G to A chord change
Your index finger moves across to another string on the same fret; your middle finger and ring finger lift and move. Your strumming hand changes too: G uses all six strings, A starts on the A string.
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger. o means play the string open, ✕ means don’t play it.
Finger by finger
- Moves across, same fretIndex finger (1) moves across from the A string to the D string, staying on the 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the low E string, 3rd fret to the G string, 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesRing finger (3) lifts and moves from the high e string, 3rd fret to the B string, 2nd fret.
| Finger | On G | On A | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | A string, 2nd fret | D string, 2nd fret | Moves across, same fret |
| Middle finger (2) | low E string, 3rd fret | G string, 2nd fret | Lifts and moves |
| Ring finger (3) | high e string, 3rd fret | B string, 2nd fret | Lifts and moves |
How to practise G to A
- Play G and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Lead with the middle finger: it has the furthest to go (to the G string, 2nd fret). Aim it first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from G to A and back 20 times without strumming. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, and land them all together.
- Now strum: four strums on G, four on A. When that is clean, try two strums each, then one.
- Time yourself with the trainer below: one minute, counting every clean change. Do it once a day and watch the number climb.
An easier way to play it
G to A (G with the B string on the 3rd fret): the ring finger slides instead of lifting. It is the same pair of chords, just fingered so the change is shorter.
- Moves across, same fretIndex finger (1) moves across from the A string to the D string, staying on the 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the low E string, 3rd fret to the G string, 2nd fret.
- Lifts offLittle finger (4) lifts off (it was on the high e string, 3rd fret).
One-minute G to A trainer
Press Start, hold G through the count-in, then change back and forth for one minute. Tap the big button (or press the space bar) every time you land a clean chord. Your best score is kept.
Want other chords? Open the full chord change trainer.
Songs to use it in
None of the songs in our free library change straight from G to A yet, but these use G, so the shape will come in handy.
G to A: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from G to A?
None stays in exactly the same place with the standard shapes. Your index finger moves across to another string on the same fret; your middle finger and ring finger lift and move. With the easier fingering on this page, ring finger can stay in contact.
How do I change from G to A faster?
Practise the change on its own, not inside a song. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, land them all at once, and lead with the finger that has the longest trip. Then do one minute of changes a day with a timer and count them. If it still feels slow, try the easier version: G to A.
How many G to A changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: G to A is one, and back again is two. Around 30 in a minute is a solid start and enough for slow songs. At 40 most songs at a relaxed tempo start to flow, and at about 60 (one change a second) the change is ready for almost anything.
What songs use G and A?
G to A is IV to V in the key of D.
Is A to G the same as G to A?
It uses the same moves in reverse. Practise both directions: the trainer counts each switch either way.
More chord changes
Learn the chords in the right order
Fretwork’s lessons teach one chord at a time, with a ring test and a one-minute change check before you move on. The first two stages are free.