Learning More Chords Guitar Lesson

Chapter 1: (01:23) Intro Music Sit back and enjoy Jim's performance of "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin. Chapter 2: (06:59) Review and G Chord Lesson Objectives

-Review important left hand concepts discussed in the previous lesson.

-Review the fingering for the C chord.

-Learn the G major and D major chords.

-Learn simplified versions of the G, C, and D chords.

-Discover how these chords relate to one another and how they function within a specific key.

-Apply music theory concepts and new chord shapes to practical, musical exercises.

Visualizing Chord Shapes

When learning any new chord shape, it is important to be able to visualize its basic fretboard shape. In later lessons, the same shape may be used to play a new chord in a different fretboard position. For example, at 01:08, Jim demonstrates how the basic visual shape of the C chord can be converted into a movable, "barre" chord. (This concept will be covered in detail in a future lesson.)

Review of the C Chord

The C chord involves three fretted notes and two open strings. Both the third and first strings are played open. Remember that the open sixth string is not strummed as part of this chord. The fretted notes are played by the third, second, and first fingers. Study the chord diagram provided under the "Supplemental Content" tab for a review of where these fingers should be placed on the fretboard.

As you advance as a guitarist and learn new chords, periodically review the left hand guidelines discussed in the previous lesson to ensure that you do not develop any bad habits. These guidelines are listed below.

Left Hand Guidelines

1. Position the finger as close to the fretwire as possible without being directly over top of it. Otherwise, you will most likely produce a note that rattles or buzzes.

2. Press the string down just hard enough to produce a clear tone. Pressing too hard will result in unnecessary left hand fatigue.

3. Keep the left hand in a natural, relaxed position at all times. Do not squeeze the neck!

4. Keep the thumb perpendicular to the neck. Do not curl the thumb or bring it up over the top of the neck. Also, Do not turn the thumb so that it runs parallel to the back of the neck. This greatly limits the range of motion of each finger.

Note: There are some exceptions to this rule that will be discussed later in the series.

5. Keep all left hand joints slightly bent. Do not flatten any of the knuckles.

6. Keep the left hand fingernails as short as possible.

7. Fret the strings with the very tips of the fingers. Arching the wrist outwards will help accomplish this goal. Utilizing this technique will prevent you from bumping any of the adjacent strings. Making contact with adjacent strings will prevent them from ringing clearly.

8. Keep the wrist slightly bent.

9. Keep the palm parallel to the bottom of the neck. Do not tilt the wrist from side to side. This will limit the range of motion for each of the fingers.

Checking Left Hand Accuracy

Once you have formed a chord with the appropriate left hand fingering, you must check the accuracy of your technique. Pick each of the notes in the chord individually to ensure that they are ringing with a strong, clear tone. Then, strum the notes simultaneously as a chord. You should not hear any buzzing or muted notes.

Strumming Exercise

Once you have mastered the left hand component of the C Chord, it's time to add the right hand into the mix. In most guitar music, the right hand plays the role of time keeper. The right hand keeps the rhythm steady by strumming in a specified rhythm. Do not neglect the importance of rhythm and the right hand!

Note: The following information pertaining to rhythm is taken from lesson 1 of Matt Brown's Phase 2 Reading Music and Rhythm series.

-Rhythm is the single most important aspect of music. If you can't play something perfectly in time, then you can't play it. As a result, you should spend the majority of your practice time perfecting rhythm. This task can be accomplished in a variety of different ways. The important rule to remember is to practice with a metronome as much as possible. Playing along with recordings is also great practice.

-Rhythmic skills are essential to playing with a group of other musicians. As a guitarist, you can't simply say: "I'll just play along with the drummer. After all, the drummer is responsible for the rhythm." This is a horrible mindset to have. YOU must be responsible for rhythmic perfection at all times. That way, if the drummer is playing incorrectly, you can address the issue as needed.

Strumming Exercise Directions

1. Form the C chord with the left hand.

2. Set your metronome to a relatively slow tempo such as 70 beats per minute.

3. Strum the C chord in a steady quarter note rhythm. Each strum should perfectly coincide with the click of the metronome.

4. Tap your foot along with the metronome. This will help you internalize the pulse. In turn, your rhythm will become more accurate.

5. Count the beat out loud while strumming the chord. Count "1, 2, 3, 4" for each measure.

G Major Chord

A. Root Notes

Almost every chord in Western music has a "root" note. The root is the note that names the chord. For example, the root note of a G major chord is G. Interval relationships within the chord are based on this root note. There are three G notes within the G major chord that Jim demonstrates in the lesson video. These notes are located on the sixth, third, and first strings.

B. Left Hand Fingering

This chord voicing features three fretted notes and three open strings. The third finger frets the root note G at the 3rd fret of the sixth string. The note B is fretted by the second finger at the 2nd fret of the fifth string. On the first string, another G note is fretted by the pinkie finger at the 3rd fret. Remember to keep the third and second fingers arched. This will prevent you from accidentally muting the open fourth string. The pinkie finger must be curled tightly into the fretboard in order to keep the second and third fingers arched. Study Jim's left hand technique. Imitate his technique with your left hand fingers.

Use the left hand guidelines listed above when fretting this chord. Also, work through the left hand accuracy check-up to ensure that all notes are ringing clearly. Finally, apply the strumming exercise listed under the C chord to the G chord. Chapter 3: (04:34) Proper Fingering and Changing Between C and G When switching back and forth between the C chord and the G chord, the third and second fingers do not have to move very far. Recognizing these types of finger movements will help immensely as you begin to practice chord changes.

Alternate Left Hand Fingering for G Major

An alternate fingering can be used to play the G major chord. Within this fingering, the open strings remain the same. However, the fretted notes are played by different left hand fingers. The root note on the sixth string is fretted by the second finger. The first finger frets the note on the fifth string. Finally, the third finger or the pinkie finger frets the note on the first string.

The fingering option used for the G chord is usually dependent upon the other chords used in the progression. For example, the first fingering that Jim demonstrated is much more practical within the context of a progression that includes the C chord. Further down the road, you will encounter some chord progressions in which the alternate fingering for the G chord is the most practical. For now though, do not deviate from the initial fingering that Jim demonstrates in the lesson. Check out lesson 9 from Mark Brennan's Phase 1 series for more information on this topic.

C to G Exercise

Instructions:

Note: Tablature and notation to all lesson exercises can be found under the "Supplemental Content" tab.

Begin the exercise with a C major chord. Strum this chord for a measure in a steady quarter note rhythm. Then, change to the G chord and repeat the process. Continue to switch back and forth between these two chords. At first, you will most likely have to leave a pause between chord changes as you adjust your left hand fingering. However, the primary goal of this exercise is to eliminate the pause between chords. As you continue to practice the exercise, this pause will become shorter. Strive for even rhythm and smooth chord changes. Once you can seamlessly change between these chords, play the exercise along with a metronome. Set the metronome to a relatively slow tempo to begin with, such as 60 beats per minute. Remember to tap your foot along with the metronome to internalize the pulse. Also, count the beat out loud.

Musical Road Signs

A repeat sign occurs at the end of the fourth measure. Once you reach the end of this measure, repeat the exercise from the beginning.

Note: For extra practice, play the exercise along with Jim at 03:50 in the lesson video. Chapter 4: (11:48) Playing Tips and the D Chord D Major Chord

In comparison to the C and G chords, many beginners find the D chord to be slightly less challenging. The left hand fingers do not need to stretch nearly as far. The first finger plays the note A at the 2nd fret of the third string. A root note is fretted by the third finger at the 3rd fret of the second string. Finally, F# is played by the second finger at the 2nd fret of the first string. The open fourth string (D) is played open. The fifth and sixth strings are omitted from this chord. Consequently, right hand accuracy becomes very important when playing D major.

When first learning this chord, place the first and second fingers in position first. Then, without moving these fingers, place the third finger on the fretboard. You must develop some independence between the second and third fingers in order to master the D chord. This comes with patience and daily practice. If you experience pain or cramping in your fingers at any point, immediately take a break. Return to your practice session once your fingers have recovered.

Chord Relationships

At this point, Jim has demonstrated how to play three chords: G, C, and D. For every major key, three primary chords define the harmonic relationships within the key. G, C, and D are the primary chords for the key of G major. The music theory behind this concept will be discussed in a future lesson.

Listen as Jim plays these chords in the following order: G, C, D, G. You've probably heard this familiar chord progression in countless popular songs over the years.

G, C, D Exercise

Follow the guidelines listed under the C to G Exercise as you play through this new exercise. Focus your attention on creating smooth chord changes and keeping the rhythm steady. You will mostly experience the greatest difficulty when changing from C to D and from D to G. If this is the case, spend extra time drilling these chord changes.

When you feel ready, play the exercise along with Jim in the lesson video. At 08:24, he plays the exercise at a moderate tempo. He performs the exercise in half notes at 08:36. Chapter 5: (03:49) Playing the Chords Together Accompaniment Exercise

Within this exercise, Jim incorporates a basic melody into the chord progression that you learned in the previous scene. Your role is to accompany Jim with the chord progression from Scene 4 while he plays the melody line. Strum the chords in a steady half note rhythm. Each chord is strummed twice per measure.

When playing with another musician, rhythm is the most important aspect to focus on. You might not nail the left hand fingering for a chord on the first strum. However, you must keep the right hand moving in a steady rhythm. Simply correct your left hand technique in time for the second strum. Your primary goal should be staying with Jim at all times. If you have a problem keeping up with the initial tempo that he plays, fast forward to 02:28. Jim plays through the exercise at a much slower tempo at this point in the scene. Chapter 6: (10:45) Chord Troubleshooting In this scene, Jim demonstrates how to play abbreviated versions of the chords discussed in the previous scenes. If you are struggling with the exercises presented in these scenes, try playing through them with the new voicings presented in this scene. Once you have mastered the exercises with the easier voicings, go back and play them with the full versions of each chord. You will most likely find these exercises a little bit easier once you have worked through this process.

Note: Open the "Supplemental Content" tab for fretboard diagrams of the chords discussed in this scene.

Simplified G Chord

This voicing for G major utilizes the three treble strings only. Use the third finger to fret the root note on the first string. The third and second strings are played open.

Simplified C Chord

Once again, the simplified version of the C chord utilizes the three treble strings. The first finger frets the root note at the 1st fret of the second string. The third and first strings are played open.

Simplified D Chord

The left hand fingering for the D chord remains the same. However, the right hand strums only the three treble strings. The open fourth string is no longer included in the chord.

Exercise 2 - Simplified Version

At 02:55, practice Exercise 2 along with Jim. This time around, use the simplified chord voicings that Jim just demonstrated.

Also, go back to Scene 5 and play through Exercise 3 using these new chord voicings.

Questions and Comments

If you have any questions about the materials presented in this lesson, feel free to write in to Jim. You can either send him an email or leave a question in the "Comments" section of this lesson. You can also leave a question or comment for him on the JamPlay Forum. For additional help, check out the Phase 1 lessons taught by other teachers. These lessons may give you a fresh perspective on playing chords.

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