Can’t change chords yet? You’re not doing anything wrong—you just skipped a step.
Most beginners try to play full chords before they can keep time. So they’re fighting two battles at once—fingering and rhythm. No wonder it feels impossible.
In this lesson, I’m taking it right back to basics. We’re using the 12-bar blues progression from “Johnny B Goode” by Chuck Berry (transposed to the key of A), and building it up in four simple stages.
The Progression
Here’s the chord progression we’re using:
Simple, recognisable, and perfect for practising changes.
Why This Method Works
Here’s the problem with how most people learn chord changes. They try to do everything at once—remember the shape, move their fingers, keep time, strum evenly. That’s four things competing for your attention.
So instead, we separate them. First, we lock in the timing using just open strings. Then we add one finger. Then two. Then three. By the time you’re playing full chords, the rhythm is already automatic—so you’ve only got one new thing to think about.
Stage 1: Open Bass Strings (No Fingers)
We start with no fingers at all—just open strings.
| Chord | Open String |
|---|---|
| A | Open A string |
| D | Open D string |
| E | Open E string |
Start with semibreves (one note per bar), then crotchets (one note per beat), then quavers (two notes per beat). Use a metronome at around 60 BPM.
Stage 2: Two-String Power Chords (1 Finger)
Same progression, same rhythm, but now we’re playing two-string power chords—and it’s still just one finger.
Semibreves, then crotchets, then quavers.
Stage 3: Three-String Power Chords (2 Fingers)
Adding a third string and a second finger.
Same rhythm ladder—semibreves, crotchets, quavers.
Stage 4: Full Open Chords (3 Fingers)
This is the one. Full open chords—A, D, and E.
But here’s the thing—you’ve already done the hard work. The timing is locked in. The progression is in your head. All you’re doing now is adding one more finger.
The Recap
Four stages:
- Open bass strings—no fingers
- Two-string power chords—one finger
- Three-string power chords—two fingers
- Full open chords—three fingers
At every stage, you lock in the timing before you add complexity. And because you’re only thinking about one new thing at a time, it never feels overwhelming.
Final Advice
Spend a week on each stage before moving on. Don’t rush. The goal isn’t to finish the lesson—it’s to build muscle memory.
Once you can play full chords smoothly with a metronome, that’s when you’re ready for the next step—changing between chords without stopping. I’ve got a video on that here: [link to original chord changes video].
Watch the full lesson here:
What song do you want to be able to play? Let me know in the comments—I might build a lesson around it!