Choosing timeframes for trading

Timeframes are something I'm currently studying and would like to conduct an informal survey of traders on this topic. If you have a minute, I'd appreciate any and all feedback.

Independent of your entry/exit signals, how do you choose a timeframe to do your trading? What makes one timeframe better than others? Furthermore, do you find that your choice of timeframe changes over time?

Your going to get all sorts of random answers here like '13 minute charts rock dude!' or 'only daily and above' etc. But you're asking the wrong question, no one time frame is implicitly better than another, the question you need to ask is 'what time frame best highlights the non-random behavior I am looking to exploit in my trading'.

there is no such thing as a best timeframe... timeframe to choose depends on your system... develop your own system, what works best for you and then you will know the best timeframe to choose... Also remember that when choosing a system/strategy make it as simple as possible..

In my opinion the best way to chose your trading time frame will be when YOU have time. No matter what time frame you chose and no matter what system you use, you MUST check it every time the chart moves to generate a new candle.

So if you have time to check the time frame every 5 mins or every 15 mins to look if your method has generated an entry or exit signal, then great...if not, use a time frame you can check. You must also balance this with WHEN you have time to trade.

If you have a "regular" job, you know from the start you cannot be in front of the computer checking the chart every 15 min or even every hour. Perhaps, a longer time frame like 4 hrs, 8 hrs, or daily would work better. Or if your system generates its signals mostly during a particular market time, like say the European or Japanese markets, then you can devote a set schedule to those times and trade a smaller time frame.

First decide when YOU have time...then decide when/how to check the charts, then decide which time frame is "best" for you.

Other than that...trading is trading. Find/refine you method and go for it.