that i struggled with exactly the same thing. My method to get me past it was to forget about more complicated rhythm for the time being and just down strum on the beats. Anything i tried to play was slowed down greatly (Pick up a metronome if you can, it will help you with the timing of your changes and GREATLY help with the more complicated rhythms when you come to them.) and if you hear something not quite right, stop, place your hand in the position of the chord you were playing then strum down slowly hitting each string individually and letting it ring to make sure the right strings are making the right noise, you never know, your guitar may just be out of tune slightly.

Another method i employed was to first learnt the easier variations of the chords when changing from others. For example (Take the tab as E-A-D-G-B-E) the G chord i always play is 3-2-0-0-3-3 and then if you are struggling playing C, try a C2 x-3-2-0-3-3 and then a normal C x-3-2-0-1-0 to an F (Those pesky barre chords are horrible when you start) which origionally is 1-3-3-2-1-1, but this one works just as well 0-0-3-2-1-0

Look into different variations of chords for the easy looking ones and work your way up to the more difficult ones. I tell you now, once the easy ones are nailed, the hard ones come much easier.

Thanks for that, that's one thing my teacher keeps saying i need to slow down, its soo easy to play fast on the bits you can do, then it goes wrong when I get to the other changes...

Will probably get shot down in flames for saying this - but I loved guitar hero (have the metallica one) which was why I then decided to play the real thing, but I'm too used to strumming quickly...

Will have a look an ebay for a metronome - that's a good idea - thank you :D

Will have a look an ebay for a metronome - that's a good idea - thank you :D

You can get good ones quite cheap new as well.

I have this Korg. It is a metronome and tuner in the same box. Both tools are useful.

....Will probably get shot down in flames for saying this - but I loved guitar hero (have the metallica one) which was why I then decided to play the real thing, but I'm too used to strumming quickly...

Have heard similar from other folks from time to time. We all have our inspirations. :wink:

Have heard similar from other folks from time to time. We all have our inspirations. :wink:

Thanks :D

Just been and had a look at metronomes - they seem to have a changed a bit since the one my old piano teacher used to use when I was a kid LOL