Chord Puzzle Directions
A process for linking one guitar chord to the next
Having used many chord methodogies, I Love Guitar has created what it calls a Chord Puzzle. It demonstrates a process for linking chord fingerings to the next chord fingering. The goal is for you to understand and actualize the connection process. As you survey a new tune you are learning, you can build your own puzzles to connect any chords in a particular song.
At a certain point, the linking process is automatic and you won't have to think as we are requesting in this lesson. Keep in mind that every chord you play can be related to the chords, C, A, G, E, and D.
Directions for Chord Puzzles
- A horizontal line from one chord to next means that the finger does not move, yet can shift within its fret space.
MOST chords have a COMMON FINGER (do not change) with the next
(indicated by a horizontal line with or without an arrowhead). - A BOX -
- with a number and WITH a LINE indicates a finger needs
to move from one location (fret/string) to the next.
The number inside the box is a fret number. - A BOX -
- WITHOUT a LINE indicates a finger that was INACTIVE
needs to be placed. - If a new note is OPEN, no box is present.
- SMALLER numbers NEXT to the tablature fret number is the
FINGERING (Fretting hand - FH). - x = MUTE with thumb or index or middle OR don't play (AIM). The finger to use for muting is sometimes included in a puzzle (next to an x).
- The GOAL of these exercises is to program motion through space in time. A chord change IS the motion BETWEEN the chords. Chords are a consequence of correct travel. Any chord can go to any chord, so...figure out what it takes.
Chord Puzzle example using E7 and B7 Guitar Chords
What chords go together?
First, any chord can go to any chord.
Yet, chords are grouped in families. In a Major Key, the I, IV, and V are Major chords (4-3), the ii, iii, and vi are minor chords (3-4), and the viio is diminished (3-3). Example in C:
- I, IV, V = C, F, G
- ii, iii, vi = Dm, Em, Am
- viio = Bo = Bm
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