Here’s How You Can Effectively Learn And Memorize Classical Guitar Chords
To learn and memorize classical guitar chords take constant practice. You won't become an advanced classical guitarist overnight since you need to invest time and effort to perfect this skill.
There are several classical guitar pieces or sheet music you can use to practice and memorize music. To memorize classical guitar pieces and to learn a few notes require dedication on your part.
You can take a guitar lesson available around, perhaps begin learning playing classical music at first, before you go on memorizing music, learning chord shapes and the major chord, and knowing chord positions on your way to becoming one of the best-performing classical guitarists.
Learning music with the classical guitar or learning chords with this type of guitar is all about musical memory. There are tips on how you can effectively learn and memorize classical guitar chords. Plus, there are also techniques you can adopt.
In this lesson, we'll take a look at the best strategies to memorize chords on the guitar. You can modify the method you'll be learning about. This method is built upon other tips and lessons on memorizing chords so you can keep doing your research too. Learning to play the guitar indeed requires memorizing chords, and it can get really frustrating, but knowing this method will take you to a flying start.
What Does It Take To Memorize Guitar Chords?
Tests have found out that it takes a minimum of 20 repetitions of any task for the brain to begin the memorization process. This means that if you repeat something five to 10 times, it won't be sufficient to enhance your skills or recall the information later on. Being in the know that it takes at least 20 repetitions to begin memorizing chords will help ensure you're effectively practicing.
Keep in mind repetition is key to memorization. If you practice something only once, there's a very little chance you'll improve your memory and skills. If you repeat more than 20 times, you'll see improvements clearly.
Key Tip Number One: When You Practice Anything, Repeat It At Least 20 Times Before You Move On
Our five senses are hugely linked to our memory -- for instance, the last holiday at the beach when you hear the crashing of the waves. You're more likely to remember an experience if you use your senses.
You can apply this when memorizing guitar chords. Instead of merely playing the chords without much thought, you need to "experience" them. Be sure to listen to each sound carefully, feel the strings and frets with your fingers, and look at the patterns your fingers make o your guitar.
Paying attention to each detail will majorly enhance your memorization of the chords. If you play the chords simply without much thought, you won't be able to memorize them thoroughly.
Key Tip Number Two: The More Senses Involved When Practicing, The More Your Brain Will Recall It
Involve more of your senses when practicing the classical guitar chords, so your brain can better recall them.
Key Tip Number Three: Take Advantage Of Mnenomics To Assist Memorization Better
When playing the classical guitar, you may use mnemonics to utilize your memory. These mnemonics are simple tricks that'll help you better memorize the chords. You can refer to a lesson for memorizing chords for more information.
The Best Method To Memorize Guitar Chords: Step-By-Step
Now you've known what it takes to memorize chords, we take a look at a simple yet effective method to memorize them most quickly and easily possible.
Step 1: Choose Four Chords You'll Memorize
This also involves choosing chords at random to help you memorize chords you wouldn't normally try. You may also repeat this method as you learn new chords constantly.
Step 2: Study The Chords
Never skip this step. Many beginners would do so, which is why they find trouble when memorizing the chords. You study each chord to create "links" to help the brain memorize them. After studying each chord, you can proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Visualize Playing The Guitar Chords
You can just play the chord, but remember that each time you add in the steps and involve more
than one sense, you'll enhance memorization. Visualize the shapes you form with your fretboard, and imagine playing them that'll actually help you play them. This may feel weird at first to imagine playing the chords, but this will greatly impact when you memorize chords.
Close your eyes. Imagine yourself playing the first chord. Then, picture changing your hand from the first chord toward the second, and so on until you repeat twice the four chords you've chosen.
Step 4: Begin To Play The Progression Over 20 Times
You can start to slowly move from one chord to the next with your guitar at this point. You don't touch your guitar until this step in this method, since we used all the available tricks to memorize chords instead of jumping immediately to play them.
Also at this point, take your time and focus on each chord. Think about your senses while playing. Remember, play each chord four times before moving forward to the next chord. Repeat this progression at least 20 times.
Step 5: Breaktime!
This step and point in the practice involves taking a break to let the chords sink in. Constant practice is needed, but when you practice continuously for an hour, you won't be able to memorize chords effectively. Your short but intense practice is more effective than the long practice. So, take a break from the chords and allow them to sink in.
Step 6: Repeat
You may also write down the chord progression you just practiced so you can return to it later on. Practice the steps for this progression every day for the following week.
At this point, come back to the first step of the process and select a new set of chords. Practice with these chords on your way to memorize the chords.
Why This Method Is Effective When You Memorize Chords
The method you've learned when you memorize chords is effective since it lets you think about the chords and not simply play them. Many beginners wrongly believe that to play the chords is enough to memorize them.
Rather, when you think about the chords and study them, you'll be able to recall them easier and play them faster. This method works for other types of guitar as well, such as electric, bass and acoustic.
You can utilize this method, especially if you want to learn new chords. There are also guitar flashcards you can purchase around to learn the chords. Aside from this, trying out some new chords you’ve learned when playing other types of guitar is a huge advantage.
Although, there are a few distinctions between playing classical and acoustic guitars, the whole concept is more of the same. It is just like choosing which brand is best fit for you. For acoustic, you can check out the distinctions of Martin Vs Taylor. And for classical, there’s Cordoba, Yamaha and Alhambra, to name a few.
Learning and memorizing the chords using this method is a great starting point. It lets you memorize chords in less time and learning more about each chord.