Originally Posted by: Slipin LizardStick with the open chords for now. Here's a tip... now that you have those chords, and you're working on changes, find something you like that uses those chords. For example, if you are at all remotely interested in learning fingerpicking, check out Lisa McCormick's fingerpicking lessons... find a simple finger picking sequence that you like, and learn it using the C and F chords, changing slowly back and forth. This way, you're kind of getting two things practiced at once, and its a lot more fun too. By putting those new chords to work in a context you like, they'll stick much more, and I'll bet they become fluid quickly.

Since the chords are new to you (you raise a good point that you might go back and find the beast is still giving you trouble!) try practicing like this:

-2 minutes with no tempo, just changing from open C to open F, making sure that you only strum when you believe the strings will sound cleanly.

-2 minutes of simple strumming, in time (to a metronome) changing back and forth between chords (say, two bars of C, to bars of F, repeat). Chords still need to sound cleanly.

-2-3 minutes of fingerpicking (or, if you prefer, learn a new strumming pattern), in time, playing with a metronome, changing back and forth.

Practice like that, and you'll have the chords down pat in no time. Then you can move on to barre chords. They are not that bad. Like Hagh says, once you start getting them, they get a lot easier. Just make sure you play cleanly over quickly. In other words, don't play fast but sloppy... I did that when I was first learning, and seriously, I had to go back and retrain myself to learn how to play the chords cleanly.

How timely! I spent the weekend ruminating how to change or add more chord work to my practice sessions. I just got a wonderful 12-string for a wonderful price. And guess what! The courses of double strings and the wider neck make my fingering pretty shaky and the sound of the chords not to spiffy.

Thanks for the advice, Slipin Lizard.

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“Is a 12-string guitar harder than a six-string guitar to play?”
No, not really. It’s just, easier I guess, to play a six-string guitar.”

-- Brent Vance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntn8-lswzUY