Day trading charts plot price over time, and reading them starts with the basics: candlestick charts show the open, high, low, and close for each period, with the body and wicks revealing buying versus selling pressure. Choose intraday timeframes such as 1-minute, 5-minute, or 15-minute to match your pace.
Identify the trend, with higher highs and lows signaling an uptrend and the reverse signaling a downtrend, then mark key support and resistance levels where price has repeatedly reversed. Volume bars confirm whether moves have conviction.
Add a few indicators, such as VWAP, moving averages, or RSI, without cluttering the chart. Learn common candlestick patterns like hammers and engulfing candles, plus chart patterns like flags and triangles, that hint at continuation or reversal.
Practice on a demo account until reading price action becomes intuitive.