How do I make a chord change smooth and on time?

By the RepeatWatch team · Updated

Quick answer

Loop only the moment of the chord change: the last beat of the first chord and the first beat of the next. Slow it to 0.6×, add a one-second pause between loops, and move all fingers together. When the new chord rings on the beat, let the speed trainer bring the loop to full speed.

Try this now: loop two beats around the hardest chord change in a song you know. Can you land the new chord on the beat three loops in a row at 0.6×?

How to practice a chord change with a two-beat loop

  1. Find the change. Play the song once and note the chord change you hesitate on. That's the only one to loop today.
  2. Loop two beats. Set A on the last beat of the old chord and B just after the first beat of the new one. Short loops give you many changes per minute.
  3. Slow it and pause. Drop to 0.6× and set Pause between loops to 1 s, which gives you time to go back to the first chord.
  4. Move fingers as a group. Lift and place all fingers together, and look for a finger or note that stays put between the two shapes.
  5. Climb to tempo. Speed trainer: Step +0.05×, Every 3 loops, Goal 1×. At full speed, set the pause back to None.
  6. Put it in the progression. Widen the loop to the full progression, such as four bars, and save it as a section.

Try it on an example: open Pianote's four-chord "Instant Pianist" lesson with a 15-second loop already set at 0.75×.

Try it on an example

5 common mistakes

  • Practicing chord shapes one at a time instead of the movement between them.
  • Placing fingers one by one, so the new chord arrives late.
  • Stopping the rhythm to wait for your fingers, which teaches a pause that isn't in the song.
  • Looping the whole song, so the hard change comes round once a minute.
  • Pressing harder than needed, which slows your fingers down.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my chord change always late?

Usually because you hold the old chord until the last moment. Start moving on the last beat, or the last half-beat, of the old chord so the new one sounds on time.

Should I keep playing while my fingers are still moving?

Yes. At slow speeds keep the rhythm going even if the chord isn't fully formed yet. Staying in time matters more than a perfect chord, and the shape catches up with practice.

Does this work for piano and ukulele too?

Yes. On any instrument, loop the two beats around the change, slow it down, and look for notes the two chords share so your hand moves the shortest distance.

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