learn-daytrading.com

TradingView · Lesson 2 · Beginner

Operating the Chart

You pick a symbol and timeframe and read the candlestick view.

Learn interactively, freeSign in

With a free account: interactive chart exercises, quizzes with answers, progress and XP.

Symbol and Timeframe

At the top left you search for the symbol, for example BTCUSDT on Binance. At the top you choose the timeframe, for daytrading often 15 minutes to 4 hours. Crypto runs 24/7, so there is no daily open like with stocks.

Switch the timeframe at the top (for example 4h) and tap the symbol to search for a different one.

Interactive exercise: here you learn right on the chart, with feedback on every click. Sign up freeto start it.

Test yourself

Which timeframe typically fits daytrading?

  • 1 month
  • 15 minutes to 4 hours
  • 1 second

Sign up free for the answers with an explanation for each option.

The key points at a glance

  • Search for the symbol at the top left, for example BTCUSDT on Binance.
  • Choose the timeframe at the top, for daytrading often 15m to 4h.
  • The default is the candlestick view, green means close above open.

Deep dive

Which timeframe for day trading?

For day trading, the useful range is usually between 15 minutes and 4 hours. Too small and you drown in noise and overtrade. Too big and a single trade takes you days.

  • Multi-timeframe: direction on the 4h, entry on the 15m or 1h.
  • That way you trade with the higher-timeframe trend, not against it.
  • Crypto runs 24/7, there is no daily open and no close.
  • Volatility clusters around the London and New York sessions.

Reading candlesticks

A candle shows open, high, low, close. The body spans between open and close, the wicks show high and low. Green means close above open. The information sits in the ratio of body to wick.

  • The close is the most important price, wait for a close above the level.
  • Long upper wick: higher prices were rejected (sellers).
  • Long lower wick: lower prices were rejected (buyers).
  • Large body with no wick: one side clearly dominated.

Search a symbol and control the chart

You switch the symbol in the top left. The prefix matters: BINANCE:BTCUSDT is a different order book than BYBIT:BTCUSDT. Deliberately pick the exchange you trade on. For perpetuals, watch for the .P at the end.

  • The mouse wheel zooms the time axis, dragging shifts the view.
  • Double-clicking the price axis resets the scaling.
  • The empty right-hand side is intentional: that is where the future sits.
  • A fixed default timeframe keeps your analysis comparable.

Sources: TradingView

Make this lesson interactive

Sign up for free and learn with click exercises right on the chart, quizzes with explanations and saved progress. Then you practice everything risk free on the demo exchange.

Sign up for freeRead the next lesson

100% free, no payment details.