Basic Guitar Chords
This first set of 3 chords (G-Cadd9-D) works very well for certain beginners. The reason may be that all four fingers are working at once. Sometimes this works well first, sometimes it might be better to use the set that starts with E minor below. The final set of dominant 7 chords are an alphabetical Dominant 7 chord scale.
Groups: G Cadd9 D | Em E G G6 D Dm A Am C F | A7 B7 C7 D7 E7 F7 G7
Basic Guitar Chords - G Cadd9 D
This group of chords can be challenging for very beginners, or they can work wonderfully. It depends on students hands and level of control. If there is struggle with these, move on to a different set and come back this group.
These voicings of G, C, and D are wildly popular (as are versions of them - or changing elements). If you can play these chords, you can play a whole bunch of songs. Add in Em, Am, & Bm, and the library of possible tunes gets immense.
You can use the Cadd9 anytime you see a C, whether you are in the key of G or not. It is also very common to hear these chords used with a capo, because they have sweet resonance. Try a capo at 3 (B flat, E flat, F).
G Cadd9 D in a Puzzle
A good thing about this set of chords is the anchor. And, we get a clear functional look at it in the above chord puzzle. [Chord Puzzle Directions].
The 2nd string, third fret, third finger (the D that is the 5 to the G chord, the 9 to the Cadd9 chord, and the Root of the D) acts as a post or anchor - a finger that stays down.
Keep in mind, this anchor can lift when the other fingers lift, yet it can stay in contact with the string lightly, re-pressing when the others land & press. This light contact, we call touch (in some of our processes, such as strumming).
E minor Set
This block of chords is a standard set of basic guitar chords. Some of the chords above have different fingerings and other versions. We chose a common way to play these most common chords.
When you see a chord symbol, it is up to you how you voice it (choose your voicing). You can even change the voicing of the same chord within its time frame (use 2 or 3 types of Em for a measure). You can also have changing elements (parts of the chord are changing - being melodic within harmony).
Dominant Chords
An alphabetical Dominant Chord Scale. These are all Major chords with a flat 7. Dominant chords are built - Root/Third/Fifth/Flat-7 [R-3-5-b7].
Dominant chords are typically the FIVE chords in a Major key, yet in Major Blues, we can use all dominants.
Diatonic Chords in Major Keys. Also learn how those were created with EON. Once you know chords in a key, and what key a song is in, you can start to predict what might be used in a song.
| Basic Chords | Starter Set • Blues Chords • Jazz Chords |
| Power Chords | E Form • A Form |
| Strumming | Basics • Mutes & 8ths • First Chord Change • Tips • Strumming Patterns |
| CAGED | The 5 • CAGED + 1 • Linear CAGED Cycle • Forms with Mods • Chord Formulas • E Form |
| Chords in Keys | Chart for 13 keys • Triads in A minor • Progressions |
