Reading charts
What chart timeframe should a beginner use?
There is no one right timeframe, but slower charts like the 4-hour or daily move more calmly and give you more time to think.
A timeframe is how much time each candle covers. On a 1-hour chart, each candle is one hour. On a daily chart, each candle is one day.
Fast charts like the 1-minute chart are noisy. Price wiggles a lot and decisions come quickly. Slower charts show the bigger picture.
Many traders look at a big timeframe to find the trend, then a smaller one to plan the details. Grade 3 and Grade 7 teach both.
Go deeper, free
This is taught in Grade 3: Chart Class.
- Timeframes from 1m to monthly: what each tells youLesson
- Choosing a primary timeframe and an entry timeframeLesson
Words to know
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Reviewed 2026-10-04. Education only, not financial advice. Trading involves risk of loss.