In today’s video I’ll share a must-know tip to help you with smooth chord changes while strumming. Without question, this is one of the trickiest aspects of learning guitar — as slow chord changes can totally kill the rhythmic groove we’ve established with our strumming hand.
The answer isn’t simply “just change chords faster”. Instead, I’ll teach you to start your chord changes earlier — even while our strumming continues. This means we’ll occasionally strum “empty” (open, unfretted) strings… but this is okay! It keeps the strumming rhythm steady, ensuring we land on each new chord for that very important first strum of each measure.
While my lesson uses a common chord progression (G-D-Em-C) in 4/4 time, you can most certainly use this technique for any chord change, in any time signature. I would wager this is a skill that nearly all intermediate & advanced guitar players use unconsciously… so let’s get into it, and I’ll show you the way!
Update on Oct 9, 2025: I updated the PDF below to fix the incorrect URL and QR code at the top. I also added a hand-drawn title. Everything else (below the header on page 1) is the same. Thanks Gene for calling out the incorrect link!
Here’s a few extra videos, made in thanks to those supporting me with Premium membership here on my Song Notes website. To those showing your support, you have my true thanks and appreciation — and I hope you find these additional videos helpful!
Here’s the introductory exercise I show in my main lesson, where I play four down-strums (one on each quarter note) as I move through a G-D-Em-C progression. The “empty” (open string) strum happens on the final strum of each measure, which allows your fretting hand to get in place for the upcoming “1” count. Remember, the important thing is to keep a steady rhythm! Whether you go fast or slow, try to keep all down-strums on the beat.
This shows me moving through a G-D-Em-C progression, using a common D-DU-UDU strumming pattern (played once for each chord). The final two strums of each chord are “empty” (on open strings), which gives you ample time to switch your fretting hand to the next chord before the following “1” count.
Same as above, but only the final one strum of each measure is “empty” (on open strings). This still buys you some extra time, though a bit less than the example above. This is the exact manner in which I’d change chords if playing this chord progression normally, in any given song! That is, the final up-strum would be on “empty” (open) strings, ensuring I can be ready for the upcoming “1” count when the chord changes.
For context, here’s me playing through G-D-Em-C without any “empty” strums. To be clear, this is often very difficult or impossible to do cleanly! As you can see in this video, I’m struggling to transition to the next chord in time. This can cause us to “lose the groove” and potentially make us late to the very important strum on the 1 count. Compare this video to the ones above, and notice how it feels a tad bit jagged at the start of each new measure. My point in sharing this: you don’t always need to strive for instant chord changes! It’s more difficult and, if you’re late to the next chordc, can sound bad.
Here’s a quick video showing another approach to making your chord transitions smoother. Instead of using “empty” (open string) strums, I’m simply skipping the final strum of each chord — and using that extra time to begin the chord transitions. You can use this in place of the technique taught in my lesson above.
If you need help with light & brushy up-strums, check out the lesson below. It gives some invaluable tips for loosening up on your pick grip, which enables you to gently “brush” your pick across the strings. For the final one (or two) strums in each measure, this is incredibly helpful if you’re using the empty (open) string tip I teach above.
If you don’t have a favorite guitar pick, the video below gives my recommendation. Personally, I prefer a pick that strikes the perfect balance between being firm and flexible. This allows me to get volume when I need it (by gripping tightly & “choking up” on the pick), while also getting a soft or brushy sound if that’s my desire (by loosening my grip). Of course, your mileage and preferences may vary — but I trust these tips will get you going in the right direction.
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