# How to Add a Moving Average to the Volume Bars on a Chart

When it comes to examining volume bars, moving averages can be very important in cutting through the noise and presenting a clearer picture of volume, by smoothing out daily fluctuations and highlighting unusual volume days. And just like with moving averages on a typical price chart, you can add moving average lines to volume bars on a chart as well.

The Volume setting in the Chart Attributes area of the SharpCharts Workbench is a “shortcut” way to add volume to a chart with the default configuration. If you want to adjust the Volume configuration (for example, adding a moving average to the volume bars), you will need to use the “Volume” indicator instead.

This in-depth tutorial walks you step-by-step through the process of converting volume from a chart setting to an indicator, then adding a 20-day moving average to the volume bars.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Learn More:** [Overlays](https://help.stockcharts.com/charts-and-tools/sharpcharts/sharpcharts-workbench/editing-sharpcharts#adding_overlays) | [Indicators](https://help.stockcharts.com/charts-and-tools/sharpcharts/sharpcharts-workbench/editing-sharpcharts#adding_indicators)
{% endhint %}

## Tutorial: Adding a Moving Average to a SCTR Indicator

In this step-by-step tutorial, we'll create a chart with a 20-day moving average on the volume bars.

### Create the SharpChart

#### **Step 1: Enter Ticker Symbol**

There are several ways to create a new SharpChart, but the easiest is to enter the symbol in the Create-a-Chart box at the top of the page and then hit return or click **Go**.

<figure><img src="https://2414490151-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FELJo6JImRKx7nLaFjAPl%2Fuploads%2FuNkwTbBnoWyNq9NzZFMP%2Fvolumeindicator01.png?alt=media&#x26;token=0c6e91a9-2901-4b04-ae4c-ba6cf1c12517" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### **Step 2: Remove Overlays and Indicators**

To simplify the chart, let's remove any Indicators and Overlays from the default chart. The quickest way to do that is to click the **Clear All** link in the **Overlays** section and then repeat the process with the **Clear All** link in the **Indicators** section.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://2414490151-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FELJo6JImRKx7nLaFjAPl%2Fuploads%2F5KFdOApfpEDCSdUKuJcd%2Fvolumeindicator02.png?alt=media&#x26;token=00c60ef2-0857-42d5-af53-2cce0f90dbe3" alt="Settings to remove all overlays and indicators from your chart in StockCharts.com"><figcaption><p>Click on Clear All to remove all overlays and indicators.</p></figcaption></figure>

The chart should look similar to the one below.

<figure><img src="https://2414490151-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FELJo6JImRKx7nLaFjAPl%2Fuploads%2F03efuaUHqo5vupVJKsfK%2Fvolumeindicator03.png?alt=media&#x26;token=3793a28c-cf39-4aaa-9ae2-e7f17567cdfb" alt="Chart with Overlays and Indicators deleted from the default chart in StockCharts.com"><figcaption><p>Chart with all Overlays and Indicators removed.</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Note:** You may want to make other changes to the chart, such as changing the size or the color scheme. In the above chart, we used the “Spruce” color scheme.
{% endhint %}

### Change Volume to an Indicator <a href="#change_volume_to_an_indicator" id="change_volume_to_an_indicator"></a>

In order to add a moving average to, or otherwise change the configuration of, the volume bars on your chart, you will need to turn off the "shortcut" Volume setting in the Chart Attributes area, and then add the configurable "Volume" indicator to your chart.

#### **Step 3: Remove Shortcut Volume**

To remove the “shortcut” Volume from the chart, change the **Volume** dropdown in the **Chart Attributes** area to **Off**.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://2414490151-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FELJo6JImRKx7nLaFjAPl%2Fuploads%2FVaKmx6fTeWUDS2uDQ9yO%2Fvolumeindicator04.png?alt=media&#x26;token=0b95a483-736e-4a54-83d1-eec445026607" alt="Chart settings to turn off volume shortcut in StockCharts.com"><figcaption><p>Remove Shortcut Volume by setting it to Off. </p></figcaption></figure>

#### **Step 4: Add Volume Indicator**

Select **Volume** from one of the empty indicator dropdowns. Ensure the **Position** dropdown is set to **Behind Price** so volume will appear on the main chart panel.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://2414490151-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FELJo6JImRKx7nLaFjAPl%2Fuploads%2FQt6bZsXgpvinRHAgmhct%2Fvolumeindicator05.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c99fdffb-6985-4c2b-84fa-0ddc1fccc7f2" alt="Chart settings for adding volume as an indicator in StockCharts.com"><figcaption><p>Add Volume as an indicator.</p></figcaption></figure>

Once these changes have been made, your chart should look similar to the one below.

<figure><img src="https://2414490151-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FELJo6JImRKx7nLaFjAPl%2Fuploads%2F5JrBYTJIhsEyqUXpQhUZ%2Fvolumeindicator06.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f1303af2-b6d0-45e5-b810-15e07978f8cf" alt="Chart displaying volume as an indicator in StockCharts.com"><figcaption><p>Chart with volume added as an indicator. </p></figcaption></figure>

Notice that the chart looks the same as the previous one. However, now that Volume is an indicator, you have more options for configuring the volume display.

### Add the Moving Average to the Volume Indicator <a href="#add_the_moving_average_to_the_volume_indicator" id="add_the_moving_average_to_the_volume_indicator"></a>

There are two options for adding a moving average to your volume indicator.

#### *Using Parameters Box* <a href="#using_parameters_box" id="using_parameters_box"></a>

If you need a quick [Exponential Moving Average](https://app.gitbook.com/s/ERtrZrZOhufFzk6ZQO4B/table-of-contents/technical-indicators-and-overlays/technical-overlays/moving-averages-simple-and-exponential) (EMA) overlaid on your Volume bars, enter the number of periods for your moving average in the **Parameters** box for your Volume indicator. Note that you can only enter an EMA using this option.

<figure><img src="https://2414490151-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FELJo6JImRKx7nLaFjAPl%2Fuploads%2FGQFPBBYxDKJJbnljNnBs%2Fvolumeindicator07.png?alt=media&#x26;token=be896ee7-18e9-4f81-bc5f-bd2cf0958adf" alt="Chart settings for adding an exponential moving average to volume bars in StockCharts.com"><figcaption><p>Indicator settings for adding an Exponential Moving Average to volume.</p></figcaption></figure>

#### *Using Advanced Options* <a href="#using_advanced_options" id="using_advanced_options"></a>

The preferred method is to use the Advanced options to add the moving average.

#### **Step 5: Adding an Overlay**

Find the **Overlay** dropdown menu next to your **Volume** indicator, and select the kind of moving average you want to add to your volume bars (**Simple Moving Avg** or **Exp. Moving Avg**). In the **Parameters** box to the right of the **Overlay** dropdown, enter the number of periods you want for your moving average.

<figure><img src="https://2414490151-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FELJo6JImRKx7nLaFjAPl%2Fuploads%2Fnj0xglW658Yw4FxuDtHy%2Fvolumeindicator09.png?alt=media&#x26;token=3e2503dd-8707-418b-b5cf-d2b7f2e36301" alt="Settings for adding an overlay to an indicator in StockCharts.com"><figcaption><p>Add overlays to your indicator and enter the specific parameters.</p></figcaption></figure>

## The Final Product <a href="#the_final_product" id="the_final_product"></a>

The finished chart will look similar to the one below.

<figure><img src="https://2414490151-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FELJo6JImRKx7nLaFjAPl%2Fuploads%2FEFoC6YhyI3Q4611gTKA5%2Fvolumeindicator10.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a7c00507-1dce-4fae-9e0e-7f47ba3c0839" alt="Chart displaying volume indicator with an EMA overlay in StockCharts.com"><figcaption><p>Chart of volume indicator with an EMA overlay.</p></figcaption></figure>

***

<img src="https://2414490151-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FELJo6JImRKx7nLaFjAPl%2Fuploads%2FgGQWHwFCQFE4r24yE8tM%2Fscc-icon.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a916424c-0ed8-4b77-ac14-2f8e8a99bdf1" alt="" data-size="line">[**Click here to see a live version of this chart.**](http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=%24INDU\&p=D\&b=5\&g=0\&id=p43170696921)

***

## Additional Resources <a href="#additional_resources" id="additional_resources"></a>

#### Videos <a href="#videos" id="videos"></a>

* [Adding Overlays to Volume Bars](http://stockcharts.com/videos/?fv=usvs-ca-addoverlayvolbars)


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