Nice Chords, Part 1 (Guitar Lesson)
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Nice Chords, Part 1
Lauren starts a mini series in "Nice Chords" that was inspired by a student of hers. She shares ten chords per lesson, breaks them down, and discusses various uses for each. If you're looking to spice up your songwriting, these lessons are for you!
Taught by Lauren Passarelli in Pop & Classic Rock with Lauren seriesLength: 11:20Difficulty: 1.5 of 5
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Pop & Classic Rock with Lauren
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsUsing her own songs and recordings as examples, Lauren teaches us that it's not what you know, but instead how you USE what you know. This series covers tons of great chord voicing ideas, arranging tips, and production techniques as well as general music theory applied to real music!
Lesson 1
Series Introduction
Lauren is back with her highly-anticipated Phase 2 series on the styles of Pop and Classic Rock. Using her own music as examples, Lauren explores the influences of such artists as the Beatles, Pink Floyd,...
Length: 6:15 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
My Norwegian Friend, Part 1
Lauren teaches a progression that is sure to have you thinking "Beatles." This lesson focuses on the application of some pretty basic chords, but applies them in such a way so that they sound somewhat...
Length: 13:57 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
My Norwegian Friend, Part 2
Lauren teaches the catchy lead arpeggio line in the "tip our hats to the Beatles" tune "My Norwegian Friend". She also talks about arranging ideas and adding your own flavors over the provided backing...
Length: 6:47 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Bellabye
In this lesson, Lauren examines a fingerpicking technique commonly used by the Beatles in 1968 as well as a very "Beatleish" chord progression. Play along with this beautiful ballad using the provided...
Length: 17:26 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Middle of Me
Learn a walking riff, a 60's flavored guitar solo, a cool double stop picking technique, and some more great chords. Pack all this into a rockin' Beatles-inspired track, and we're all good to go! Play...
Length: 21:12 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
How's It Gonna End?
Alternate tunings don't have to be so confusing. In this lesson, Lauren shows how changing just one string while using some basic, easy to play chord voicings can dramatically alter the vibe of a tune....
Length: 12:57 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
The Cmaj7 Chord - Drop 2 & 3 Voicings
In preparation for the lessons to follow, Lauren show us twenty different ways to play a Cmaj7 chord using Drop 2 & 3 voicings. She also explains voice leading and how to arrive at each different chord...
Length: 11:03 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Applied Drop 2 & 3 Chords
Lauren provides a tasteful chord progression that applies many of the Drop 2 & 3 shapes taught in the previous lesson.
Length: 9:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
I Carry On, Part 1
Continuing with the application of Drop 2 & 3 chords, Lauren teaches the chord progression and main riff of her original song "I Carry On". his progression features some quick changes over a driving beat....
Length: 13:23 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
I Carry On, Part 2
Lauren discusses and demonstrates the lead and texture elements from her original song "I Carry On" as a way of teaching us how to layer simple lines and sounds to make our compositions really shine.
Length: 10:25 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Too Sad To Know
Lauren returns to some more basic chord voicings and strumming in this Beatles-inspired tune. Once you've learned the chords, play along to the full backing track!
Length: 10:52 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Feel For Me
Lauren looks at combining riffs and chords while exploring how Drop-D tuning affects common chord shapes. She applies and demonstrates these useful tidbits in her original song "Feel For Me". A full backing...
Length: 10:51 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
New World of Adventure
Lauren teaches a simple pattern perfect for those just getting started with finger picking. She applies it over just four simple chords and provides a full backing track for your practicing fun!
Length: 11:10 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Sweetest Thing
Grab a refreshing drink, stretch out your fingers, and get to work on a soothing progression. This lesson focuses on tasteful voice leading and piano voicings that can be played on the guitar.
Length: 16:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Applied 7th Chord Inversions
Lauren teaches an upbeat chord progression using 7th chords. This time around, she focuses on inversions of the familiar voicings covered earlier in the series.
Length: 12:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Applied Major 6th Chords
Lauren explains various uses for the Major 6th chord and teaches a simple progression comprised entirely of these tasty chords.
Length: 8:44 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Don't Look Down
Lauren demonstrates how to adapt songs that are in alternate tunings to standard tuning using her original song "Don't Look Down". She also teaches some lines and textures from the song to demonstrate...
Length: 20:18 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Nice Chords, Part 1
Lauren starts a mini series in "Nice Chords" that was inspired by a student of hers. She shares ten chords per lesson, breaks them down, and discusses various uses for each. If you're looking to spice...
Length: 11:20 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Nice Chords, Part 2
Lauren continues her mini series with ten more "nice chords" and briefly discusses how having many choices in chord forms can keep your creativity flowing.
Length: 10:25 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Nice Chords, Part 3
In this third installment of "Nice Chords," Lauren shares another ten voicings that are sure to work their way into your songwriting. She also discusses the unique nature of the diminished chord and shares...
Length: 10:04 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Nice Chords, Part 4
Lauren concludes her mini series on "nice chords" and ends with a call to all guitarists to see every aspect of guitar playing as a chance to create!
Length: 10:57 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Applying Some "Nice Chords"
Lauren takes a few of the voicings she shared in the previous mini series on "nice chords" and applies them with a nice anticipated rhythm and a tasteful, jazzy melody. Play the rhythm and the melody...
Length: 12:33 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Style of James Taylor
Lauren discusses and demonstrates a key trait of James Taylor's rhythm style. Learn how to take just a few simple voicings, change a few notes and come up with a very simple, yet interesting progression!
Length: 9:35 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Blast of Love
Lauren takes a few more of the nice chords learned in her 4 part mini series and gives your picking hand a little workout with a funky rhythm and lots of movement. Play along to the provided backing track!
Length: 10:01 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Lauren Passarelli
View Full Biography
Lauren Passarelli is an award winning teacher & distinguished alumni from Berklee College of Music where she has been a guitar Professor since 1984.
Originally from Paramus, NJ, Lauren received a fantastic guitar foundation using the Alfred’s, Mel Bay, Harry Shearer & William G. Leavitt guitar books from her first guitar teacher, Lou Sabini.
Graduating in 1982 as the first woman to finish the guitar performance program, Lauren also became the first woman to join Berklee’s guitar faculty & first to be promoted to full Professor.
She’s a multi instrumentalist, vocalist, arranger, recording engineer & record producer & has worked with Cindy Brown, Sarah Burrill, Thaddeus Hogarth, Kate Chadbourne, Danny Morris, Pat Metheny, Elizabeth Lorrey, Nancy Beaudette, Melissa Etheridge, Jane Miller, Louis Arnold & many others.
Her students include Derek Sivers, founder of cdbaby, Panos Panay, founder of sonic bids; Will Knox; Kyle Patrick, of Click 5; Jesse Ruben & Rob Harkness, founder of Barn Productions.
Lauren specializes in creativity, composing, sight reading, the ability to groove, the music of The Beatles, alternate guitar tunings, song writing, recording, producing, arranging & Artist survival skills. She writes in standard & alternate tunings, plays slide & fretless guitar, and approaches the guitar as a mini orchestra. She has the ability to play funky riffs and sing counter melodies at the same time.
She endorses, Line 6, Wechter, Guild, Fender, Taylor, Godin, Washburn, Yamaha, Martin, Rane, Electro Voice, Crowley & Tripp, AKG, Audio Technica, Groove Tubes, Bose, DR Handmade Strings, D’Addario, Planet Waves, IK Multimedia, East West, Apple, Studiomaster, ADA Amplification, Marshall, Vox, ART & more.
There are hundreds of performances, clinics & interview videos on youtube featuring Lauren & her original music as well as Beatle covers while she was touring as the sound-a-like George Harrison.
She is the co-founder of Feather Records, Cotton Moon Music, Wizard & Feather Brown Productions & PassaBrown Studios.
Lauren’s music is available world wide on cdbaby, iTunes, Rhapsody, Pandora & many other sites. Her CDs include: “Among The Ruins” & “Shadow Language” under her band name Two Tru, “Back to the Bone”, New CDs coming soon ~ “Playing With the Pieces” & “Blast of Love.”
"Lauren Passarelli is a great guitar player" Pat Metheny.
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