How I Started Using Multiple Timeframes

By Brian Shannon, written with Kyna Kosling (@KayKlingson).
First published on July 29, 2025.

When I first came across intraday charts on a computer, I was fascinated.

The graphic quality was like the early computer game Pong: Clunky neon green bar charts, with no way of customizing them. Nonetheless, I could access intraday charts. How cool is that?!

Actually, I wasn’t allowed access to the computers at the brokerage firm where I worked. So, I’d have to wait for someone to leave the room, then sneak on their computer to see the intraday charts.

Later, when working as a stockbroker at Dain Bosworth, I’d dial up my 24K modem, then wait 35 seconds for an intraday chart to reveal itself. It was like waiting for a polaroid picture to develop and see whether I’d got a good shot, then go: “Wow, look at that! That’s how prices move!”

This was totally different from how I could previously see charts: Only printed, and only on the daily timeframe.

But I didn’t yet understand how the different timeframes fit together.