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Week 1: Series Introduction and Theory Guitar Lesson

Home > Guitar Lessons > Skill Building > Rhythm Guitar > Expanding Your Rhythm Playing > Week 1: Series Introduction and Theory
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Chris Liepe

Week 1: Series Introduction and Theory

Welcome to lesson 1 in this 6 week series on expanding your rhythm guitar playing! Here, Chris introduces you to what will be taught in the series and starts breaking things down in the key of E.

Taught by Chris Liepe in Expanding Your Rhythm Playing seriesLength: 48:36Difficulty: 3.5 of 5
  • Lesson 1 (GP)
  • Lesson 1 (PDF)
  • Lesson 1
  •  
  • E
  • E
  • E
  • E5add9
  • Esus2
  • E6
  • E5
  • Em
  • F
  • F#m
  • G
  • G
  • G#m
  • Am
  • Am7
  • A
  • A
  • A5
  • Aadd9
  • B
  • Badd11
  • Badd11/D#
  • C
  • C#m
  • C#m7
  • D
  • Dm
  • Eadd9
  • Emaj7(no 3rd)
  •  



Supplemental Learning Material

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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.


costeffcosteff replied on May 21st, 2012

Great lesson! I really need to work on my theory fluency so that I can get the most out of this!

m theorym theory replied on April 28th, 2012

Just joined Jamplay on a trial membership and having a good look around. This is the best and most usable guitar lesson I've ever seen! Lovin this site :)

dwg101dwg101 replied on February 2nd, 2012

Chris You mentioned a lesson on finding cords on the neck that may be good to take before this lesson, were is this lesson?

Chris.LiepeChris.Liepe replied on February 5th, 2012

in my phase 2 series, the lesson on the CAGED system. or phase 1, the triads lesson.

jafijafi replied on November 30th, 2011

I maybe off but isn't the E scale E F# G# A B C# D# Because if it is then you said G instead of G# when you went through the E scale.

Chris.LiepeChris.Liepe replied on December 2nd, 2011

oops, good catch!

noodledocnoodledoc replied on November 26th, 2011

Lesson 1 week 1, first line of music in supplemental. What is it? Is it harmonizing the C major scale by 3rds? I thought we were doing E major. Why is it up there? Sorry if I missed something.

Chris.LiepeChris.Liepe replied on November 28th, 2011

good question! We are doing E, but before we got in to the "E" specific stuff, I was covering basic chord harmony. At the beginning of the lesson, I play through what you see in the supp content. I used C because it is the easiest key signature to work with when learning basic theory concepts. Later we, port that theory over to other keys

foxboyfoxboy replied on November 14th, 2011

You could also play the 4, 5 and 6 chords by just locking your fingers in the 7-9fret E-shape featured here and moving them up and down the neck on the 3rd, 4th and 5th string instead of changing fingering for the 4 and 5 chords. (However, you should mute the 6th string). By doing so, is a cakewalk to play a great sounding strum in E major even for absolute beginners.

angelanova1angelanova1 replied on November 11th, 2011

Great! exactly what I needed and you made it very simple. Really really nice.. thanks Chris.

bigjimgtrbigjimgtr replied on November 6th, 2011

Lesson 1: Week 1: Series Introduction and Theory, I cannot believe after so many years this is finally starting to make perfect sense. This has always been so confusing, 3rd's and 7th's etc. It's really not THAT difficult. I took theory in High School and have tryed to figure it out a lil' on my own..... you have a great teaching style. Sincerely, Thank you very much !!!! Jim

Chris.LiepeChris.Liepe replied on November 3rd, 2011

supplemental content is up

noodledocnoodledoc replied on November 17th, 2011

Chris, Your lessons are great. Thanks for putting it all together. keep on rocking

noodledocnoodledoc replied on November 15th, 2011

Hey Chris, was really interested in the lesson series on E but none of the videos are found beyond the 2nd scene. 11/15/2011

mgapmgap replied on October 31st, 2011

Great lesson, looks like it will be a very informative lesson set. Will you also be working with time signature?

Chris.LiepeChris.Liepe replied on November 3rd, 2011

we stay in 4/4 for this series

rcausrcaus replied on November 1st, 2011

Dear Chris, Can you shed some lights on the telecaster you are using for this series as I also saw you using this guitar in another series. Is it a Blacktop (Mexican) or an American deluxe. I noticed that it has a single coil pick up instead of a humbucker , which pick up is best for rythm. I mainly a rhythm player and love singing too( plus some easy soloing)and want now to move to electric guitar whilst keeping my acoustic for classic blues. Regards Rama

Chris.LiepeChris.Liepe replied on November 3rd, 2011

I'm playing an American Deluxe Tele. I switched out the pick guard for black

foxboyfoxboy replied on November 3rd, 2011

Hi, really gorgeous stuff. However, "expanding rhythm playing" is just one part of the story. To me, this is like "worship style". I know many guitarist that feature this style in worship bands. Maybe Jamplay should add stuff like this also in the "styles" section.

Chris.LiepeChris.Liepe replied on November 3rd, 2011

interesting observation :)

bigjimgtrbigjimgtr replied on November 1st, 2011

QUESTION: When you explained that the chord of the 1st degree of the scale is always major 2nd=minor,3rd=minor,4=major etc. is that for the key of "C" or all major scales ?

Chris.LiepeChris.Liepe replied on November 1st, 2011

All major scales

stratmusicstratmusic replied on October 31st, 2011

These 6 week series are great!

jj90jj90 replied on October 31st, 2011

Some of your series are really filling in some gaps here at Jamplay! Needed more rhythm playing lessons next to Brendan Burns series. Thanks Chris!

bigjimgtrbigjimgtr replied on October 31st, 2011

I think this is the one I've been looking for !!! I've been playing for 30 yrs. but have no clue what or why I'm playing certain things, It can be frustrating having been playing out for years and having to memorize solos and chord patterns is very limiting. Looking forward to this series of lessons !!!

Tyler.RughTyler.Rugh replied on October 31st, 2011

The Supplemental Content will be posted ASAP. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Expanding Your Rhythm Playing

Found in our Beginner Lesson Sets

Chris takes his 6 week series technique into an "Expanding your Rhythm Playing" session.



Lesson 1

Week 1: Series Introduction and Theory

Welcome to lesson 1 in this 6 week series on expanding your rhythm guitar playing! Here, Chris introduces you to what will be taught in the series and starts breaking things down in the key of E.

Length: 48:36 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Lesson 2

Week 2: In The Key Of A

In week 2 of his 6 Week Rhythm Guitar Series, Chris breaks down the key of A major.

Length: 13:56 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 3

Week 3: In The Key Of D

Week 3 of this 6 week series presents a deeper understanding of the key of D major.

Length: 13:45 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 4

Week 4: In The Key Of G

Following in suit with the last 3 lessons, Chris explains some rhythm guitar ideas in the key of G.

Length: 15:28 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 5

Week 5: In The Key Of B

In Lesson 5 of this 6 week series, Chris breaks down the final key of B.

Length: 7:30 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 6

Week 6: Language of Chords

In this final lesson, Chris teaches how to put a name to the face of all the different chord shapes you have created in the past 5 lessons.

Length: 12:06 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only

About Chris Liepe View Full Biography Chris Liepe was born on September 17th, 1981 in Portland OR. His first instrument was piano which he pursued until discovering his love for the electric guitar in high school. He became fans of such groups as Soundgarden, Collective Soul and U2 inspiring him to start singing, songwriting and helping others in their musical endeavors with teaching, co-writing and album production.

Having moved to Colorado with his family, he began gigging, recording and teaching in a number of music stores as well as out of his apartment until deciding to pursue music full time. He moved to Denver, CO to complete a Bachelors in Music Technology and was then hired on by Sweetwater Productions, a division of Sweetwater Sound and one of the largest, most successful recording studios in the Midwest.

Chris spent nearly 4 years at Sweetwater as a producer, recording engineer, studio musician and writer. During this time he had the privilege of working with many artists including Augustana, Landon Pigg, Jars of Clay, and Mercy Me. He also wrote for and played on numerous independent albums and hundreds of radio/TV commercials.

Wanting to get back to his favorite State in the world (Colorado) and feeling the urge to 'go freelance', Chris moved to Greeley, CO and opened his own recording and teaching studio. He continues to write and produce music for artists and agencies and is happy to be among the proud JamPlay.com instructors.

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