C to G chord changes

Hello folks . I was wondering if anyone can help me with a big chord change problem that I can't seem to get down . When I try to move from C to G I find it hard to visualize and force my fingers to go to the appropriate strings .

I can go from G to D to A and even Am and Em but from C to G I fail miserably . Granted when I play G I use a 4 finger string pattern EABE cause It sounds more fuller and better then just a regular G .

As for F and B chords Still practicing but yeah chord changes still have are a issue in general although I have improved a great deal . Perhaps I should get a metronome .

For what it's worth I have the exact same problem. Play the G the same way and struggle with this change specifically. This is the only one that dispite practice I still can't quite get it right

There are no super secrets guys. Just have to keep practicing. You might want to try just going from no chord to the g chord till you get better at hitting the g. Just leave the strings open and the play the g, lifting your fingers off and putting them back down. Just keep playing, thats about all you can do.

I had the same issue and I got past it by using connector chords. Yes I am aware that there is no connector from C to G but there is a common connector from Em to C and G. So what I did was to play those three chords using my Em connector until I built up the muscle memory in my fingers to just grab the G and the C solo.

Basically I knew I had a problem and one that was frustrating me to no end so using those three chords I just played out the chord progression Em C Em G over and over until I eventually could play the same chords but go to any one I wanted without having to use the connector. The point is to build your muscle memory but not riddle your play with frustration and defeat. So in my opinion endless grabbing for the G and C chord and tripping over your fingers is counter productive and not fun at all. Hope this helps and goodluck

I assume your position for G is pinky on the e, ring on the B strings at the third fret, middle on the E at the third and index on the A string at the second.

Try focusing on getting the pinky & ring fingers down correctly and let the index & middle come down a nano-second after. In fact, you can practice with some improvising, getting the R&P down, strumming the lower strings, then bring the I&M down on the next beat and hitting them for emphasis or doing a full strum, whatever you want. (I hope that makes sense.) You can get a rythmn going with that, and be effectively breaking the G chord into two steps just by how you play it like that.

Although it seems you can switch from other chords to G easier, keep doing those changes as well. It's all about finger memory.

I am assuming he is a very early beginner so I doubt he is adding his ring finger in on the B string, If I am wrong and you are consider not doing that. The G is a lot easier if you only have to work 3 fingers then 4 for the extended version. If you are following the beginner module I know for a fact that Chris only shows the open G chord in it's simplest forms.

Until you get in to more intermediate/advanced guitar playing you will not absolutely NEED that anular adding to the G. It only really makes its way in when you start playing suspended chords like a Gsus2. sure there are a great deal of songs that do add the anular to the Gmaj but you not adding it for the sake of getting the change down is not going to break the song for a beginning player.

Originally Posted by: MerwoodHello folks . I was wondering if anyone can help me with a big chord change problem that I can't seem to get down . When I try to move from C to G I find it hard to visualize and force my fingers to go to the appropriate strings .

I can go from G to D to A and even Am and Em but from C to G I fail miserably . Granted when I play G I use a 4 finger string pattern EABE cause It sounds more fuller and better then just a regular G .

As for F and B chords Still practicing but yeah chord changes still have are a issue in general although I have improved a great deal . Perhaps I should get a metronome .

Hey there, I had the same problem with those two chords.... and am still working at improving my speed in switching. The best way to mark your improvement and not get discouraged is to use a metronome and start really slow. I was starting on 40bpm, playing around to find my manageable switch time then practicing on that time for a few days then seeing if I could push it up. After 4 weeks my fingers are getting used to it, my speeds increased and I don't feel like such a gumby any more :-)

I know that switching chords can cause "some" problems. But I think that in reality, it comes down to knowing the chords. You have to spend time just learning particular chords and then the switching comes easy.

I have always found the opposite move G to C more difficult. I tend to go through all the chords I know very slowly during practice checking that the fingers are fretted correctly and that the strings ring clear with both a pick then a strum. Then I practice chord progressions gradually increasing speed as i get better. The more difficult changes i spend time ghosting slowly with fingers hovering over the chord position before setting them all down or as near as damn it. The way i cracked the G to C was to focus on getting one finger from one chord to the other i.e. the the ring finger and the others just seem to follow. As everyone points out though it is about structured practice. Small daily progressions slowly build and when you look back over a year you are amazed because you are now doing routinely things you thought were beyond you. If you enjoy the learning and are prepared to practise you will get better. Happy playing and good luck.