How Do I Use This Service?

I've had a membership for nearly a year and I get so lost with all the options. The big question is, how do I learn to play the instrument. I get the chord packs and time, but where are the exact techniques for changing chords, playing crisp, etc. And how long are you just supposed to do the exercises until your mind just goes numb and you have no fun.

I've been practicing nearly 10-15 hours a week just change from C to G and I can't physically get my fingers down in time, even with metronome and backing track. So if I can't make a chord change, what do I practice? Again, I find this service to be really useless because it doesn't get people to do the basics. The videos show you how to do it, but what if you just simply are not able to do it even with practice.

Did you start at the very beginning? Go to the beginner lessons section and click on guitar fundamentals 1. And just go one video at a time until you understand what Lisa is explaining or you can play what she is showing you. If you move ahead and you don't have the previous lesson learned or understood you are just hurting yourself by moving along.

Originally Posted by: prakashg08

I've had a membership for nearly a year and I get so lost with all the options. The big question is, how do I learn to play the instrument.[/quote]

Practice. The only way to learn to play the guitar is through repetitious practice until the physical motions become second nature.

But Guitar Tricks (or any good teacher!) can help you practice smarter! If you haven't yet, I encourage you to start working through the Guitar Fundamentals 1 course.

https://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=fundamentals1

Keep working on each lesson, tutorial or exercise until you can play it as the instructor does. You can always go forward in the course watching lessons. But do not consider yourself done with it until you understand the concept or can do the skill being taught.

Originally Posted by: prakashg08[br]I've been practicing nearly 10-15 hours a week just change from C to G and I can't physically get my fingers down in time, even with metronome and backing track. So if I can't make a chord change, what do I practice?

You have to keep practicing what you can't do until you can do it!

[quote=prakashg08]

Again, I find this service to be really useless because it doesn't get people to do the basics. The videos show you how to do it, but what if you just simply are not able to do it even with practice.

I'm sorry you are finding it frustrating. It might be possible that your guitar is hindering your progress. Some acoustic guitars have high action (strings too far from the frets) or wide necks or are generally uncomfortable & difficult for beginners to play.

What kind of guitar are you learning with? Do you have the option of trying other guitars, perhaps a friend's, or at a local music store? I encourage you to explore this option to see if your instrument is hindering your progress.

Hope this helps! Please ask more if necessary & best of success!

I'm just a beginner but this is what I've found to help:

To tackle chord changes, I find it useful to just keep changing between 2 chords very slowly but accurately, then gradually build up speed. Study how your fingers are moving and what finger(s) needs more attention.

Once you have formed the chord you must pick each string to check all the notes sound clear.

When changing chords you can often just slide 1 or more fingers to their new positions.

Another technique is to form the chord on the strings, then lift your hand off, stretch out your fingers and then reform the chord on the strings. So your hand learns the chord shape.

As has been said repetition is the key, but do it slowly so that you are repeating good actions, not sloppy ones. Practice makes permanent (not necessarily perfect). It takes loads of practice, so don't think, it's not working for you.

Complete beginner here. I've only had a guitar for under 3 weeks. One thing I found helpful for chord changes was to watch the free online Justin Guitar tutorial. I really like this site, but I don't see the problem using all information that is out there. I found the "1-minute chord change" lessons very helpful. There is also an app that randomly selects two chords that you must switch between and then it times you. You can input the chords that you are studying and it randomly selcts amongst them. I'm still horrible, but I found this helpful and I am getting faster. Just keep concentrate on getting good tone.