When you are first learning to play the guitar, it usually takes a while to change the chords. Here are some tips to help you change to new chords much faster. Mastering this skill will make it easier to play your worship songs.

1. Memorize the chord forms in the worship song you are trying to learn.

2. Practice changing the chords by themselves, without singing the song.

3. If the chord is difficult, break it down into smaller units. For example, change to just a portion of the new chord. If the chord requires four fingers, change to 2 fingers of the chord, then 3 fingers of the chord, then the entire chord.

4. When you are practicing the chord changes, watch where your fingers will be moving too, not on the current chord. This is especially important for chords that are in different positions on the fingerboard.

5. When you are playing your worship song, look at the next chords coming up in your peripheral vision.  You'll change to the chords much faster if you are already thinking ahead before it's time to play them.

6. Pick a strumming tempo that you can play and don't slow it down for any chord change. Even if you aren't quite on the new chord, this will train your hands to change faster.

7. How well you play is very connected to your mental attitude too. Be quick to 'forgive' yourself for any mistakes and decide that you can be a wonderful guitarist.

Of course, the very best way to start every practice session is with prayer. God can help us accomplish wonderful things to His Glory!

One of the Worship Guitar Class Family members, Pamela, asked about how to care for her guitar. I thought that you may be interested in tips for caring for your guitar too.

Here are some tips to keeping your guitar protected and cared for.

1. Get a guitar case and leave your guitar in the case. I used to suggest leaving your guitar on a guitar stand because it's easier to remember to play it when it's in view. Accidents, including earthquakes, can happen and your guitar is more protected in a guitar case.

2. Do not leave it in a hot car. Excess heat can warp and ruin the wood.

3. In dry climates, use a humidifier. You can purchase one specifically made for guitars or make one yourself. To make one, get a small plastic container that can fit inside your guitar case. A traveling container for a bar of soap is the perfect size. Place a wet sponge in the plastic container and make some small holes in the container.

4. Keep a cotton cloth in your case, like a baby's diaper. This is good for wiping down the instrument. Some people wipe down the guitar strings after playing. This can help to make them last longer.

5. Speaking of strings, change them when they sound dead. Your guitar will sound better. Professional players may change them every few weeks, but you'll probably want to change them at least every 6 months or so.

6. Wash your hands before you play your guitar. Dirt from your hands can on the strings.

7. Clean the fretboard with very fine steel wool. You can clean away any dirt or grime. When the strings are all off, clean each fret.

8. Periodically polish the wood with a good guitar polish. The guitar gets clean and a well taken care of guitar is less likely to have problems.

Enjoy playing your guitar!

I'm enjoying creating our new Music Theory for Guitar course. One of the musical concepts in the course is called a Deceptive Cadence. Worship leaders use this technique quite often to extend a worship song.

It's common for a song to end with a chord called the V, or V7,  to a chord called the I. There isn't space here to talk about the various chord structures and keys, but the I chord is the root chord of a key. For example in the key of 'G' the I is the 'G' chord. The V in the key of 'G'  is the chord 'D.'

A 'D' or 'D7' chord resolves nicely to the chord 'G.' A deceptive cadence is when you change to the VI chord at the end of a song instead of the I.

A good example is the song 'Lord I Lift Your Name On High.' I know many of you have our 'Worship Guitar Class' course and this song is in the first volume. The chords are predominately 'G C D C.' It ends with the chords 'D,' 'Dsus,' G…..

The deceptive cadence for the key of 'G' is the VI chord which is the chord 'Em.' Instead of playing 'D,' Dsus,' 'G' … you can play 'D,' 'Dsus,' Em.' The 'Em' is on the last word 'high.' Play it for a measure then half a measure on 'Am' and 'D' 'Dsus' for the 2nd half of the measure and ending on G. The ending is below…

|    Em     |  Am              Dsus       D           | G  C | D C | G
… high.             Lord I lift your name on high.

We often repeat the deceptive cadence 2 or 3 times before finally ending on G.

If you've ever wanted to learn to read music or to understand music theory, would love to have you join our music theory class.

The new 'How to Read Notes and Music Theory' course is ready! It's a 17 week course with streaming videos, music, a forum, phone calls and more. Visit the website to get the music for the first Lesson free.

Free Guitar Reading Lesson.

I had asked both winners if they would like to send a picture of them with their new guitars. Bethany Waters had surprised me with a precious picture of her with the guitar package a few years ago. It's fun to put a face to the musicians.

Here is a picture of Hannah Covington with her new guitar. She and Kriya Herzog (Crow) were the winners of the last worship contest.

I must say Hannah's hand positions look beautiful. I'm sure the Lord has special plans for this young woman. He also has special plans for all of us that worship Him!

Thanks again to Hannah, Kriya and all of you who submitted songs and all who came to enjoy them at the website. The worship songs are still up, including the ones from my friend's Christmas Albums.