Tool
One minute. Two chords. Count the clean ones.
The fastest way to make chord changes feel automatic is to measure them. Pick a pair, start the timer, and count only the changes where both chords ring. Your best score is stored in this browser.
One-minute changes
C G
C
G
Timer
01:00
Changes
0
Best
0
Strum C, then G, then tap “Changed” or press Space. Count clean changes, not fast ones.
Progress is stored in this browser only.
How to practise one-minute changes
Set up the first chord, then the second. When the timer starts, strum the first chord, move to the second, strum it, and tap “Changed”. Do not rush the strum; the point is to arrive with all the strings ringing. If a change is sloppy, do not count it.
Write down your score after each minute. The number should climb slowly over a week or two. If it stalls, reduce the speed and check the chord pages for a fingering problem. A buzz that follows you from chord to chord is usually a hand-position issue, not a speed issue.
What “clean” means
A clean change has three parts: every string in the chord rings, the fingers arrive together, and the strum happens on time. If one string is dead, the change does not count. That sounds strict, but it stops you from practising a mistake.
Good chord pairs to start with
- C ↔ G — the classic first change; both are open chords.
- G ↔ D — a smaller movement, good for training the ring finger.
- Am ↔ C — one finger moves; good for learning to keep a shape.
- Em ↔ G — easy on the fingers, useful for songs in G.
- F ↔ C — save this for after the open chords are reliable.
Make it harder without speeding up
Add a metronome at 60 BPM and change on the click. Or choose three chords and rotate through them. Or count changes for two minutes instead of one. Speed is a by-product of accuracy, not a substitute for it.
What is a one-minute change?
It is a practice drill: set a timer for 60 seconds, move between two chords, and count how many clean changes you make. The goal is a higher number over time, not speed for its own sake.
Should I count every change or only clean ones?
Only clean ones. A change counts when both chords ring clearly and you arrive in time. Counting sloppy changes gives you a number that does not help.
Which chords should I start with?
Start with C and G, then G and D, then Am and C. Add F only when the open chords are reliable; barre changes are a different skill.
How often should I do this?
Two or three minutes per practice session is enough. It is a warm-up and a measurement, not the whole practice.
Does the trainer listen to my guitar?
No. It is a timer and counter, so you decide whether a change was clean. That keeps it private and works without a microphone.