The Exercise
This exercise combines whole notes with half notes. We know by now that a whole note gets four beats and that a half note gets two. For this exercise, we will strum the C chord on the 1st beat and hold it for a count of four. Then, in measure two we will strum the C chord on the 1st and 3rd beats. We’ll repeat the same strumming pattern in measures 3 and 4 using the G chord.
Chords As A Unit
The most important thing to remember when playing chords is that each note in a chord must be pressed down as a unit, not separately. Here’s something you can practice that will help you establish the habit of pressing down each chord as a unit.
- First, press down a C chord.
- Next, lift your fingers off the strings about a half-inch as a unit,
keeping the chord formation. - Then press your fingers back down onto the strings, firmly and quickly,
keeping the formation. - Strum the chord. If any of your fingers miss the proper position in
the chord, correct them, and repeat the drill.
That’s all there really is to it! Stick with daily practice and you’ll be changing chords in milliseconds before you know it.