Guitar Chord Theory Part 1 - Learn How to Build Chords in Any Key

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Robert]John Robert

I know it isn't everybody's favorite subject, but it is beneficial to learn some basic guitar theory at some point. The easiest place to start is with guitar chord theory. There is a formula behind the way chords are constructed and the intent of this article is to help you better understand guitar chord theory.

To understand the way chords are built we must first look at the major scale. Lets take the C major scale for example. The notes in a C major scale are C D E F G A B. Now that we know the notes of the major scale we can build the chords involved with the key of C by stacking thirds.

Stacking thirds is basically stacking every other note. To get a C major triad all we need is three notes. Starting on C we will go every other note until we get C E G. These are the three primary notes in the C major chord. C is called the root note, E is called the third an G is called the fifth. All of your major and minor chords will be comprised of a root, third and fifth.

Now let's take this lesson in guitar chord theory one step further. We can build all the chords in the key of C major by stacking thirds starting on each different note of the scale. If D is our root note, then F is the third and A is the fifth. Do this for all the remaining notes in the C major scale and you should end up with seven different chords all related to the key of C major.

You can apply this lesson in guitar chord theory to any scale to get the different chords associated with it. There is much more to learn about guitar chord theory, but for know just think about what you have learned and how the chords that you practice are 'stacked up'.

John Robert has been playing guitar for longer than he can remember. Aside from teaching guitar for the last three years he enjoys writing articles about [http://ultimate-guitar-advice.blogspot.com/2007/10/breakthrough-techniques-show-how-to.html ]guitar chord theory and other guitar related topics. If you are serious about mastering the guitar you owe it to yourself to check out [http://www.jam-o-rama.info ]Jam-o-rama.info

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Blues Guitar Chords Tutorial: 7 Essential Blues Guitar Chords

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ed_Vickerry]Ed Vickerry

This article will teach you how to play 7 essential blues guitar chords. Using these 7 chords, and your knowledge of the twelve bar blues progression, you will be able to play blues guitar in 5 essential keys: C, A, G, E, and D. If you don't know the twelve bar blues, see my article, "Blues Guitar Chords Tutorial: The Twelve Bar Blues"

How to read the chord diagrams

This article uses a simple text based form of chord diagram. Each of the six strings on the guitar is represented with 3 numbers, like this: 1/2/3. The first number is the string (the strings are numbered form 1 through 6, where 1 is the thinnest, or high E string, and 6 is the thickest, or low E string. The second number is the fret to press down on, in this case the second fret. The third number is which finger to use, in this case the third finger.

So 1/2/3 means press down on the first string, at the second fret, using the third finger. The letter X in place of the second and third numbers would mean don't play that string as part of the chord; the number 0 would mean play the open, unfretted string.

A whole chord diagram would look like this:

6/X/X 5/3/3 4/2/2 3/0/0 2/1/1 1/0/0

To make this chord, which happens to be a C chord, you don't play the sixth string at all, you fret the fifth string at the third fret with your third finger, fret the fourth string at the second fret with your second finger, play the open third string, fret the second string at the first fret with your first finger, and play the open first string.

STOP! Before you go any further, make sure that you understand how to read the chord diagrams. Read the previous section again if you need to, and make sure you understand it.

The 7 Essential Blues Guitar Chords

C7: 6/X/X 5/3/3 4/2/2 3/3/4 2/1/1 1/0/0

A7: 6/0/0 5/0/0/ 4/2/2 3/0/0 2/2/3 1/0/0

G7: 6/3/3 5/2/2 4/0/0 3/0/0 2/0/0 1/1/1

E7: 6/0/0 5/2/2 4/0/0 3/1/1 2/0/0 1/0/0

D7: 6/X/X 5/0/0 4/0/0 3/2/2 2/1/1 1/2/3

B7: 6/X/X 5/2/2 4/1/1 3/2/3 2/0/0 1/2/4

F7: 6/X/X 5/X/X 4/3/3 3/2/2 2/4/4 1/1/1

another way to make F7: 6/1/1 5/3/3 4/1/1 3/2/2 2/1/1 1/1/1

(for this one, lay your first finger across all six strings at the first fret)


Now that you know the 7 essential blues guitar chords, you can use them to play the blues in the five CAGED keys:

Blues Chords in C

I chord is C7: 6/X/X 5/3/3 4/2/2 3/3/4 2/1/1 1/0/0

IV chord is F7: 6/X/X 5/X/X 4/3/3 3/2/2 2/4/4 1/1/1

V chord is G7: 6/3/3 5/2/2 4/0/0 3/0/0 2/0/0 1/1/1


Blues Chords in A:

I chord is A7: 6/0/0 5/0/0/ 4/2/2 3/0/0 2/2/3 1/0/0

IV chord is D7: 6/X/X 5/0/0 4/0/0 3/2/2 2/1/1 1/2/3

V chord is E7: 6/0/0 5/2/2 4/0/0 3/1/1 2/0/0 1/0/0


Blues Chords in G:

I chord is G7: 6/3/3 5/2/2 4/0/0 3/0/0 2/0/0 1/1/1

IV chord is C7: 6/X/X 5/3/3 4/2/2 3/3/4 2/1/1 1/0/0

V chord is D7: 6/X/X 5/0/0 4/0/0 3/2/2 2/1/1 1/2/3


Blues Chords in E:

I chord is E7: 6/0/0 5/2/2 4/0/0 3/1/1 2/0/0 1/0/0

IV chord is A7: 6/0/0 5/0/0/ 4/2/2 3/0/0 2/2/3 1/0/0

V chord is B7: 6/X/X 5/2/2 4/1/1 3/2/3 2/0/0 1/2/4


Blues Chords in D:

I chord is D7: 6/X/X 5/0/0 4/0/0 3/2/2 2/1/1 1/2/3

IV chord is G7: 6/3/3 5/2/2 4/0/0 3/0/0 2/0/0 1/1/1

V chord isA7: 6/0/0 5/0/0/ 4/2/2 3/0/0 2/2/3 1/0/0


This article has taught you how to play 7 essential blues guitar chords. If you know the twelve bar blues progression, you can use these 7 chords to play blues guitar in 5 essential keys: C, A, G, E, and D. To learn the twelve bar blues progression, look for my article "Blues Guitar Chords Tutorial: The Twelve Bar Blues".

Ed Vickerry is a guitar player and former software trainer. He has recently combined his interest in playing guitar and his expertise in adult learning theory to create a an eCourse that details techniques you can use to make your guitar practice time more effective. If you are interested in learning more about his "Supercharge Your Guitar Practice Time" eCourse, and making your guitar practice time more effective, please go here: http://www.justenoughguitar.com/practice

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Guitar Chords for Beginners

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kirk_Downing]Kirk Downing

Guitar chords are one of the most important aspects of playing the guitar. Chords are such important pieces because they make up a song and because they are the "core" on which the melody is built. Guitar chords are nothing more than two or three notes played together either simultaneously or in an arpeggio or "broken chord" fashion (one note struck after another to give a rippling effect in sound). When strummed, plucked or picked a chord should sound clear and free of buzzing or muting and are also identified by a Roman numeral system or by its position in the scale.

Guitar Chords are created from individual notes from the fret board that are pieced together to form a colorful sounding multi-note called a chord. Chords are divided into six basic categories: Major, Minor, Seventh, Augmented, Diminished, and Minor Seventh Flat Fifth. All chords can be placed in one of three groups based on the musical structure of the chord: Major, Minor, or Seventh that can be combined into great sounding chord sequences that make up lots of popular songs. There are all types of chords, but they all fall under two categories; major and minor chords.

Major Chords

The most basic chords are the seven major chords, A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Major chords consist of a root note, a major third above the root, and also a fifth above the root. Major chords are always shown by their name alone. Numbers correspond to notes of the relevant Major scale. Using a bar chord, the transition between a major and a minor chord is relatively simple.

Minor Chords

Another common chord shape, and the usual contrast to the major chord, is the minor chord. A minor chord is a chord, which has a minor third above its note or pitch. Minor chords are the similar to major chords but instead of a major third, there is a minor third. Minor chords can evoke a more somber or thoughtful mood. Minor chords are always shown with the small m symbol. With all bar chords you can lift one finger and be playing the minor bar chord.

Beginner Chords

If you are a beginner guitar player you know you have to learn chords. For total beginners, guitar chords can be difficult at first, especially when making a transition from one chord to another. Do not get in a rush to start playing beginner chords, learn how to do it first. Beginners often find G major challenging to play and B major impossible, but this changes with practice. Learn all the basic guitar chords you need to know as a beginner and you can start playing songs today.

Guitar chords are one of the most important aspects of guitar playing and differ only from other types of chords by the virtue of the instrument being played. Chords might very well be the most important element of guitar playing because they are the foundation of what makes a song. A lot of people do not understand just how powerful guitar chords really are. Changing from one chord to another is without a doubt the best way to learn guitar chords. What is awesome is that by learning no more than 10 to 15 basic chords, you will be equipped to play thousands of rock and pop songs.

Kirk Downing is the creator of the popular portal for guitar enthusiasts called JamDojo. Total beginners can find a wealth of information in the form of articles and blog posts. If you're trying to learn [http://www.jamdojo.com/howtoplayguitar/]how to play guitar, JamDojo.com is the answer.

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