| We've all been there - soon after we get hold of our | | | | able to think outside the box when it comes to |
| first guitar we know that to play anything people are | | | | constructing interesting chords?" |
| actually going to listen to we need to "learn a few | | | | Two words that will make some jump into their |
| chords". These first few chords for most beginners | | | | guitar case - chord theory |
| end up being the open position chords, down at the | | | | Chord theory is a subject area of guitar that doesn't |
| first few frets. | | | | necessarily have to be pretentious, elitist or just for |
| Soon, we begin to associate these basic chords with | | | | jazz/classical guitarists. Explained and learned the right |
| shapes - E, A, D, C and G shapes. These 5 shapes | | | | way, knowing some basic guitar chord theory can |
| are way more fundamental than we initially think, | | | | open up a songwriting factory in your head, |
| because once it comes to mastering the dreaded F | | | | producing its goods right on your guitar. |
| chord, or more accurately, the "E-shape barre", we | | | | There are 5 steps you need to go through to reach |
| immediately feel liberated - we can now create major | | | | your guitar chord nirvana (and I DON'T mean the |
| and minor chord variations up and down the neck. | | | | band!), the first 3 you probably already have... |
| Some stop there. Some may even go on to realize | | | | 1) Learn the 5 barre chord shapes (E, A, C, D and G) |
| the "A shape barre" (based on the A string) can | | | | 2) Learn the major scale in 8 (yes, eight) different |
| widen our scope of tone and voicing that little bit | | | | positions based around these barre shapes |
| more. True, these two movable shapes are indeed | | | | 3) Use your knowledge of the major scale to create |
| enough for most of today's middle-of-the-road rock | | | | triads, 7ths and extended chords in several positions |
| music. You can write great songs with a mix of the 5 | | | | on the fretboard. This is the foundation for building |
| open position shapes, and these two barre shapes, | | | | unique and interesting chord voicings. |
| even epics! | | | | 4) Use your knowledge of chord construction to |
| But why stop there? Why limit yourself at all? | | | | create unique chord voicings with inversions all over |
| There's so much more to discover on the fretboard. | | | | the fretboard. |
| Different voicings - voicings that can make a chord | | | | 5) Don't forget to "float" chords occasionally with |
| on its own sound 10 times more intricately lush. The | | | | open strings. |
| truth is, as guitarists get into their 2nd year of | | | | Once you invest a little of your practice time learning |
| playing, these fixed form chords begin to sound, | | | | chord theory basics (it doesn't take long to pick up), |
| well...a little dull. | | | | you'll start to investigate the fretboard as second |
| Too many guitarists are missing out on producing | | | | nature. You'll come up with chord progressions and |
| music that will astound themselves, let alone others, | | | | really use your ears to identify the "right" chord for |
| because of their love affair with the quick-reference | | | | the change. Your playing will open up to a diverse |
| chord chart, learning parrot fashion, shrugging off any | | | | range of styles. |
| understanding of "what that chord would sound like | | | | Most of all though, creating unique original music that |
| voiced...here" and knowing your several options. | | | | is truly "you" won't be limited by the size of a chord |
| You may be thinking "this sounds complicated, where | | | | chart - it will only be limited by the 6 strings on your |
| do I go from here? What do I need to learn to be | | | | guitar. |