lesson summary
Lesson 8 of 19 in our Basic Guitar Series: Chords, Keys and Relationships
Steve introduces basic suspended, minor 7th, major 7th, and dominant 7th chords in this episode. In addition to learning these chords, you will learn how chords and keys relate. He also explains how various chords are used to accompany a vocal line.
Chapter 1: (1:32) Introduction
Grab your equipment, get warmed up, and get ready to Jam in Steve Eulberg's 8th lesson!
Chapter 2: (9:44) Lesson Review, E Chord, Key of A
First let's go over the major chords in the key of "G": "G", "C", and "D". In the key of "D" we have the "D", "G", and "A" major chords (remember the trick with your fingers?).
We also learned the different "A" shapes in the previous lesson: "A", "A Minor", "A7", "A Major 7", "A Minor 7", and the "Asus2". In order to play in the key of "A" we're going to need to add a chord: "E".
Learning the "E" Chord
Let's start with an "A Minor" chord. Simply pick up all three fingers and move them towards the top of the neck (down in pitch, higher on the neck). That's it - you now have the "E Major" chord. Here's how it should look:
- "E" string, open
- "A" string, 2nd fret
- "D" string, 2nd fret
- "G" string, 1st fret
- "B" string, open
- "e" string, open
With this chord, you are able to play all six strings.
Playing in the key of "A"
To play in the key of "A", you need three major chords: "A" ("I" chord), "D" ("IV" chord), and "E" ("V" chord). You now know them all!
Instead of playing in the one, four, five pattern ("I" chord then "IV" chord, then "V" chord) let's experiment with a one, five, four pattern. Moving around between these three chords will definitely help you work on your picking technique. For each chord, you are playing a different set of strings:
- “E” chord – All 6 strings
- ”A” chord – 5 strings
- ”D” chord – 4 strings
Exercise & String Muting
Now let’s try to play along with Steve in a short exercise. We’re going to play the one, five, four pattern (“A”, “E”, then “D”) and throw in some string mutes. Basically, you will be picking up your fingers a bit so that the strings are muted. The strings should not be touching the frets, but should still be in contact with your fingers.
You will notice that we didn’t attempt the “string mute” technique with previous chords such as “C” or “G”. This is because we are not holding enough notes (too many open strings) for it to sound good. With “D” for instance, we are fretting three of the four notes. You can experiment with each chord to see which sound good with string mutes & which don’t sound quite right.
about Steve Eulberg
Steve Eulberg: Award-Winning Songwriter & Instrumentalist
An Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Steve Eulberg weaves mountain and hammered dulcimers with a variety of unusual instruments to create thought-provoking, smile-inducing, toe-tapping acoustic experiences.
He has sung and composed for religious communities, union halls, picket lines, inter-faith retreats, mountain-top youth camps, as well as the more familiar venues: clubs, coffeehouses, bookstores, festivals, charity benefits and showcase concerts.
Born and raised in the German-heritage town of Pemberville, Ohio, Steve was exposed to a variety of music in his home. Early piano lessons were followed by trumpet in school band, and he became self-taught on ukelele and guitar and harmonica. Mandolin was added at Capital University where, while majoring in History, he studied Ear Training, Voice and took Arranging lessons from the Conservatory of Music.
While at college, he first heard hammered and mountain dulcimers, building his first mountain dulcimer just before his final year. Seminary training took him the west side of Denver where he built his first hammered dulcimer. With these instruments, he was able to give voice to the Scottish, English and Irish traditions to which he is also heir.
Following marriage in 1985 to Connie Winter-Eulberg he settled in Kansas City, Missouri. There he worked cross-culturally in a church of African-Americans, Latinos and European Americans, with music being a primary organizing tool. He moved with his family in 1997 to be nestled beside the Rocky Mountains in Fort Coillins, Colorado.
Founder of Owl Mountain Music, Inc. he teaches and performs extensively in Colorado and Wyoming with tours across the US and the UK. He delights in introducing the “sweet music” of dulcimers to people in diverse settings and in addition to his own recordings, has included dulcimers in a variety of session work for other musicians.
In 2000 he was commissioned to create a choral composition featuring dulcimers for the Rainbow Chorus in Fort Collins. It was recorded in the same year (BEGINNINGS). He is currently at work on a commissioned symphony that will feature hammered dulcimer and Australian didjeridu.
Eulberg passionately believes that music crosses cultural and language barriers because music builds community. Influenced by a variety of ethnic styles, his music weaves vital lyric with rap, rock, folk, gospel and blues. Audiences of all ages respond well to his presentation and to his warm sense of humor.
Steve is a member of Local 1000 (AFM), The Folk Alliance, BMI and BWAAG (Better World Artists and Activist's Guild).
join jamplay!
Money Back Guarantee
You've heard it before, but we honor it. Your membership can be cancelled at anytime, and comes with a 7 day, 100% Money Back Guarantee.
All transactions to JamPlay, LLC are completed with 128-bit, SSL Secure Processing
JamPlay members enjoy the following features and benefits of our services.
Unlimited Lesson Viewing
A JamPlay membership gives you access to every lesson, from every teacher on our staff. Additionally, there is no restriction on how many times you watch a lesson. Watch as many times as you need.
Custom Progress Reports
Our software allows you to document your progress for any lesson, including notes and percent of the lesson completed. This gives you the ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.
Video Q&A
Every week at JamPlay, we take member questions, answer them on camera, and publish them to you. Exclusive only to JamPlay, enjoy the benefits of in-person instructors and the conveniences of our community.
Interactive Community
Create your own profile, manage your friends list, and contact users with your own JamPlay Mailbox. JamPlay also features live chat with teachers and members, and an active Forum.
Chord Library
Each chord in our library contains a full chart, related tablature, and a photograph of how the chord is played. A comprehensive learning resource for any guitarist.
Custom Chord Sheets
At JamPlay, not only can you reference our Chord Library, but you can also select any variety of chords you need to work on, and generate your own printable chord sheet.
Backing Tracks
Jam-along backing tracks give the guitarist a platform for improvising and soloing. Our backing tracks provide a wide variety of tracks from different genres of music, and serves as a great learning tool.
Tons of Teachers, All Styles
We have teachers covering beginner lessons, rock, classic rock, jazz, bluegrass, fingerstyle, slack key and more. Learn how to play the guitar from experienced players, in a casual environment.
Beginners Welcome.. and Up
Unlike a lot of guitar websites and DVDs, we start our Beginner Lessons at the VERY start of the learning process, as if you just picked up a guitar for the first time.Our teaching is structured for all players.
Navigate our Free Lessons by using the tabs below
Membership to JamPlay.com gives you unlimited access to all of our lessons from each and every teacher on our staff.
Phase 1 of our teaching method serves to teach you the absolute basics, as if you were just picking up a guitar for the first time. Topics include tuning, posture while playing, finger-placement, reading tablature
and how to play elementary chords. We currently have 6 different teachers to provide you with a wide variety of players to follow and learn from.
About this teacher