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