Internal vs external structure

Market Structure Mastery

Two zoom levels of structure

External structure is the big, obvious swing highs and lows that define the major trend. Internal structure is the smaller swings inside that bigger move, the minor pivots on lower timeframes.

Internal breaks can come first

A CHoCH on internal structure often happens well before a CHoCH on external structure. Watching the smaller pivots can give an early heads-up before the bigger picture confirms.

Don't fight the bigger picture

Trading only off internal structure without checking external structure is how traders end up fighting the bigger trend, taking small reversal signals that get run over by the larger move.