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A suggestions for a new guitar player?

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Oerdin:
So I've been trying to learn guitar for a couple of weeks now but it's been slow going.  I've bought both the DVD and the study book for the Watch & Learn series' Accoustic Guitar Primer and I've read the whole study book plus I've been watching the video and playing along with it.  I can form a few chords well enough but my problem is switching smoothly from one chord to another.  I've also been having trouble contorting my fingers so that they go to the correct positions on the fretboard but this has gotten easier the more I've practiced.

Do any of you experienced guitar players have any suggestions on how to improve one's abilty to move from one chord to another?  I of course intend to continue practicing but I'm most interested if there are any drills or excersizes whcih help new players get a feel for this.  Thanks.

heretic:
LISTEN TO ME RIGHT NOW
i learned this from a very famous jazz/classical guitarist. when learning a chord progression, never try to learn it at full speed right off the bat. do it as slow as you need to, without strumming, being absolutly positive your fingers are in the right place everytime. gradually start strumming and increase speed. this will build a muscle memory, whereas tryng to play it full speed and not getting your fingers in the right place everytime will not. also, learn pendulum strumming as soon as you can because it is vital for many popular songs

heretic:
not even similar in any way. dave matthews uses pendulum a lot. basically your right hand moves like a pendulum, a constant back and forth motion. you control the rhythem with a combination of when you actually strum (as opposed to just passing over the strings, or adding a variation), which strings you strum, and left hand work. it just means that your right hand moves like a pendulum, keeping time

Sparky:
As with learning any instrument, practice is the key to everything.

As much as i hate to say it too, practicing things like scales, or in your case, scales and chords, is vital for becoming a good player, as taking your time, like heritic has said and practicing is "it".

really should take my own advise sometime and clean the mounting dust off my bass *rolls eyes*

Damniel:
bassists have a third less attention span than guitarists...however if a guitarist knocks on your door, what do you do?....leave him there...he (or indeed she) won't know when to come in anyway...there now i've insulted both guitarists and bassists i think that chord books of songs you know help...A LOT...put the record on and try to strum along and even sing if it helps...some books are better than others so watch out and have a check...don't buy something because someonelse says they did...buy it because you want it...you'll get more enjoyment from it...also...learn pendulumn (esp for acoustic) and play at your own speed...things tend to pick up quickly from there...

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