Which Chart Patterns Should I Learn First?

Nonetheless, taking a logical, methodical approach to your early trading education is crucial to getting a proper start in trading. So whatever you do, don't jump wildly between chart patterns in a frantic attempt to learn them all right away. Instead, follow this advice and master some of the most relevant chart patterns first. Doing so will create a proper foundation of knowledge upon which you can build a lasting trading career. Here's where to start…

Learn About Trend Lines First and Foremost

Because price itself forms the entire basis for technical analysis, perhaps the first vital skill for technical traders to develop is an ability to decipher the direction (and perhaps strength) of a market's prevailing trend. And that can be as simple as drawing and analysing trend lines—and perhaps moving averages—on the chart. Believe it or not, trend lines are chart patterns, too, and because trend lines help feed into other chart patterns, they make a fine first step for new and aspiring traders. To get started with trend lines, simply practice drawing lines connecting a market's highs and/or lows (as shown at right) to get a picture of the prevailing trend, which in this case is clearly and decisively down and within the context of a channel, or flag formation. This might signal to the trader that the best way to trade this particular market or asset is to sell tests of the upper trend line, which acts as key resistance, and buy tests of the lower one, which acts as support.

As it happens, trend lines coupled with our own preferred price pattern, the pin bar reversal, are used under the Lazy Trader methodology to signal high-probability trading opportunities in up, down, and sideways markets.

Next, Get Familiar with Continuation Chart Patterns

Continuation patterns often give rise to trading opportunities that are consistent with the market's prevailing trend. And in part, this is why using trend lines to first determine the market's bias is the recommended first step, because continuation (or consolidation) patterns will only apply if traded in that particular direction. The most well-known continuation patterns include various types of triangles, from the symmetrical triangle patterns seen at right (Source: Investopedia), to ascending and descending triangle patterns (not shown). Ascending and descending triangles are asymmetrical in nature, with ascending triangles only occurring for uptrends, and descending triangles only occurring for downtrends.

Meanwhile, the pennant and flag formations seen below are other (similar) continuation chart patterns that belong in this same family. Both can occur in either uptrending or downtrending markets, and while many traders use these chart patterns as a basis for planning and executing trades, pure price action traders like us aim only to recognise their presence and use them to help validate existing, price-action-generated trade ideas.

And Finally, Spend Time Learning About Reversal Patterns

Reversal patterns are used to suggest a potential change in the market's direction. And, because trend reversals carry lower probability and comparatively higher risk, we recommend first working towards a mastery of both trend lines and perhaps continuation patterns before you truly focus your attention here. Afterall, you may well be able to trade successfully using little more than trend lines and pure price action, anyway.

Among the more common chart patterns used to signal potential trend reversals are double tops and double bottoms, the popular head and shoulders pattern (see below), and triple top and triple bottom patterns. Note that the standard head and shoulders pattern (left panel) will signal a top for the given market or asset and a subsequent reversal to the downside, while the inverse head and shoulders pattern (right panel only) is a bottoming formation that would precede a move back to the up side.

Conclusion

For new and aspiring technical traders, there's always a lot to learn, but if you take but one piece of advice from this article, make it this: Being sensible and targeting only one or two prominent chart patterns at a time early on will serve you much better than trying to absorb many different patterns all at once will.

So start with basic trend lines, and perhaps simple formations like pin bars, dojis, inside bars, and the like. Next, begin to study continuation and reversal patterns, but not necessarily so you can trade them. Learn to recognise these common chart patterns to improve and help validate your market analysis, and promote more informed, confident trading for the long term.