Open Chord HACK: A Guide to Smooth and Effortless Playing

By Gary Heimbauer for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer

In this article, we’ll focus on transitioning between five great-sounding open guitar chords, which all have one thing in common: keeping the ring finger and pinky finger down on the third fret of the B and high E strings. This technique will provide a pedal tone across the chords G, Em7, Cadd9, Dsus4, and A7sus4.

A pedal tone is a note (or notes) that rings out throughout a chord progression. In this case, we have two of them – note G on the high E string and note D on the B string. With practice, you’ll be able to switch between these chords effortlessly. The cool thing is that although some of the chords sound more sophisticated than the basic major chord and minor chord, the technique used makes them easy to play once you get the hang of it!

Chord Diagrams:

Before we dive into guitar chord transitions, let’s familiarize ourselves with the chord diagrams for G, Em7, Cadd9, Dsus4, and A7sus4. Utilizing a guitar chord chart is a good idea to help with any difficult chord. Refer to the diagrams below:

e|—3—|

B|—3—|

G|—0—|

D|—0—|

A|—2—|

E|—3—|

Em7

e|—3—|

B|—3—|

G|—0—|

D|—2—|

A|—2—|

E|—0—|

Cadd9

e|—3—|

B|—3—|

G|—0—|

D|—2—|

A|—3—|

E|—x—|

Dsus4

e|—3—|

B|—3—|

G|—2—|

D|—0—|

A|—x—|

E|—x—|

A7sus4

e|—3—|

B|—3—|

G|—2—|

D|—2—|

A|—0—|

E|—x—|

Transitioning between Chords:

Now, we’ll switch between these chords in the following order: G, Em7, Cadd9, Dsus4, A7sus4. However, you should experiment with mixing them around and playing them in any order you like! Or maybe you should focus on a couple of them instead of all five! The options are endless! To have smooth transitions between the chords in the order mentioned while maintaining the ring finger and pinky finger on the third fret of the B string and high E string, follow these steps:

Start with the G chord: Place your fingers in the G chord position as shown in the diagram. Ensure that your ring finger and pinky finger are correctly positioned on the third fret of the B and high E strings, respectively. Try to press straight into each note with the bony tip of your finger.
Transition to Em7: To move from G to Em7, keep your ring finger and pinky finger in position and lift the other fingers off the strings. Then, place your index and middle fingers on the A string (second fret) and D string (second fret), respectively. Keep the ring finger and pinky finger firmly pressed on the third fret.
Transition to Cadd9: From Em7, maintain the ring finger and pinky finger position on the third fret and move your middle finger from the D string to the third fret of the A string and your index finger from the A string to the second fret of the D string. In this case, your index and middle fingers are switching which strings they are on!
Transition to Dsus4: For the shift to Dsus4, keep the ring finger and pinky finger on the third fret while lifting the other fingers. Place your index finger on the G string (second fret). If you want, you can put your middle finger on the second fret of the high E string so that you can toggle back and forth between a Dsus4 and a regular D!
Transition to A7sus4: Finally, from Dsus4, retain the ring finger and pinky finger position on the third fret, move your index finger to the D string (second fret), and move your middle finger to the G string (second fret).

Practice Tips:

Here are a few tips to help you practice and master these chord transitions:

Start slowly: Begin by practicing each transition slowly and accurately. Pay close attention to your finger placement and ensure that each note rings clearly.
Use a metronome: Gradually increase the tempo by practicing with a metronome. This will help you develop speed and accuracy in your chord changes.
Focus on muscle memory: Repetition is key. Practice these transitions regularly to build muscle memory, allowing your fingers to move smoothly between the chords without conscious effort.
Visualize the finger movement: Mentally visualize the finger movements required for each transition. This visualization technique can help your brain connect with your fingers, improving your coordination.
Play: Try to play these different chords in all sorts of combinations! They all work well together! Make your own chord progression!

Three Key Takeaways:

Efficient & Smooth Chord Transitions: This article introduces a unique guitar technique that simplifies transitioning between five open chords (G, Em7, Cadd9, Dsus4, A7sus4) by keeping the ring finger and pinky finger anchored on the third fret. This approach not only makes chord changes smoother and faster but also enhances the musicality of playing by maintaining a consistent pedal tone across chord progressions.
Building Muscle Memory: Emphasizing the importance of practice and repetition, this article provides a structured method to build muscle memory for efficient finger placement and movement. By starting slowly, using a metronome, focusing on accurate transitions, and keeping a steady pace and practice routine, guitarists can develop the ability to switch between chords effortlessly, which is crucial for fluid playing and improvisation. These building blocks will take you to the next level.
Creative Flexibility in Chord Progressions: Beyond just technical skills and hard work, this article encourages guitarists to experiment with the order and combination of these chords to discover new sounds and progressions. This creative exploration is presented as a way to not only master the chords but also to develop a personal style and versatility in playing, highlighting the guitar’s potential for musical expression.

Conclusion:

If you are still having some difficulty with this concept, there are plenty of online guitar lessons that will help build your chord knowledge, timing and technique, and offer additional tips on the best way to practice guitar transitions. Check out the companion tutorial video, where I guide you through playing these different chords together and in different combinations. Guitar players often play things that make sense on the instrument and are easy to do, and this is the perfect example of that. And the best thing? You’ll hear these chords in many different songs in your guitar-playing journey. Happy playing!