While you save up or wait for a library copy, you can start practicing MTF analysis using free resources:
Unlike a simple moving average, VWAP includes volume. Institutions use VWAP to execute large orders without moving price too much. Shannon calls VWAP âthe single most important intraday indicator.â
How Shannon uses VWAP across timeframes:
Trade example: Price is above daily VWAP (bullish). It pulls back to touch daily VWAP on the 1H chart and forms a hammer candle. Thatâs a low-risk buy entry. While you save up or wait for a
Use this checklist on your next trade:
| Timeframe | Condition | Check (â) | | :--- | :--- | :---: | | Weekly | Price > 50-week SMA | â | | Daily | Price > Daily VWAP & VWAP sloping up | â | | Daily | No major resistance for next 5% | â | | 4H | Price pulling back to Daily VWAP or 20-EMA | â | | 1H | Bullish reversal candle (engulfing, hammer) at level | â | | 15min | Break of a minor downtrend line | â | | Entry | Limit order 1-2 ticks above 15min high | â | | Stop Loss | Below 1H reversal candle low | â | | Target | Next weekly or monthly resistance level | â |
If you check all boxes, your trade has institutional alignment. If you miss 3 or more, sit on your hands. Trade example: Price is above daily VWAP (bullish)
Pro tip from Shannon: Never place your stop where everyone else does (round numbers, obvious swing lows). Use a tick or two below to avoid being hunted.
Most novice traders stare at a single time frameâoften the daily or hourly chartâand make decisions in isolation. Shannonâs key insight is that price action looks different depending on the lens you use. A rally on a 5-minute chart might be a mere pause on a 60-minute chart, and a dip on a daily chart could be a healthy pullback on a weekly chart.
Shannon didnât invent MTF analysis, but he systematized it for practical trading. His book teaches you to: Pro tip from Shannon: Never place your stop
Wait for confirmation:
Shannon recommends using three time frames for most traders (especially swing and position traders):
| Time Frame | Role | Example Period | |------------|----------------------------|------------------| | Long term (higher) | Trend filter â defines direction | Daily or Weekly | | Intermediate (medium) | Setup â identifies entry zone | 4-hour or 60-min | | Short term (lower) | Trigger â precise entry timing | 15-min or 5-min |
For day traders, shift everything down: 60-min (long), 15-min (medium), 2-min (short).
You donât need a PDF to practice. Use any free charting platform (TradingView, ThinkorSwim, MetaTrader). Follow this sequence: