When you're learning chords, there are a lot of moving parts. You have to think about finger placement, hand position, muting strings, changing chords smoothly, and about a hundred other things all at once.

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The problem is that most guitar players don't struggle because they don't know enough; they struggle because they forget one or two small details that make a huge difference.

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That's why I created this simple 9-step checklist.

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Whenever you're practicing chords, just run through these nine points and make sure you're doing each one correctly. If your chords are buzzing, muted, sloppy, or your chord changes feel slow, chances are one of these areas needs attention.

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1. Thumb Position

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The first thing I check is thumb position.

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If your thumb is creeping up over the top of the neck, your fingers lose flexibility. The lower your thumb sits behind the neck, the easier it is to curve your fingers and reach the strings cleanly.

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I like to use the "hamburger" analogy. Imagine you're holding a hamburger in your hand. That's roughly the shape your hand should make around the neck.

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Now, there are some chords that require your thumb to come up, and that's perfectly fine. But if the chord doesn't require it, keep that thumb low and give your fingers the freedom they need.

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2. Curve

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Next, make sure your fingers are nicely curved, and you’re playing on your fingertips.

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Flat fingers almost always lead to muted strings and buzzy chords.

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If you're struggling to get enough curve, go back and check your thumb position. Most of the time, when the thumb comes down, the fingers naturally curve better.

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3. Are You to the Right?

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This is one that a lot of players overlook.

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Make sure your fingers aren't sitting too far to the left behind the fret. Instead, aim for the middle or slightly to the right side of the fret.

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This allows the note to ring clearly without requiring extra pressure from your hand.

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Less effort. Better sound.

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4. String Control

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When checking a chord, don't just ask:

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"Are the notes ringing out?"

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Also ask:

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"Are the notes that shouldn't ring out muted?"

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For example, in an A minor chord, the sixth string shouldn't be ringing. I like to lightly touch it with my thumb so it stays quiet.

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The same idea applies to many other chords, including D.

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Sometimes everything seems correct, but the chord still sounds bad. The reason is often that an extra string is ringing out when it shouldn't be.

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Great chord playing isn't just about what you hear—it's also about what you don't hear.

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5. Are All Your Fingers

Landing Together?

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If your chord changes feel slow, watch what your fingers are doing. Many players place one finger, then another, then another. That takes time.

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Instead, we want all of the fingers to arrive at the same time. One of my favorite ways to practice this is to form the chord, release the pressure while keeping your fingers touching the strings, then press back down.

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As you get better, gradually increase the distance your fingers travel before landing. This trains your fingers to move as a unit instead of individually.

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6. Are There Any Fingers

That Can Stay Put?

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Many chord changes don't require every finger to move.

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For example, when moving from A minor to C, one finger can stay right where it is.

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If you're lifting every finger off the guitar and rebuilding the entire chord every time, you're creating extra work that doesn't need to exist.

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Look for opportunities to keep fingers planted whenever possible.

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Less movement equals faster chord changes.

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7. Keep Your Fingers

Close to the Strings

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One of the biggest speed killers is letting your fingers fly away from the fretboard.

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When changing chords, your fingers should stay as close to the strings as possible.

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Think of it like driving. The shorter the distance, the faster the trip.

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The same principle applies to chord changes.

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Keep your fingers close and you'll immediately notice smoother transitions.

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8. Stay Relaxed

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This might be the most important item on the list. Tension kills speed.

If your hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, jaw, or even your legs are tense, your chord changes will slow down.

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I used to clench my jaw while practicing and didn't even realize it. Take a moment every few minutes to check in with yourself. Are your shoulders relaxed? Is your jaw relaxed? Are your hands relaxed? The more relaxed you are, the easier and faster everything becomes.

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9. Breathe and Trust the Process

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Great chord changes don't happen overnight.

Every time you practice, run through this checklist and focus on improving one area at a time.

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You don't need to be perfect today.

You just need to be a little better than yesterday.

Do that consistently and you'll be amazed at how quickly your chords clean up and your confidence grows.

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Ready to Get Crystal-Clear Chords Faster?

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If you'd like some personalized help, I'd love to invite you to a Free, No-Obligation 45-Minute Guitar Breakthrough Session.

During this session, we'll identify exactly what's holding your playing back and create a simple plan to fix it.

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By the end of our session, you'll be playing cleaner, clearer chords—or I'll continue working with you for free until you do.

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To claim your Guitar Breakthrough Session, visit www.lawrencevillemusiclessons.com before all spots are filled.