Learning Your First Open Chords Guitar Lesson
Learning Your First Open Chords
Lisa jumps right into your first "open" chords. She demonstrates how to play these chords in detail, so you can begin playing some simple progressions on your own.
Taught by Lisa Pursell in Basic Electric with Lisa seriesLength: 15:48Difficulty: 0.5 of 5
Supplemental Learning Material
Basic Electric with Lisa
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsLisa will guide you through the basics of electric guitar with a rock and blues flair in this series.
Lesson 1
Introduction to Series
JamPlay is proud to welcome Lisa Pursell to the teaching roster! Lisa introduces herself and her rock / blues background in this lesson. She also explains how she will bring a new perspective to our Beginner...
Length: 12:37 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 2
The Basics of Electric Guitar
Lisa breaks into the very basics of the electric guitar. She starts by explaining the parts of the guitar. Then, she dives into string directions, tuning, holding the guitar, and right hand position....
Length: 19:39 Difficulty: 0.5 FREE
Learning Your First Open Chords
Lisa jumps right into your first "open" chords. She demonstrates how to play these chords in detail, so you can begin playing some simple progressions on your own.
Length: 15:48 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Chords and Bass Runs
Lisa continues her lesson series with more basic chord shapes. In addition, she introduces bass runs that help tie these chords together and add a level of sophistication to your playing. Combining these...
Length: 11:45 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
More Chords and Bass Runs
Lisa picks up right where she left off in her last lesson. Here she demonstrates some additional bass walk downs that can be used to intensify your guitar playing.
Length: 5:37 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Hybrid Picking
Lisa shifts her focus to the right hand in this lesson. Here she introduces a picking style known as hybrid picking. This technique requires you to use the pick and pluck the strings with your fingers...
Length: 7:08 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Triads
Lisa explains triads in this lesson. Simplistic and unique, yet powerful and bold, these little guys will allow you to explore some fresh new sounds on your guitar.
Length: 6:26 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Travis Picking
Developed by Merle Travis, Lisa explains this hybrid style picking technique in detail. Travis picking, which involves playing an alternating bass line, is a common form of picking within country and fingerstyle...
Length: 8:47 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Triads and Fingerstyle
Lisa introduces some new picking techniques that can be applied to the triads you have learned. She demonstrates how these triads can be embellished with melodic ideas to create an overall more creative...
Length: 18:54 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
The Blues Shuffle
Lisa introduces the blues shuffle. You will learn several chordal variations on this classic rhythmic pattern.
Length: 14:16 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
I, IV, and V Chords in Different Keys
Lisa introduces the I, IV, and V chords. She explains how these chords can be found in any key by counting up the musical alphabet.
Length: 8:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sweet Rock Groove
Lisa compiles the information from the last couple of lessons into a nice rock groove. This is a great way to take what she has previously taught and turn it into a nice melody for you to jam around with....
Length: 6:47 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Barre Chords
Lisa Pursell is back in lesson 13 with barre chords. She explains how to play various forms of the major, minor, and dominant seventh barre shapes. A discussion of economy of movement and why it is important...
Length: 12:25 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Syncopated Rhythm
Lisa breaks explains how the left can be used to mute the strings within a funky, syncopated groove. She provides a few practical exercises that will help you become acquainted with this technique.
Length: 5:05 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Reggae Rhythm
Lisa demonstrates a short and juicy lesson on reggae strumming patterns. Most reggae patterns are played in 4/4 time with a strong emphasis on each of the upbeats.
Length: 3:15 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Syncopated Rhythm Revisited
In Lisa's 16th lesson of her Beginner Electric Series, she reopens the topic of syncopated rhythms.
Length: 5:29 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Single String Technique
Lisa covers some warm-up exercises that are beneficial for both the left and right hands.
Length: 6:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Slide Technique
Lisa presents a small lesson on the slide technique. This technique can be used with scale patterns to help create a more expressive and personal sound.
Length: 8:55 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Pull-off Technique
Lisa teaches a classic rock lick that combines the pull-off technique with a pedal tone.
Length: 4:12 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Hammer-on Technique
Lisa covers the hammer-on technique. This technique is essential for all guitarists to master.
Length: 2:13 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Some Blues / Jazz Chords
Lisa simplifies and breaks down some chords commonly used in the blues and jazz genres.
Length: 8:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
6th Intervals
An interval is the musical distance between two different pitches. Here Lisa covers the 6th interval and some practical ways that it can be used.
Length: 8:16 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
3rd Intervals
Lisa continues to explore important intervals used in music. Here she explains diatonic third intervals and where they are located on the guitar. She also provides a musical excerpt that will allow you...
Length: 7:58 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Tool Box Tips
Lisa introduces some techniques that will help you improvise effectively within the major pentatonic scale. Techniques include triplet sequences, hammer-ons, pull-offs, double stops, position shifts, and...
Length: 23:05 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Minor Blues Scale
Lisa introduces the minor blues scale. This scale, which adds the b5 degree to the minor pentatonic scale, is one of the most commonly used scales in almost all styles of music.
Length: 13:40 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Texas Style Shuffle Rhythm
Taking things back to the SRV sound, Lisa demonstrates this Texas style rhythmic shuffle. She breaks this pattern down by demonstrating its bass line and the muting techniques required to play it.
Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
E7(#9) Chord
Lisa takes a quick moment to cover this unique chord. Some dub E7(#9) as the "Classic Hendrix Chord." However you see it, this colorful sound is an essential addition to your guitar toolbox.
Length: 2:29 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
5 Scale Positions
Lisa demonstrates the 5 scale positions of the major and minor pentatonic scales. Each position can be used alone or in combination with the other patterns to create many different scale runs. Make sure...
Length: 20:19 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Faster Chord Changes
Lisa will cover a metronome technique that will help develop faster chord changes.
Length: 3:24 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Organizing a Practice Session
Lisa provides some great tips on how to set up and organize a practice session that will maximize progress.
Length: 6:28 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Beginner Music Theory
Lisa dives into some beginner music theory and discusses how to use a mnemonic system to remember note locations.
Length: 5:48 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Understanding Minor Chords
Lisa takes a look at how to build minor chords. She explains the crucial difference between major and minor chords.
Length: 3:21 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Applying Minor Theory
Lisa uses some barre chords to help explain how to apply the minor theory taught in lesson 32.
Length: 8:08 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Barre Chords in a Blues Progression
Lisa breaks explains how to find the appropriate barre chords within a I-IV-V blues progression.
Length: 5:03 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Octave Shapes
Lisa takes a quick look at how octave shapes are created and where they can be found.
Length: 3:08 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Improvising with Intervals
Lisa demonstrates some ideas on how to improvise using intervals. She begins with the perfect fourth interval for this lesson.
Length: 3:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
5th and 6th Intervals
Lisa continues her last lesson by explaining how 5th and 6th intervals are frequently used in melodic lines.
Length: 10:08 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Major Scale
Lisa dives into the major scale and demonstrates a commonly used pattern.
Length: 8:01 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Major Scale - G Shape
Lisa explains how to play the C major scale using the 'G' shape from the CAGED system.
Length: 6:39 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Syncopated Rhythm
In this lesson, Lisa demonstrates how syncopated rhythms work and the different ways they can be applied within a 16th note or triplet-based rhythm.
Length: 11:56 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chords and Patterns
Lisa explains how chord shapes and scale patterns relate to one another.
Length: 8:15 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Major Triads
Moving all the way up the neck of the guitar, Lisa demonstrates major triads and explains the fundamentals of how they are built.
Length: 4:11 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Minor Triads
Lisa now goes on an in depth adventure into minor triads.
Length: 12:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Minor Arpeggios
In this quick lesson, Lisa touches on some minor arpeggio ideas.
Length: 3:15 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Scale Application
Lisa demonstrates how to use different scales to create new ways of building both solos and rhythmic styling. She utilizes a backing track to help make her point.
Length: 4:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Single and Double String Slides
Welcome to the 46th lesson in Lisa Pursell's Beginner Electric series! This lesson covers many creative ideas as well as the techniques behind single and double string slides. Enjoy!
Length: 9:14 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Pull-off Technique
Lisa demonstrates a few practical examples of the pull-off technique.
Length: 10:49 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Adding The Blue Note
Lisa takes a dive into the minor blues scale as a whole. She demonstrates where you can find what are called "blue notes" within pentatonic scale patterns.
Length: 14:05 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Understanding Vibrato
Vibrato is a fantastic and simple technique to understand. This lesson offers different ideas on how you can apply some vibrato to your playing.
Length: 5:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Sweep Picking Technique
This lesson provides an in depth look at both downward and upward sweep picking techniques.
Length: 8:26 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Shell Voicings
Want to play a lighter voicing of a full chord? This technique is called "shells" and Lisa demonstrates several common shell voicings in this lesson.
Length: 17:27 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Blues Turnaround Ideas
Need some ideas to bring resolution to a unique blues progression? Let Lisa inspire you with some blues turnaround ideas. She demonstrates different keys and applies some hammer-on and pull-off techniques...
Length: 16:09 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Harmonizing the Major Scale
Lisa explains how to harmonize the major scale with diatonic triads.
Length: 19:40 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
8 Bar Blues
Lisa lays down an improvised 8 bar blues solo with the help of a backing track. Then, she discusses how she created her lead lines.
Length: 7:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Harmonizing with Diatonic Triads
Lisa continues to demonstrate ways to harmonize notes utilizing diatonic triads. She provides some tips on how to improvise with these triads as well.
Length: 22:48 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Connecting Patterns Via Sequencing
Lisa demonstrates ways to connect patterns using melodic sequences. She moves up and down the neck and provides some ideas that will help you make your own sequencing connections.
Length: 19:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Blues in A
Lisa takes a quick look at how to add the "blue note" into the A minor pentatonic scale.
Length: 6:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Full Neck Harmonization
This in depth lesson explains how to harmonize the major scale while utilizing the entire neck of the guitar.
Length: 51:58 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
The F#m7(b5) Chord
Lisa demonstrates the F#m7(b5) chord and the different places it can be played on the neck.
Length: 3:40 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Extensions
Lisa will use the C Major Add 9 chord shape to help demonstrate how extensions can be used to spice up an arpeggio.
Length: 3:54 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
About Lisa Pursell
View Full Biography
Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Lisa started playing local venues as a teenager in and around Atlanta as a guitarist for hire. At the same time, she began teaching guitar privately and playing locally on recording sessions. In this still-early stage of her career, she was soon teaching at local music stores. After attending a local college and studying classical guitar, she began teaching at the Atlanta Institute of Music.
In 1992 she moved to Hollywood, CA. to attend the Guitar Institute of Technology (a.k.a. Musician's Institute). Graduating in 1993 as "Outstanding Student of the Year," she was invited to become part of the faculty at GIT, which she excelled at for the next three and a half years.
In 1996 she moved to Nashville, TN. There, she was hired as the lead guitarist for Nashville based band Mustang Sally, which at one point included future Grammy winner Gretchen Wilson as the lead singer. She played an exhaustive tour schedule of 150-300 dates a year, while perfecting her technique. Soon the band was opening for artists such as George Jones, Patty Loveless, Montgomery Gentry, Chuck Mangione, LeAnn Womack and many others.
In 2003, she recorded an instrumental CD which included one original track co-written with bass player Jerry Peek (Steve Morse Band), along with two covers of two of her many favorite guitarists. To further hone her musical skills, she then concentrated on songwriting, the results of which will be included as both vocal and instrumental pieces on her next project.
Today Lisa resides in Nashville, TN. Currently an educator, author, singer/songwriter/guitarist, she plans to release her original CD soon. Her music theory workbook, entitled "THINKING IN THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC" written for vocalists and musicians who are interested in learning music theory without the requirement of reading music, is currently available.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.what's the different between c chord which using pinkey or not using it. is it same chord? or call differently like ffad9
Using the D shape in a progression. Thats a tough strum. How do you count that out. It's a bit syncapated. I like it and almost got it. My wife is a music major and she's a bit stumped. She said I had the quarter notes right. My count is 1e, &, 2, e, &e, 3, e, &, 4, e, &. The other difficult matter is getting to the next shape in time. Great lesions. I'm getting the rythum more from feel than the counting. I like your picking suttelties.
my guitar sounds nothing like that.... what the heck
hey, lisa. i've just started playing guitar but I never seem to be able to tune my guitar right. I have an electric plug-in tuner and it seems to be working fine, but when I go to play some of the chords that you presented here, I always come out with it sounding bad. It never seems to match the same sound that you are playing, so its kinda discouraging. I dont know which is wrong though, the way that I am playing, or my tuner, or my guitar. If it has to do with the amp, then which knobs should I turn to which level? I'm really stumped now, and It'd be great to get some professional imput on it. thanks in advance!
Lisa, great teacher! Even though All Jamplay teachers are good, I have internalized her finger moving advise, and I am able to change chords faster, thanks! It feels so good when one sees that one is making progress. :-)
Fingers are sore and numb. That doesn't seem possible but it is. Damn you G chord.
great so far! can't wait to learn the cgf9 progression
Nice lesson. Trying too correct some very old learned mistakes. This fingering for G makes things very quick indeed. Thank You Lisa!
Wow. The first teacher I have had who explained the theory of a suspended chord. THANK YOU! I thought it was too complicated because it isnt usually taught at this level... But it's not.
Okay so... I admit I am a beginner, and that I am an older beginner, having said that, your style of teaching suits me to a TEE! I have been more comfortable learning then any other instructor so far. THANKS!
Well....I'm getting it but my finger tips are so sore. Guess I'm overdoing it or need thinner strings. Might go to the guitar store for some new strings. LIsa,,,your way of teaching makes sense to me. I am really enjoying your lessons.
Thank you Lisa. I'm getting it. Love the way you teach! Sure is helping me to change chords faster and making learning fun!
Is it possible practice the chords as played by Lisa without being able to read music as shown in the lesson exercises as it hard remember how it was played
Be real good to have some sort of backing track to play along too when practicing the lessons. I find that helps keep my rythem going better.
She makes a mistake with the D chord, she says the first finger goes on the 2nd string 3rd fret, when it is, 3rd string 2nd fret
Yes I thought that too. I treid for a while to finger as she described but whey no way can fingers bend that way. :-)
my printer will only print the first page of tlesson 3
I am unable to do the G-chord in the middle, ring, and pinky form due to the fact that I broke my pinky about 5 years ago and it never healed properly. I can practice the Em -> G exercise the way that you are teaching if I don't strum the high E string. Is this ok or should I just play the easier form of the G chord.
nice lisa u have a wonderfull way of teaching
nice lesson lisa you a wonderfull way of teaching,
What I've learnt from Lisa in 1 hour (Lesson 3) I haven't yet learnt in 6 weeks of face to face guitar lessons with a teacher. Loving Jam Play!!
Great lessons. Thanks. Can you mention some songs that use the G C F9 chording? Thanks, Tom
Lisa... Thanks! I have been terrorized by the GMaj > Em > CMaj > D7 progression (speed) for weeks now. One watch of the First Open Chords video solved that problem. Now that I have practiced fingering the GMaj "your" way, it all flows together much easier. I know that I will learn different reasons to play it with the "old" shape. But, I wish I had learned it this way to start with...could've saved weeks of frustration.... Thanks again!
I cant do the G chord help!!! Fingers at the ends thicker......I keep muting either the fifth or sixth string
Holy this is tough...Eminor all good can even transfer partly to the G but my pinky is not working right..having a hard time getting a sound
Practiced with another instructor..well he was chording all wrong so Im going to try this instructor
Whats the deal with callusses...any good excercise for pinky independence and strength??????????????i am new too Jamplay...i also am having a hard time for the g chord the way lisa shows..right now i cant seem to get my pinky to the high e string..any suggestionsssss????Thank you.
Another Great lesson Lisa. Not just the standard open chords. I like how you explain changing chords by using the least amount of movement. I also like your emphesis on placing fingers just behind the fret bar and not just the fret; it isn't really explained like that in others' lessons but should be stressed to all very beginner guitarists as it buzzes the notes if the finger isn't placed right.
I'm enjoying the lesson so far. The things you say "You might want to practice that for a day" I have to practice for a week! I am having fun teaching my klutzy left hand new tricks.
Nice Instructional techniques, Lisa! Love it!
try playing the g chord by using your first finger on the A string second finger on the low E and your third finger on the high E see how that works for you.Good luck the more you practice the better chance you have of being able to play a chord.
Thanks, I can play it like that. But, will I ever be able to play it the way shown in the video?
G can be fingered two ways. This one is better for the key of C, but it's harder to control because the 3rd and 4th fingers share a common tendon.
Hi, When trying the Em, my third finfer won't go easily over to the 6th string without deadening the 5th. Also, when adding the little finger to the 1st string, I just hold that down, if I do manage to get my third finger to not touch the 5th. Are some people just not able to play specific chords? Thanks, Luke.
I mean't the G chord, not Em.
Aaack! I have too many fingers! :) Em-to-G involves sliding the 2nd finger slightly downward while simultaneously hunting for E/3f with my 1st finger and e/3f with my 4th finger. Too many moving parts... Processor overload... Blue Screen of Death. Okay, reboot. Try fat-fingering Em - 2nd finger on E/3f and A/3f. No slide. *Roll* 2nd finger off A/3f. Extra mental bandwidth now available for placing E/3f and A/3f. Someday, I may try not fat-fingering Em, but it's my crutch for now.
I have fat fingers, too. Steve Eulberg teaches beginner chords on acoustic guitar - they're the same as electric. :) He has some good advice. Build "muscle memory". Accuracy first, then speed.
That D chord progression sounds like John Lennon "Woman". Great lesson.
I can't do the C chord. :( My fingers don't stretch that far. What do I do??? And what was the easy way to play G
Okay.... Lesson 3 is my favorite lesson from any instructor so far. I love playing the variations on the D chord. I actually felt like a guitarist. A crappy guitarist, but a guitarist nonetheless. :)
yes