Expanding Chords Guitar Lesson
Expanding Chords
Mark introduces a few more minor chords. He also provides a monster chord exercise.
Taught by Mark Lincoln in Basic Guitar with Mark Lincoln seriesLength: 16:36Difficulty: 1.5 of 5
Review the names of the stringsChapter 2: (03:25) More Minor Chords
Review the major chords (A-B-C-D-E-F-G).
Review the minor chords (Am-Bm-Cm-Dm).
Let's continue with the remainder of the open minor chords.
EmE_0_
B_0_
G_0_
D_2_
A_2_
E_0_
This chord is played by placing the first finger on the A-string second fret, and the second or middle finger on the D-string second fret. Or, the second and third fingers can be used instead. Remember to leave the strings with "0's" open. Hold down the strings hard enough to produce a a clean sound when you strum. Assuming that your guitar is set up properly, you should hear no buzzing notes or muted notes when strumming an Em chord. If you are not getting a clean sound, then you may be touching the fret (the metal piece in between the frets), not holding the string down hard enough, or your guitar may need to be adjusted. Don't use the latter as an excuse for not playing well. The player is often the problem! Try the 
pattern when you strum this chord.
E_X_
B_X_
G_X_
D_3_
A_3_
E_1_
Please note, this is not a true F minor chord. A "true" F minor chord is very difficult to finger since it requires a barre. For now, an F5 "power" chord is substituted. A power chord can be used in place of a major or minor chord since it is harmonically ambiguous. Play F5 by placing the first finger on the low E-string first fret, the third finger on the A-string third fret, and the pinky finger directly beneath the third finger on the D-string third fret. Try to strum only the strings you are holding down! This may be challenging at first, but developing right hand accuracy early on will definitely pay off in the future. Develop an awareness of which strings you are strumming and realize that not all of the strings are strummed in most chords.
G5E_X_
B_X_
G_X_
D_5_
A_5_
E_3_
Like F5, G5 is not a "true" G major or minor chord. Generally, the G minor chord is played as a barre chord. In future lessons you will see G5 reappear as part of the Gm barre chord, which is why Mark is teaching this chord shape now. This chord is played in the same positioning as the F5, only two frets up. (Try the finger glue technique here to move your hand in place, rather than lifting all of your fingers and re-placing them on the fretboard.) Again, play only the strings that you are holding down. Listen to your strum and try to detect if you are playing more strings than you should be. The sound of the guitar will usually tell you if you are playing the right strings or not.
Chapter 3: (01:30) Chord Limitations It is very important to realize that most chords do not use all six strings on the guitar. You must remain aware of this when strumming any chord. Strumming all 6 strings when not necessary is a bad habit that will harm your playing in the future. Chapter 4: (02:56) StrummingNow that we've gone through the major and minor open chords, let's talk a little more about strumming them Here's a new strum pattern to get acquainted with:
or down up down up down up.
Rubber band technique: think about the downstrum and upstrum as one fluid motion rather than two separate actions. Close your eyes (yes again!) and think of a huge rubber band attached to your strum hand. As you strum down, the rubber band brings it back up in one smooth motion. Try it!!!
Use the strum with A, A minor, and A-Bm then C to Em. Don't be afraid to mix up the chords you know and develop your own chord progressions. Vary the combinations to train your fingers to switch between all of the open chords. Don't forget to review this info from the last lesson:
1)Breathe! Make sure that you are relaxed and in a comfortable position before practicing. Remember that playing guitar should be a fun activity.*Important-I can't emphasize enough the importance of creativity and self-discovery. Don't ever be afraid to try new chord progression because you may not be sure if they are "right" or not. Jimmy Hendrix, whether you like his music or not, played the guitar upside down because he was left-handed. Great things come from experimentation. Trying different ideas on the fretboard is extremely beneficial to the learning process.
2) Relax your fingers and wrist. Let the pick flow over the strings and listen to the sound of it. It should sound pleasing to the ear.
3) Strum from the wrist - keep using the wrist-between-the-knees technique to strum from the wrist and not from the elbow.
Supplemental Learning Material
Basic Guitar with Mark Lincoln
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsLearning the basics of the guitar, the building blocks if you will, is an extremely important step in learning and mastering the guitar. This series is all about the basics.
Lesson 1
Guitar Basics
This lesson is all about the basics. Mark explains guitar parts, holding the guitar, and more.
Length: 13:12 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Tuning, Gear, and Chords
Mark begins by discussing equipment every guitarist should own. Then, he introduces chords and proper tuning methods.
Length: 17:28 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Chords and Strumming
Mark finishes his discussion of the "open" chords. He applies these chords to basic rhythm and strumming concepts.
Length: 17:33 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Minor Chords and More
Mark reviews the major chords and introduces the minor chords. He also covers strumming techniques in greater depth.
Length: 25:48 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Expanding Chords
Mark introduces a few more minor chords. He also provides a monster chord exercise.
Length: 16:36 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Strumming Exercises
Mark Lincoln continues his discussion of chords and strumming. He introduces several new exercises in this lesson.
Length: 19:30 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Music Theory and Barre Chords
Mark covers several topics in this lesson. He explains scales and barre chords. He also demonstrates how to find notes on the fretboard.
Length: 21:45 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
E Shape Barre Chords
Mark Lincoln covers E shaped barre chords in greater depth. Mark refers to these chords as "Type 1" barre chords.
Length: 15:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
A Shape Barre Chords
Mark covers the A Shape / Type 2 barre chords in greater depth.
Length: 17:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Minor Barre Chords
Mark introduces minor barre chords that utilize the shape of the "open" Em chord.
Length: 13:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
A Minor Shape Barre Chords
Mark introduces minor barre chords based on the shape of the "open" Am chord. He refers to these chords as "Type 2 Minor" barre chords.
Length: 12:36 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Mini Barre Chord
Mark demonstrates abbreviated versions of the "Type 1" and "Type 2" barre chords. He calls these "mini barre" chords.
Length: 17:43 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
A Shape Mini Barre
Mark teaches the "mini barre" version of the A major shaped barre chord. He also explains dissonance.
Length: 20:29 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Minor Mini Barre Chords
Mark Lincoln applies mini-barre chord concepts to minor chords.
Length: 12:28 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Guitar Technique
Mark Lincoln explains essential components of guitar technique.
Length: 15:59 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Guitar Dynamics
Mark Lincoln explains how dynamics can enhance your playing. He covers topics such as volume, tempo, rests, and more.
Length: 27:48 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Transistion Strums
Mark Lincoln explains more about guitar technique. This time around he introduces "transition strums" and continues his discussion of liquid chords.
Length: 26:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Harmonic Technique
Mark Lincoln explains what harmonics are and how they are played.
Length: 15:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Expanding Liquid Chords
Mark Lincoln expands on the concept of liquid chords. He explains new chord variations and how they can be changed in mid-strum.
Length: 16:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Spicing up Chords
Mark demonstrates how chord progressions can be spiced up by adding hammer-ons and pull-offs.
Length: 12:21 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Chord Fingering
Mark explains how chord fingerings must be altered when applying "liquid chord" concepts. He also provides a few new "liquid chord" exercises.
Length: 11:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Precision Strumming
Mark returns to the land of chords. This time around, he provides an exercise that contains four variations on the A chord.
Length: 14:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
D to D in Six Steps
Mark provides a chord progression that shifts from one D chord to another in six steps.
Length: 15:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chord Voicings and Construction
Mark delves deeper into chord construction and alternate chord voicings.
Length: 13:36 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Quantitative and Qualitative Changes
Mark tests your guitar knowledge with a pop quiz. Then, he discusses quantitative and qualitative changes.
Length: 22:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Quantitative and Qualitative Review
In the 26th installment of his basic guitar series, Mark reviews the quantitative and qualitative changes he presented in lesson 25.
Length: 17:34 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Rhythm and Guitar
Mark provides exercises designed to make you a better rhythm player.
Length: 0:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Expanded Rhythm Exercise
Mark Lincoln expands on the rhythm exercise from lesson 27. This time around he incorporates several C based chords.
Length: 14:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Hand Structure
Mark discusses proper playing technique. He provides a few exercises that facilitate right hand mechanics.
Length: 17:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Cadd9 and Dsus2
Mark provides an exercise that features two new chords - Cadd9 and Dsus2.
Length: 0:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Finger Glue and Flexibility
In the 31st lesson, Mark discusses his "finger glue" technique. This technique improves speed and accuracy.
Length: 21:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Reviewing Chord Changes
Mark takes a step back in lesson 32 to explain how to make quick and accurate chord changes.
Length: 22:14 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Sliding
Mark explains how to use the slide technique between chords.
Length: 19:24 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Keeping Time While Playing
Mark reviews qualitative and quantitative changes. He explains how to keep time while performing these changes.
Length: 21:17 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
A Minor Progression
Mark discusses qualitative and quantitative changes within an A minor progression.
Length: 19:56 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Chord Transistions
Mark Lincoln discusses several techniques that can be used when transitioning between chords.
Length: 21:43 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chord Transistions Revisited
In this lesson, Mark once again covers the subject of chord transitions. This time around, he focuses on barre chords and includes several helpful exercises.
Length: 23:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Playing Individual Notes
In lesson 38, Mark discusses how playing single notes rather than chords can spice up your playing.
Length: 22:56 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Rocking Out
Lesson 39 is all about rocking out. Mark discusses some tips to take your playing to the next level.
Length: 18:08 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Slash Chords
Lesson 40 takes a deeper look at slash chords. Mark discusses why they're called slash chords, and how they are formed.
Length: 14:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Strumming from the Wrist
In lesson 41, Mark reviews the warm-up section and provides new tips on playing adequately from the wrist.
Length: 22:09 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Raising the Barre
Mark builds further on barre chord techniques and liquid chords.
Length: 17:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Building on Your Chord Knowledge
In lesson 43, Mark discusses additional skills related to learning and playing chords, specifically "liquification" of chords.
Length: 20:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Experiment With Playing
Lesson 44 is all about trying new things. Mark discusses experimenting with your playing in order to take it to the next level.
Length: 17:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Diversifying
In this lesson, Mark once again talks about changing up chord derivatives to create a more unique sound.
Length: 20:56 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Shaping the Hands
In lesson 46, Mark explains how to maximize your options by maintaining chord shapes while playing.
Length: 21:44 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Precision Strumming
Today, Mark takes in depth look at strumming.
Length: 23:57 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Shine Like the Sun
Mark Lincoln teaches an original song entitled "Shine Like the Sun."
Length: 18:59 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Changing Chords : Accuracy and Speed
Mark teaches some useful information on how to mix postures, "finger glue," and techniques to make your chord changes speedy and more effective.
Length: 30:56 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Play Along with Mulitple Chord Voicings
In this lesson, Mark guides you through the world of alternate chord voicings. He teaches several shapes and shows how they can be used to enhance your playing.
Length: 23:06 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Understanding Liquified Chords
Mark brings us a very appealing aspect to better understand the guitar. With his explanation of "liquified" chords, mark will explain how to move up and down the guitar to create different chord voicing.
Length: 25:32 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
About Mark Lincoln
View Full Biography
Mark Lincoln was born in S. California but was raised near Portland Oregon in a town called Beaverton. When he was twelve years old, he began his journey into the realm of the creative by composing poetry and was later published in a journal called "In Dappled Sunlight." He wrote for four years until his older sister blessed him with his first guitar, an old beat-up nylon stringed classical guitar. Mark played that guitar for five years, continuing to compose his own lyrics and starting the process of matching his own words with chords that he was learning on the guitar. He learned to play chords from his friends and from music books that he both bought and borrowed. Mark cited his four biggest influences, at that point at least, as The Who, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, The Rolling Stones.
Mark cites his most current influences as Radiohead, U2, older music by REM, and Peter Gabriel amongst others. He performs with two acoustic guitars, one being a six-string M-36 Martin with a three-pieced back for increased bass response, and a Guild Twelve-string which is his most recent acquisition. Mark is fond of saying that the twelve-string guitar is better because you get two guitars for the price of one, but he still plays his Martin equally as much and with the same passion.
Mark ended up in Fort Collins Colorado where he currently lives, works as a Marriage and Family Therapist, and continues to write, teach and perform music. He currently performs with a group called "Black Nelson" as well as with a number of other seasoned professional musicians including his cousin David, a virtuoso lead-guitar player. Mark has performed in many of the smaller venues in Denver and Boulder, as well as some of the larger ones including the Fox Theatre, The Boulder Theatre, Herman's Hideaway, and also at The Soiled Dove where he opened for Jefferson Starship as a soloist. Some of Mark's originals are also available for your listening pleasure on MySpace.
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hey mark im average at this I know 6 songs on the acoustic and am able to switch back and forth with my chords from youtube and my mom haha also my armored fingers get annoying and i bite them off, but I'm still learning haha I used to get so fustrated but now im chill and relaxed when I play thanks-White River :) P.S. im native American by the way.
I kinda' like this idea of detuning a half step to match Mark's guitar. Makes me realize I don't have to be locked into doing everything "the standard" way. I can think/play outside the box. That's a great lesson in itself. Thanks, Mark...
I agree, but don't forget to make sure that your intonation is still good after having tuned down. Sometimes, playing higher up on the neck can sound rather odd in this tuning if your guitar hasn't been set up for it.
Hi Mark! I currently have a Yamaha F-310.It is ok but the neck seams a bit narrow and I have wide long fingers which makes it hard to play some cords like the A cord. I am looking at buying a Seagull S6 Original. I have read alot of good things about them having a wide neck and the playability is excellent on them. What do you suggest. Looking in the under 500 range.
if we have a little of experience with the guitar in the past is it ok to go ahead and get u use to transitioning to the barre chord. i can make barre chords i just have a hard time going from open to barre?
Mark, This lesson was EXTREMELY helpful. I seem to have short term chord forgetfulness. So, after doing a few of the chord exercises I was able to play along with my friends and only had to fake a couple of the chords. AWESOME! I also have been trying the A slope on some of the other chords just to try something different and that worked well. Thanks.
You're very welcome Karen I'm really glad this stuff is helping you:) Take care, Mark
I am a little confused about the chord charts for Fm and Gm. It shows that first finger on the low E and then the arch marking over to the first finger on the G,B and high E. Is this showing two different ways to play the chord?
The arch simply indicates that you need to barre over all of those strings from the low E to the high E string. Mark
Mark, can you PLEASE make sure that your guitar is ALWAYS in tune? It's getting REALLY annoying how you're always tuned down a half step. You're confusing a lot of people, me included.
For the record Lindsey, my guitar is in tune,it's just that I was tuned down a half step as you indicated. Thanks for keeping me on my toes though:) Mark
I need to tune my guitar right because its kind of new and i dont have a tuner.I dont know if im getting the notes right.
josh, go to website on line chromatic tuner its great
I like marks lessons and I'm reminded that practice makes perfect, as an artist I remember spending hours teaching myself and taking what I learned in school until I perfect in my aquiring the skills I needed, now when I practice guitar or piano I use this to become better at what I do. thank you mark for bringing me back to the basics.
hey mark, you are telling use to do ,down,down ,up...but you're really doing ,down,down,down, up.......what gives ,you're confusing me..............
Hey Cando sorry about the confusion.Keep in mind that when strumming it's more important to grasp the feel of the strum rather than the exact strum pattern so if you're slightly off of where I am don'tn worry too much about it. ML
Hey Mark, Any reason not to play the Gm and Fm here with my pinky (4th finger) on both the pinky A and D string. I am getting less of a scratchy sound when I move up when I use my pinky. Thanks
Keep doing what you're doing Chupa but make surre and work the slanting A technique as well and you should be good to go!
I'm confused Chupa...you mean you're playing both the A and D strings with the pinky? ML \
Yes, playing both with my pinky. As I slide between the two chords, it is is less scratchy.
I've finally completed 9500 times of practicing the changing chords exercise and I still have 500 more to go. I just can't take it anymore. May I please go to the next lesson?
Yes Jarls move on move on!!! Really you just want to make sure you've got a pretty good handle on stuff before you advance lol Mark
it's hard to not accidentilly be holding down another string and even when i try to fix it i dont always succeed.STRESSFUL
Hey Josh what's up? Over time you'll get better and better at string precision and at holding down specifically the strings you want to hold down at any given time. Hang in there bro! Mark
now i am just going back to other lessons to memorize the chords.it makes it a little bit easier to memeorize the chords butr now that im back trying to do this lesson again i realize istill need alot more practice memorizing and knowing how to get from one chord to the other quicker to make it so i can change chords alot faster.
Hey Josh, I'm really glad that you're into this and giving it your all! Keep in mind that if you can identify the root of the chord (often the lowest note, especially in barre chords) then you can find chords all over the neck. Don't give it! Mark
iTS HARD TO MEMORIES ALL THE CHORDS
and btw....don't stress too much about memorizing all of the chords, your energy is better spent in learning how to play them little by little and then you'll know them automatically. Also,learning chord construction, or which notes make up each chord can also be very helpful. Mark
it is getting a little bit easier to hold down the right strings.I hope it gets easier later on as you said
Yes Josh,youmay want to invest in an inexpensive tuner although I would consider getting a chromatic tuner if I were you, it can make tuning easier down the road! Mark
i got my guitar tuned but it is hard to not accidentilly be holding down another string and even when i do try to fix it i don't always succeed.STRESSFUL
Hi Mark - have a question about the "A slope" = when I try to use my third finger there isn't enough flexiblity to lift it clear of the high E string. However - my pinkie finger is MUCH more bendy at that joint and gives me a much better sounding chord. Can I use my little finger to play these chords instead of my third?
Hey Gordo some people do use the pinky to do the "slanting A" but....by using the pinky you are, in effect, rendering your third finger useless to be able to use it to play blues or use it for other accents. So the answer to your questrion is yes but you should continue to develop strength and agility in your third finger. Make sense? Mark
it would have helped if you told us that you were half a step out at the beginng. someone new at guitar would have a problem
Yes Iceman some of the earlier lessons had a different tuning, thanks for the great feedback! Mark
i tottaly agree and the reaspn i say that is because i actually am new to this .
Mark - Your lessons are great! Thank you! Do you by chance have a one page reference sheet of the chords from the first four lessons including simple fingerings? Making one from the chord library on jamplay would take foreever and the supplemental materials info prints out on eight pages, doesn't include some of the simpler finger positionings, and has some errors in the graphics so not everything shows. I've downloaded a few chord charts on line but none seems to have major/minor for all seven notes. kelly
Hey Kelly Kelly Kelly K-E-L-L-Y! All of the supplemental content that is available is already posted and I understand that it might take you some busy work to get all of this together. My humblest apologies! Mark
Your tuning is off, maybe half step, at what lesson will it be corrected?
The tuning really isn't off per se as mark plays a half step down most of the time. All the shapes and stuff are the same though so no worry! You can either tune down for the lesson or just practice the shapes with him on pause so they don't sound funny. We might reshoot this at some point tuned up to standard but the information is all still good!
this major to minor chord change excercise is a great way to learn the chords. i never thought to do this before. thanks!
Great to hear from you Jody and I'm glad to know this stuff is helping you!~ Keep it up! Mark
Hey Mark, great lessons so far but on the last exercise (Scene 5) i'm not as fast as you when switching between chords, so should i keep practising that exercise till i get it completely right, and can switch chords easily before starting the next lesson or is chord switching something that builds over time? Thanks, James
Hey James how are you? Yes chord switching comes with time and practice so you'll need to continue on with the lesson series and then maybe revisit certain (or all) lessons after you finish the series. Mark
Hey Mark great lesson! Thanks for all the good stuff your teaching me. I seem to be having a problem getting in tune with you though. I have an easier time following along if were tuned to the same key. It would be great if you could write me back and let me know. Thanks!
Hey Richard thanks for the great feedback! Just so you know, a couple of these early lessons I was tuned a half step down or Eb tuning. So if you're having trouble matching up with me, try to tune down and see what happens. Thanks bro, Mark
Mark. I must have broken my ring finger or somthing in the past. There is a bulge just in front of the first joint and it will absolutly not allow me to bend it back for the slope. I have tried to pull it push it bend and it just stays straight. Any suggestions or should I use my middle finger which I am able to do without much difficulty.
Hey Thor how are you? I have talked with a number of people who have a similar problem and really the only way to deal with it is to just use the ring finger as well as you can. If you start to use the middle finger it can create other problems when you're playing like not being able to use the other fingers for chords that may require their use. Good luck though and don't give up! Mark
mark, your lessons have helped me very much to learn the cords that i never thought i could.
Thanks Tom I'm glad you're getting a lot out of the lessons! Keep it up, Mark
Thanx Tom glad I could help you my friend! Thanks for writing in, Mark
great lesson
Hey Ben: thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks and thanks! Mark
Mark, I appreciate how concise your lessons are. Not really any fluff, but right to the meat and potatoes... complete with a nice dessert homework lesson. Thanks for not wasting our valuable practice time with having us hear more of you talking.
Hey Musik, I think there's a compliment in there somewhere! Yes I really do try to keep things as neat as possible so I'm glad you're enjoying the lessons, keep it up my friend! Mark
No problem with the stretches as my fingers are quiet long BUT they dont bend back at all so Im struggling with the barre. Is the purpose of the practice to get more flex in that joint or more to just find a position that works even with a straight finger? I try and chase down but the high E is muffled everytime
Hey Paul what's up?!? The purpose of the slanting A technique is to get that pesky and immovable finger to relearn how to bend. Many people struggle with this facet of playing the Type II (A-shaped) bar chords but over time you should gain more flexibility and ability in that finger. Also, many people do mute the high E string when playing that type of bar chord so it might be helpful to focus on getting a clean sound in your A, D, G and B strings. Thanks for writing in and keep working at it, you'll get it! Mark
Those Bm and Cm chords are tuff on my strecht for right now. My fingers don't want to cooperate. Is it a matter of just doing more excercises and hopefully eventually I can work it??
Hey Rick how are you? Yes, over time your fingers will learn to cooperate even when it comes to those ever-challenging bar chords. You may want to spend a little more time during your practice sessions to work on those exercises that are giving you the most trouble. Thanks for writing and I'll see you in Q and A. Mark
Mark, I'm one of those you mention whose left ring finger doesn't bend very far. I tried playing the B-chord the way you mentioned (with finger 3 fretting three strings), but basically in order to make a good sound on the B-string (the only 3rd in the chord), I have to mute the high E-string. If my hand shape makes me unable to play these chords the way you do, will that make it harder for me down the road?
Hi Alto thanks for writing. Most people have trouble with that particular problem quite frankly and the only way to get past it is keep practicing at it. If you are muting the high-E for now then that's okay just try not to play that string when you're strumming. Positioning your strum hand near the G and/or D strings can help you to avoid strumming the highest strings and will subsequently improve your sound regardless of your tendency to mute the E. Keep at it! Mark
Are you tuned down a half step? I'd like to tune my guitar to match yours so I'm sure I've got it right.
Hi Eganse, thanks for the input! Yes, we have done a couple lessons a half step down by accident but are making sure to record in standard tuning in the future. Thanks for keeping on top of things though! Mark
I'm with everyone else. The tuning isn't the same. I'm at 440 and it seems at least a halk step to a full off. I have not retuned to find out. I want my ear to get used to the real deal. What up dude?
He Jag, my sincerest apologies! I have done a couple of the lessons tuned a half step down by accident and will make sure to stay in standard 440 tuning in the future. Thanks for the input, Mark
Hi you dont play the Bm and Cm as barred chords.? Isn't it an A shape barre chord like shown in the supplementary matrial? Dont you play the A string?
You can. The reason we show the full a shape barre chord in the supplemental content is so people can see how they are related. Some people like to play what mark refers to as a "mini barre (talks about in later lessons)" to make the chord easier to play and faster to transition too. Since the chord still has all of the notes it needs without the a string if it is easier for you to play without it you sure can!
It would be convenient if you would tune to standard pitch for these.
Noted and done for future lessons.
I'm was thinking the same thing - that the chord sounds as played in the video didn't sound the same as coming out of my guitar, even though the fingers and frets were the same.