How can I tell what chords someone is playing?

[Scott O]

I play on my own 99% of the time. Whenever I'm playing with other people they'll show me what chords they're playing but for some reason my brain struggles to pick this up quickly. For example, they'll be doing something simple playing open G to C to D and it takes me longer than it should to recognize what their fretting fingers are doing. Anyone else have this problem? Is anyone aware of any website or youtube tutorials that would help to identify what chords look like when watching someone else play? Thanks.

[walternewton]

It just takes lots of practice - I'm sure you can visually recognize the basic open position chord shapes, so they're probably just going too fast for you.

If you can't easily pick them up on the fly, ask them to slow down and write them down - and note that you'll want to work towards eventually recognizing what different chords in a progression *sound* like, not just what they *look* like...

[mynameis]

Do you know any theory? Even picking up a chord wheel and learning the common changes can go a long way to figuring out what others are playing.

[Jhengsman]

I don't think I actually pick up the intricate fingering more I just pick up the bass and then you notice the pattern of the songs chord changes since most songs have a similar pattern. From there I would try a major or minor or a sus2 or power chord and then start working my way to whatever extended chord the person you are following is playing.