Originally Posted by: panu.rantanen

Is it a real problem if I can't nail down the chord changes at the speed of the play alongs at first?

Any suggestions how to continue to learn to switch chords faster

I'm learning 2-3 times a week, about 1-1,5 hours each time.

1. No.

Striking the first string seperate then the rest takes co-ordination and timing. Doing it at tempo will only come with repetition over time. The more we play generally, or applied to any task with focused practise, the better we become - with the caveat that even if we immerse ourselves, the choke point moves to rate of assimilation.

If it's not clocking right now, and you've put the time in with regular practise of it, you may have hit either a mini plateau or self-encumbering "I can't do this" negative frame of mind stumbling block with it. Move on for now, give it some time seperation, but do have it in your progress plan to come back to it.

2. Find a song you really like with chords you can play or can learn easily that isn't overly difficult in some other way and just play it and the chord progressions lots. There's no secret formula substitute for time and putting hours in hands on. Enjoying it in the process aka having fun is important or we won't. Success coupled with actually enjoying every bit of it will be positively reinforcing making you just want to do more.

Another suggestion. If you can, make time to play - ad hoc passing the guitar in the living room study or 'studio' will do, at least 5 to 6 days of the week for at least a single sesson daily of 20-30 minutes, although 10-15 is better that nothing. More frequently if possible. I appreciate that's more difficult with young children and family committments than for someone like me, and probably scary to leave your guitar sitting out on a stand for young inquisitive minds and hands.

Little and often is better than long sessons which are less frequent IMO. Make some of those sessions about nothing but having fun. i.e. playing a song you like within or beyond your current capability but within realistic scope of achievable which will keep you excited naturally exploring a myriad of associated stuff. Only problem I find with it though, is that that "I'll just play for ten minutes" invariably becomes an impromptu hour and ten minute session before I nottice "Oh is that the time?".