How long does it take you to master a chord?

[Sandor]

I was curious what people's experience was when it comes to learning new chords. I feel like it takes me a long time to be able to physically play new voicings fast enough to be usable. For example, its taken me about the last 2 or 3 months to just now be able to use all the drop 2 inversions on the middle 4 strings, and only on slower stuff.

I wanted to see if this is slow or normal compared to other people's experience learning new chords.

[mr. beaumont]

Completely depends on what the chord is...

Don't worry about how long it takes, an don't bite off too much at once. Better to take two new voicings a month and really use them than to struggle with a large number...

[Meggy]

It's a funny thing, but I find with memorising and learning to use chord shapes, as well as scale/arpeggio patterns for that matter, that the more I work on it, the faster the process seems to happen. So when last year I started trying to improve in these areas, it seemed somewhat slow and tortuous. But now, somehow my brain seems able to accomplish more in the same amount of time. Ted Greene says something similar in one of his books - by golly it seems he was right! (good thing too, given the number of diagrams he puts in ).

[patskywriter]

whenever i learn a new chord, i always practice by following it with another chord that makes musical sense. that way i'm learning the fingering + the sound, which makes the chord easier to remember (harder to forget).

[mtierney]

I think that's an excellent idea patskywriter because that also gives you the muscle memory to pull a resolving chord out of nowhere (not that you should just memorize what to do... I usually follow a new chord with a few different musically sensible chords but same idea).

[Sandor]

I don't have any issues memorizing the chord, Its the ability of my fingers to form the chord quickly and smoothly I'm concerned about. I have minor hand issues, something to do with poor circulation(just in the hands). Sometimes I worry that it will prevent me from playing advanced chords at the speed I need. That's why I'm interested in the time it takes other people to physically play new chords at a useful tempo. If other people take just as long, or longer, than I don't need to worry.

[brwnhornet59]

Everyone is different. When learning new stuff the more you can put it into context, the faster you will be able to utilize it, IMO. If it is just an exercise with no association to anything it becomes harder to pull out of your hat on the spot. I am revisiting inversions myself at the moment. So i am applying them to a basic comp. Then playing the inversions in different order each time around. This helps me see and hear the relationship, making it much easier to utilize. This works for me. I hope it helps you.

As for the physical aspect? I can pull off learning them at a good pace. But i practice them everywhere on the neck. Same for scales and arps. i never stay in 1 or 2 positions. I learn every one everywhere i can think of.

[nrubel]

Hello folks !
Have a good day !

[Drumbler]

Originally Posted by Sandor

I was curious what people's experience was when it comes to learning new chords. I feel like it takes me a long time to be able to physically play new voicings fast enough to be usable. For example, its taken me about the last 2 or 3 months to just now be able to use all the drop 2 inversions on the middle 4 strings, and only on slower stuff.

I wanted to see if this is slow or normal compared to other people's experience learning new chords.

I have not yet mastered any chords. I still make mistakes all the time.

[jtizzle]

Depends on how much I like the chord :P

The -9 chords with 5th string roots were really easy for me to learn since I loved that chord when I started playing jazz. Some 7th and -7b5 chord inversions I'm still learning because I don't really like that much and I've found other extensions/substitutions that I like the sound of better. For 7ths, I started playing 13ths, 9ths, b5s, and diminished subs instead of the plain 7th inversions. For the -7b5s I've found the -7b511 (same as a major lydian voicing) and I like the simple root position 5th string root voicing.

But right now I'm working on an exercise my teacher gave me which is really useful to find fun chords and learn them easily.
Pick any ii V I vi progression (any key). Say you pick C, so start on your D-7 (any inversion) and voice it on strings 1234. Make the chords top note go up only chromatically, or if there's no way to make it go up chromatically (say you end up having the 3rd or 7th on top), have it stay in the same place. It's a really useful exercise for voice leading and learning new chord extensions or alterations.
When you've done this in enough keys (by enough I mean all ) try it on strings 5432, or 5321, or 6543, or 6432, ect. You can also try making the top note ascend by a whole step, thirds, ect.