The Trading Methods of W. D. Gann
Arcanum Market Research
W. D. GANN: MASTER THE MARKETS FAQ
Do you have a serious interest in “Master The Markets?” Contact us to arrange a visual “virtual-tour” of the training via Skype or Zoom. The tour is interactive and visual. You can see how each technique is calculated and applied, and then walk through the strength of the back-testing. Plus you can ask all the questions you want.
Serious inquiries can also reach us by email or phone at: seminars@tradingwdgann.com or 312-532-2116 from 11am – 4:30pm CST M-F.
Following are the answers to some of the most frequently asked about W. D. Gann’s trading methods and our Master The Markets Training. As this entire website is designed to save us time on the phone, the detailed answers below should clear up a lot of the questions you have before calling us.
HOW ARE W. D. GANN’S ‘UNPUBLISHED’ TRADING METHODS DIFFERENT?
The methods taught in “Master The Markets” differ from most everything else labelled “Gann” in 3 important ways:
1. AUTHENTICITY AND EXCLUSIVITY.
If the Gann method you are using is authentic, your results should resemble Gann’s. The strategies in Master The Markets are derived directly from W. D. Gann’s published, unpublished and lesser-known works. Unlike popular internet interpretations that focus on Gann fans, boxes, the Square of 9, cycles of repetition, these methods operate on a completely different level. largely known only to a select group of traders and old institutional market players.
Gann intentionally concealed his real trading techniques within cryptic language, never explicitly laying out his calculations. Through extensive research and decoding of his writings—including those on his recommended reading list—his true market formulas have been reconstructed and rigorously back-tested against long-term market data.
Each trading and analysis method has been painstakingly unraveled from W. D. Gann’s published & unpublished writings, personal notes, and the books he recommended. His private courses, which sold for the equivalent of $60,000 or more today, were his true teachings—while his publicly available books were designed to attract serious students and serve as a coded reference for those he trained privately.
Through over 20 years of meticulous research and rigorous back-testing by a credentialed market professional, Master The Markets extracts and reconstructs Gann’s real trading formulas, providing what we believe to be the closest experience to trading with W. D. Gann’s original strategies and getting Gann’s results.
2. ELIMINATING GUESSWORK WITH OBJECTIVE, RULE-BASED STRATEGIES.
W. D. Gann’s trading strategies remove much of the uncertainty from trading by relying on fully objective, rule-based calculations. Unlike much of the trader education available today— where subjectivity and personal interpretation often lead to inconsistency— Gann’s methods follow precise, repeatable rules. W. D. Gann was the father of rule-based trading, and he employed precise mathematical formulas. Unless the Gann method you use is rule-based with precise formulas, you will be unable to even measure your performance.
In theory, if two traders follow the same Gann-based strategy with identical instructions, they should take the same trades at the same time. However, Master The Markets is about than following a fixed set of rules; it’s a foundation for deeper mastery of the forces that move financial markets. Gann encouraged his students to refine and integrate his methods, adapting them to their individual market goals and trading styles.
By contrast, much of what circulates online under the “Gann” name is characterized by subjectivity, vague interpretations, and inconsistency— a cottage industry bearing little resemblance to the structured precision of Gann’s true market approach. That’s why our results more closely match W. D. Gann’s than other so called “Gann” methods.
3. SUPERIOR BACK-TESTING RESULTS.
W. D. Gann’s trading strategies are built on objective, rule-based principles that leverage exogenous data—factors outside the market itself. Because of this, they cannot be reverse-engineered or discovered by modern AI or machine learning models, which rely solely on market-derived data.
The methods taught on this website and in our Master The Markets training represent over 20 years of literary analysis, research, and hands-on testing by market professional D’mitri Richardson, CMT. Since Gann designed his strategies with clear, rule-based frameworks, they can be rigorously tested for effectiveness. Without such testing, it is impossible to measure a strategy’s success or objectively compare its performance to others.
Through extensive testing, Gann’s original trading strategies consistently demonstrate superior win rates, high benchmarks, asymmetrical alpha, and minimal drawdowns—proving their lasting advantage in real market conditions.
ALL YOU NEED IS A MAGIC CYCLE, RIGHT?
Sentiments similar to this discredit authentic Gann methodology, make you susceptible to scams, and lead to financial loss.
Gann used more than just cycles in his trading. The inclusion of Gann’s complete trading strategies, entries, stops, targets, and money management set ‘Master The Markets’ apart from hucksters drawing lines between markets highs and lows in YouTube videos.
W. D. Gann employed different trading strategies depending on the market and timeframe, each governed by its own set of rules or what he called “methods of operation.” Additionally, he utilized multiple types of cycles—trend cycles, alternating cycles, periodic cycles, and more—often combining them in different ways. At times, he would use a cycle as a trigger; at others, he would apply it to gauge trend direction or as a filter for long and short trades.
Unfortunately, many Gann enthusiasts monochromatically fixate on a so-called “magic cycle,” believing they can pinpoint exact tops and bottoms with mathematical precision. They lack a consistent set of trading rules and set ups to accompany this aim. This misconception is often fueled by cherry-picked YouTube videos where someone effortlessly connects highs and lows in hindsight. In reality, Gann used cycles as a supportive tool, much like a tailwind, to confirm setups and trade greenlight rather than as a standalone method for perfectly timing market reversals.
Equally important, Gann adhered to strict rules for entry, exit, and trade management—rules that worked in conjunction with cycles and other core techniques like Arcana Trend. Without a deep understanding of these principles, you will be unable to consistently profit from Gann’s cycles. To successfully integrate Gann’s methods, traders need a solid foundation in market analysis and risk management, particularly when applying them alongside conventional technical analysis.
Another common misconception among Gann enthusiasts is the idea that the length and pitch of each cycle leg will always align perfectly with high and low prices on some mystical wheel. This notion falls apart under even the simplest scrutiny. Gann’s price forecasting techniques stemmed from multiple disciplines that differed from his time techniques, and he typically relied on a confluence of three methods rather than a single-cycle approach.
Perhaps the most misguided belief is that a universal “cycle of repetition” exists—one that eliminates the need for market analysis and guarantees unlimited profits across all markets and timeframes. If such a shortcut were real, top-tier hedge funds with machine learning algorithms would have already exploited it. Even Gann himself warned against this kind of thinking in his book, The Magic Word. Successful trading requires more than chasing a magical unicorn cycle; it demands a structured, rule-based approach that incorporates cycles, trend, strength, and entry techniques, market realities.
Read more details about ‘Master The Markets’ and Gann’s methods.
HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR ‘W.D GANN: MASTER THE MARKETS’ COURSE? ARE THERE PRE-REQUISITES?
You will be receiving niche, proprietary strategies few people have seen. ‘Master The Markets’ is built on W. D. Gann’s actual, unpublished methods, instead of Gann misnomers and myths that abound on the internet. So there is little commercially available that will prepare you. But we have designed some resources to help you get ready.
Before the training sessions we have live, interactive preparatory webinars and consultations to help you hit the ground running. This is the best way to prepare. We can also ship your manuals immediately upon payment of the entire balance, so you can read up before the sessions.
Those who have the most success with ‘Master The Markets’ are active traders with adequate capital and professional market data who are somewhat familiar with the various trading approaches.
Future traders wanting to start on the right foot and build their market philosophy, trading style, on the proper foundation of how the market really works benefit avoid wasting years and thousands of dollars on faulty, incomplete, and inconsistent methodologies.
With the exception of Earik Beann’s “Handbook of Market Esoterica,” everything currently commercially available will be worthless in preparing you for “W. D. Gann: Master The Markets.” It may even screw you up. Even very expensive books and course will not aid in preparation.
There are a few books on Gann’s recommended reading list we can submit that will help you become familiar with the basis of some of the more intricate concepts in the training. These are helpful but far from necessary.
DO YOU GIVE PREDICTIONS, TRADES, OR ENTRIES AND EXITS IN ADVANCE TO THOSE CONSIDERING THE COURSE?
Our back-testing results rank among the best in the industry, with a process and sample size that exceed industry standards. Market professionals evaluate a strategy’s success by back-testing over extended periods and across various market conditions.
For example, we’ve back-tested the Arcana Trend prediction cycles over the last 85 years—that’s what we call robust. In contrast, most market training strategies lack even objective rules and measurable success metrics.
n the past, we conducted live trading demonstrations, made market calls in advance, posted future cycles, and showcased actual trading results. However, due to legal risks, our attorney strongly advised us to stop—especially given what happened to Ross Cameron. Ross turned a few $500 accounts into over $1 million but was successfully sued because his exceptional results weren’t considered “typical” or easily replicable by average traders, even though he traded live and openly shared his signals.
Given these legal precedents, the most reliable way to evaluate a trading strategy is through industry-standard back-testing of rule-based strategies on high-quality hypothetical data.
For those serious about our methods, in our Virtual Tour we provide references from those who have taken the training.
Beyond our work with W.D. Gann’s trading methods, we’ve been consulting for FinTech clients in Chicago for over 13 years. During the 2020 market shutdown, we had a rare opportunity to trade consistently. However, in the past year, our focus has shifted, leaving little time for active trading.
Suppose you requested seven days of market predictions or live trading without fully understanding the methodology. Let’s say that strategy back-tests at a 78% win-rate over 4 years. If every call happened to be correct, it wouldn’t be an honest representation of long-term success—just as it wouldn’t be fair to judge the strategy if trades failed all seven days or succeeded only three out of seven. This is why professionals assess a strategy’s performance over long periods and across different market conditions.
Professional traders also evaluate other key metrics over time, including Beta, drawdowns, win/loss streaks, benchmark consistency, and overall long-term stability. To that end, we meticulously document and back-test strategies, preserving results in a visual format for reference. The outstanding statistical track record of Gann-based strategies provides a solid foundation for confident trading.
A “Gann prediction” is much more than simply forecasting that the market will reach a specific price at a certain time. Gann often first identified the prevailing trend as a long/short filter. Then, he applied trading rules to define entry points based on price behavior in relation to key factors. Finally, he used precise timing and price methodologies to determine exits in select strategies.
Many Gann techniques operate on larger timeframes, while others let the market dictate the timeframe. Without understanding the underlying money management principles, receiving these signals in advance might seem erratic or inconsistent.
For example, in his Soybean mechanical system, Gann used a unique squaring technique to predict pullback prices. He then applied strict time-based parameters to determine when those predictions would expire. Communicating or evaluating all of this through a single trade signal would be impossible.
Finally, many of Gann’s projections rely on a confluence of techniques. Imagine three methods aligning to signal a market bottom—one of which is dynamic, meaning it only confirms if price reacts in a specific way at that moment. Without a deep understanding of these methods, interpreting such signals in a live demo would be ineffective and counterproductive.
DO I NEED SPECIAL SOFTWARE?
The material covered in Master The Markets is rooted in W. D. Gann’s authentic methods. Learning these techniques, calculating key elements, and building trading strategies will introduce a completely new paradigm to all participants- regardless of how long you have pursued “Gann.” We can confidently say you’ve never performed market analysis like this before. The proprietary strategies you’ll be trading are known to only a select few worldwide.
You won’t be able to rely on software that claims to automate Gann’s techniques, such as Ganzilla, Optuma, Cycle Trader, Astrolabe, Solarfire, or Timing Solutions. Gann himself calculated and applied these methods manually— and technically, so can you. Most calculations take less than a minute by hand and can be easily applied to TradingView or other standard charting software. However, more complex tasks, such as mapping out monthly or annual cycles and predicting trend, may take up to an hour or more if done manually. Plus you will need precise ephemeral data down to the minute. Using a spreadsheet can significantly improve accuracy and reduce time spent on these processes.
In practice, Wave59 is the only software designed to replicate how Gann constructed his ephemeris and market charts. It offers unique tools for cycle and trend analysis, including the ability to measure lunar degrees and Earth’s rotation directly on a chart, down-to-the-minute ephemeral data, an ultra-flexible Gann box, and an ephemeris that can perform progressions exactly as Gann did—with a paper ephemeris and plastic overlay.
Wave59 essentially recreates the way Gann layered his analytical tools over hand-drawn charts. It streamlines two to three steps of the process, allowing you to apply techniques efficiently and track multiple markets intraday. Additionally, Wave59 includes unique features like chart scaling and geometric pattern tools, enabling precise replication of Luther Jensen’s market geometries. This is especially useful when first learning Gann’s trading techniques, helping you implement them quickly and effectively.
Wave59 is available for lease at $99 per month without an annual commitment. We use Wave59 exclusively for Gann analysis but trade from other platforms or directly through the brokerage platform.
We also provide Gann’s LOV software for fast, semi-automated projections of high and low prices. Included are chart templates and proprietary indicators with open-source code in Excel, EFS, and Wave59 QScript.
No other commercially available software can perform the necessary progressions for Arcana Trend prediction cycles or plot planetary degrees on a chart for alternating cycles as effectively as Wave59.
To properly calculate techniques and analyze the market for entry signals using Master The Markets strategies, you will need access to the following key data:
Ephemeris dataset should include:
- Essential planetary points: Ascendant, Midheaven, Descendant, East Point, Part of Fortune, Vertex, and one or two asteroids.
- Customization options: The ability to add hypothetical planets and set the ephemeris to any global location.
- Geocentric & Heliocentric Views: The ability to switch between these two perspectives.
- Progressions & Real-Time Updates>/font>: You must be able to progress a natal position, update time and date in real time, and start progressions from multiple points.
- Aspect Calculations: The ability to calculate aspects dynamically.
- Coordinate Systems: You will need both longitudinal and latitudinal positions and directional data, as well as right ascension.
Market Data should include:
- <Real-Time Data: High-quality real-time market data, including the pre-market session, is essential.
- Futures Trading: If trading futures, ensure access to CME data that includes both the front-month lead contract and the continuous contract.
- Time Bar Resolution: For intraday trading, your time bars should be adjustable down to one-minute intervals. For longer-term strategies, such as the mechanical method, five-minute candle bars are required.
- Gann Box: The ability to quickly draw and customize a Gann box that measures both time and price increments.
- Measurement Tools: A tool to measure bar count, price movement, and percentage distance.
- Lunar & Earth Cycles: A tool to measure lunar degrees on a market chart. The ability to track intraday cycles and turns using degrees of Earth’s rotation.
- Chart Scaling & Proportions: The ability to scale a chart and lock it with uneven proportions of price and time.
- Geometric Drawing Tools: You need the ability to draw, rotate, expand, and contract various shapes, including squares, rectangles, and perfect circles.
