Lauren BatemanGuitar Teacher; Founder of the 7 Level Guitar System

If you struggle with chord changes — do THIS

17 Aug 2026 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

1:37

In this solo guitar tutorial, Lauren Bateman introduces a beginner-friendly method called the "pivot point" to simplify chord changes. She explains that teaching chords with the first and second fingers creates consistent finger positions that serve as pivot points, making transitions smoother. She demonstrates the technique using an E minor chord, showing the exact finger placement on the A and D strings. She then shows how moving only the second finger up one fret transforms the shape into an easy G chord, and how moving the first finger down to the first fret on the B string while keeping the second finger stationary creates an easy C chord. By using these minimal movements, learners can quickly switch between E minor, G, and C, enabling them to play songs like the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby." The video ends with a request for viewer feedback and a promotion of her 7-Level Guitar System and website.

Chapters

Hey everyone, if you struggle with chord changes, I'm gonna show you an easy fix that I teach beginner students in my 7-Level Guitar System, and it's called the pivot point. Okay, so a lot of people play chords in various ways. I teach students to play chords in a very specific way so that it creates pivot points to make it easier to change between chords. Let me show you. So the first chord I usually teach students is an E minor chord. It requires your first and second fingers. Okay, your first finger is gonna be on the second fret Of this A string, so these little blocks are called frets. We have the E string, the A string, the D, the G, the B, and then the E string. So first finger, second fret on the A string. Right below it, on the string below, second fret, you're gonna put your second finger. Okay, that is an E minor chord. Okay, very nice simple chord. Well, the reason I teach it this way, some people are like, oh, can I play it with my second and third? Yes, and while it makes no difference on the sound, when you play with your first and second fingers, you can easily rotate into my easy G chord. Okay, just by moving your second finger. From the second fret up to the third fret on the top string. Okay, much easier to change than doing a big, big jump or doing multiple fingers. The other is going from E minor to my easy C. So you just move, keep the second finger in place, move the first finger down to the second string, first fret, and now we have a C chord. Okay, just going between E and C, you can play a simple song like Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles. Let me know in the comments below. If you found that lesson helpful. And if you're interested in learning more, check out my 7-Level Guitar System at laurenbateman.com.