Learning guitar chords is the first step for any aspiring guitarist, and among these, the D chord is a fundamental building block. Many beginners find changing between chords challenging. This guide will show you a simple yet effective method to master smooth chord transitions, focusing on the D chord and its common pairings: A and E. Using the “Strum, Lift, Slide, Drop” technique, you’ll quickly overcome common hurdles and start playing songs you love.
Changing Between A and E Chords: The Slide Technique
We’ll start with two essential beginner chords: A and E. Being able to switch between these opens up a vast catalog of songs – the famous “3 chord trick.” To make these changes seamless, we’ll use the “Strum, Lift, Slide, Drop” sequence.
(For this lesson, we assume you understand chord diagrams, finger numbering, and can play A, D, and E chords individually. If not, Justin Sandercoe’s beginner course offers an excellent foundation.)
The key to fast chord changes is recognizing patterns. Notice in the diagram below how your index finger stays on the G string for both A and E chords. For the A chord, it’s at the 2nd fret, and for the E chord, it’s at the 1st fret. We’ll use this index finger as an “anchor” to slide between these chords, making the transition much smoother.
For players used to the “123” fingering for A, adopting the “213” fingering (index, middle, ring) shown below is crucial for this technique. Spend a few minutes getting comfortable with this new A chord fingering.
The “Taplature” method below links foot taps to each action, ensuring consistent practice and muscle memory development for these essential guitar chords.
Follow these steps slowly and precisely:
- Strum the A chord while tapping your foot and saying “Strum.”
- Lift off fingers 2 and 3 while tapping your foot and saying “Lift.”
- Slide finger 1 to fret 1 of the G string while tapping your foot and saying “Slide.”
- Drop fingers 2 and 3 to form the E chord while tapping your foot and saying “Drop.”
- Strum the E chord while tapping your foot and saying “Strum.”
- Lift fingers 2 and 3 while tapping your foot and saying “Lift.”
- Slide finger 1 to fret 2 of the G string while tapping your foot and saying “Slide.”
- Drop fingers 2 and 3 to form the A chord while tapping your foot and saying “Drop.”
(Watch a demonstration of the A to E chord change)
Repeat this sequence ten times. You’ll be surprised how quickly this A to E chord change becomes ingrained!
Putting it to the Test: Practice with a Beat
Once you can smoothly transition between A and E chords using the foot tap method, it’s time to practice with a beat. Consistent timing is crucial for all guitar skills. Use a metronome or backing track to solidify your chord changes. (Drummer’s Pulse offers a great free online metronome, and Chordpulse Lite is a recommended free virtual backing band for Windows).
(See a demonstration of A to E chord changes with a beat)
Track your progress to see your improvement. Download free progress sheets in the appendix of “Discover Taplature!” by subscribing to the Taplature blog. Monitor your fastest tempo with perfect, clean chord changes – it’s a motivating way to see your practice paying off!
Strumming Along to Songs
With A and E chords mastered, you can play along to countless songs! Try a version of The Mavericks’ classic “Dance the Night Away.” Simply alternate between A and E chords with the video (watch here). As your changes get smoother, sustain each chord longer before switching. Once comfortable, play along with the original track (you’ll need a capo at the 7th fret to match the key).
(Listen to “Dance the Night Away” here)
Changing Between A and D Chords: Efficient Finger Movement
Now let’s tackle changing between A and D chords using the same “Strum, Lift, Slide, Drop” method. This time, your ring finger (finger 3) will be the anchor. A common mistake when moving from A to D is focusing on placing fingers 1 and 2 first, leading to wasted movement in finger 3 (see the inefficient movement here). We’ll train the most efficient way to transition between these two guitar chords.
Here’s the A to D chord change in Taplature:
(Watch a demonstration of the A to D chord change)
Follow these steps:
- Strum the A chord. Say “Strum.”
- Lift off finger 2. Say “Lift.”
- Slide finger 3 to fret 3 of the B string. Say “Slide.”
- Drop finger 2 to complete the D chord. Say “Drop.”
- Strum the D chord. Say “Strum.”
- Lift finger 2. Say “Lift.”
- Slide finger 3 to fret 2 of the B string. Say “Slide.”
- Drop finger 2 to complete the A chord. Say “Drop.”
Now you can combine A/E and A/D changes to play an easy guitar version of The Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” Strum only on the first beat of each bar as shown:
(See a demonstration of playing “Hey Jude” intro)
The lyrics have some syncopated timing, which is a lesson for another time. For now, strum along with the melody, starting slowly and gradually increasing speed.
Changing Between D and E Chords: The Final Link
Our last essential chord change is between D and E. Here, your index finger slides again, connecting these two guitar chords. The steps are similar to the A/E change, but many find this transition a bit trickier due to the finger rearrangement.
(Watch a demonstration of the D to E chord change)
Follow these steps:
- Strum the D chord. Say “Strum.”
- Lift off fingers 2 and 3. Say “Lift.”
- Slide finger 1 to fret 1 of the G string. Say “Slide.”
- Drop fingers 2 and 3 to form the E chord. Say “Drop.”
- Strum the E chord. Say “Strum.”
- Lift fingers 2 and 3. Say “Lift.”
- Slide finger 1 to fret 2 of the G string. Say “Slide.”
- Drop fingers 2 and 3 to form the D chord. Say “Drop.”
Aim for a target speed of at least 200 bpm for each of these three chord changes. Identify your weakest transition and focus your practice there. Improving your weakest link will often boost your overall chord changing speed.
Ready to Play!
With these three chords and their transitions mastered, you have the foundation to play countless songs. Search Google for “songs with a d e chords guitar” to find your favorites. We’ve covered all the essential combinations to get you started playing these songs at a basic level!
See some famous examples in the video (watch here), including songs that even experienced players benefit from practicing with these efficient fingerings.
Moving Forward
Apply this “Strum, Lift, Slide, Drop” approach to other chord changes as you learn new songs. While these A, D, and E chord changes may be the quickest to master, consistent practice with this technique will accelerate your progress.
Once these basic chord changes become easy, the next step is mastering chord changes while strumming. Break down this challenge by first learning a simple strumming pattern without chord changes, and then practicing the “next level” of chord changes without focusing on strumming.
It might sound complex, but it’s all explained in these blog articles: Strumming fixes and Chord change practice guide.
Enjoy your guitar journey!
Old Swanner.
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