The old adage ‘practice makes perfect’ is especially true when it comes to changing chords on the guitar. Practice chord changes over and over again, moving your left hand from one chord shape to another. Keep the rhythm slow at first, just enough to not cause a disruption in the flow of movement when you change chords. Curve your fingers over the frets, lifting them at the shortest distance possible from the fingerboard in order to economize on your motion. Often, one or more fingers can maintain contact with the string during the move if you need to use them to stop the same string in the next chord. Adopt this energy-saving technique at the very beginning. Practice each move in advance, so that your fingers will move the shortest distance possible between each position, keeping your thumb in contact with the neck of the guitar. Soon you will develop good habits, as well as a neat, workmanlike appearance of your left hand.
Do not become frustrated, for beginners initially find it difficult to move all of their fingers at the same time into their new positions. To solve this problem, place your fingers on the frets in rapid succession, stopping the strings in the order in which they need to be sounded. Soon, though, all of your fingers will find their places automatically. If you make efficiency of motion important from the very beginning, keeping your mind on what you are trying to accomplish as well as faithful practice, soon your movements will come effortlessly to you, almost as if your fingers know themselves where to go, without your needing to watch.
