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Guitar Chords Ain’t Sexy But The Results Rock, The Mighty Major Chord

By Mike Hayes | December 24, 2009

How many ways do you know how to play a C major chord on the
guitar? If you have an average knowledge of the guitar you will
probably know two or three ways; one open position chord and
possibly two bar chord versions.

Like everything else knowledge of the basic’s is the name of the
game. The more thoroughly you understand the basics the easier
the complicated stuff becomes.

Today we are going to give the major chord aka major triad a
fretboard workout.

Here’s how we take the C major chord for a test drive on the
fingerboard and see if there are any new ways to play this chord.

Step 1. Know the spelling of the C major chord: C-E-G

Step 2. create string grids

String grids are combinations of strings e.g., string grid one
would be strings 1,2 & 3; string grid two would be strings 2, 3 &
4 etc., here is a list of the common string grids used for major
triads.

String grid 1 = strings 1, 2 & 3

String grid 2 = strings 2, 3 & 4

String grid 3 = strings 3, 4 & 5

String grid 4 = strings 4, 5 & 6

Since a major chord consists of three notes and each of our
string grids has three strings there must be three ways of
playing the C major chord on each string grid. Let’s see that’s
twelve new ways to play the chord straight away.

Here is how it looks on the guitar:

String grid 1 = strings 1, 2 & 3 (chord 1)

C

—3——
—5——
–[5]—–
———-
———-
———-

Keynote indicated [ ]; the keynote is the note musicians call the
root note. It’s important to be able to identify this note as it
will make learning other chords a breeze.

String grid 1 = strings 1, 2 & 3 (chord 2)

C

–[8]—-
—8—–
—9—–
———
———
———

Notice how the keynote has moved to the first string for this
shape.

String grid 1 = strings 1, 2 & 3 (chord 3)

C

—12—–
–[13]—-
—12—–
———-
———-
———-

Now the keynote has moved to string two!

Chords on string grid one are often used by lead guitarists when
they want to add dynamic intensity to their solos. These chords
create their own distinctive sonic space and cut through the
band.

I’ll take the same C major chord for a tour of the second string
grid, here goes …

String grid 2 = strings 2, 3 & 4 (chord 1)

C

———-
—5——
–[5]—–
—5——
———-
———-

String grid 2 = strings 2, 3 & 4 (chord 2)

C

——–
—8—-
—9—-
-[10]—
——–
——–

String grid 2 = strings 2, 3 & 4 (chord 3)

C

———-
–[13]—-
—12—–
—14—–
———-
———-

If this chord is difficult to play simply drop the chord down one
octave by subtracting the number twelve from the problem shape.
The optional chord shape would become …

String grid 2 = 2, 3 & 4 strings (chord 3) optional version

C

——–
—1—-
—0—-
—2—-
——–
——–

The second string grid is favored be groups like the Rolling
Stones and Dire Straights for their backup chords, they are not
too high to get into the singer’s way and not too low to confuse
the listener by getting tangled up with the rhythm guitarist or
bass player.

I invite you to continue making up major chords on string grids 3
and 4; it will give you a whole new sonic palette to work with
next time you play your guitar.

And now I’d like to invite you to get free access to my “How To
Remember 1,000 Songs” eCourse. You can download the course for
free at: http://www.guitarcoaching.com

You’ll learn about hit song templates, easy chords,simple scales, red hot rhythms, and successful practice strategies in text, audio and video.

From Mike Hayes – The Guitar Coaching Guy & the Express Guitar
System

Topics: Beginner Guitar Lesson, Guitar Chords, Guitar Fretboard, Learn And Master Guitar | No Comments »

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