Guitar World

admin answers:

An E chord is an E chord is an E chord.

It doesn’t matter what instrument you’re playing. If he’s playing an E major chord on the guitar, then you play an E major chord on the ukulele.

admin answers:

The theory of music as it applies to song form is based on the realtionship of three particular chords, 1 1, the 4 and the 5, and the minor chords between them.

In the key of C for example the important chords are C (the tonic) F (the subdominant) and G(the dominant)… Almost all popular music is based on playing these chords in different orders. Blues, for example rely on a set of changes like this:

CCCC

FFFF

CCCC

GGGG

FFFF

CCCC

(G)

The last being a kick or turn around.

Some common patterns revolve around this pattern:

C, Aminor, F, G

or C, Eminor, F, G…

Another popular variation is to do a walkk up through the changes:

C, Dminor, Eminor, F, G

Beyond this set of simple patterns, you should open your ears while you play. Listen while you make changes. If you write a simple melody, you’ll find it fairly easy to put it over one of these patterns or another, then, when you hit a spot where your melody isn’t quite working with those chords… Be inventive. Throw in outside chords (such as a D major in the key of C, or E or A major in the key of C)

The best way to learn this is to get songbooks and study the chords.

It takes a little time and effort, but this kind of basic theory is necessary if you want to write music.

Good luck.

admin answers:

Probably to be very effecient, most advanced players ask other less advanced players to pick the variation CLOSEST to the nut. Within the first five frets, almost any chord can be played. This way it’s more comfortable to play lead and rhythm at the same time. Yes, different chords further up the neck DO add some coloration and variation in sound, but for someone that has just started looking up guitar chords, attempt with all your might to find ones closest to the 1st couple frets. It will save you a lot of confusion and time. I ignored this advice for years. Not anymore.

admin answers:

You can know an infinite amount if you take a little step into music theory.

To build chords you need to learn the major scale. The major scale is constructed in a pattern of whole and half steps. A half step is a distance of note to the next, or one fret to another on a guitar (Second fret to third fret, for example). A whole step is the distance of two frets on a guitar, first fret to third fret is a whole step. To build a major scale, all you have to do is apply the following formula.

W = Whole Step
H = Half Step

W-W-W-H-W-W-W-H

The note you start on is called the root note, and it is very important. The root determines what key the scale is in, also the key of the chord you will be building. The first and last notes of the scale are the same. The formula for the major scale is numbered as well, like this:

W-W-W-H-W-W-W-H
1 – 2 – 3 -4- 5 – 6 – 7 – 8

To build a major chord, play the first, third and fifth notes of the scale. A “GMaj” chord would be constructed in this fashion. Find “G” on the guitar (Third fret of the sixth string or the open third string are good starting points.) Count out the major scale.

W-W-W-H-W-W-W-H
1 – 2 – 3 -4- 5 – 6 – 7 – 8
G- A -B -C -D – E- F#-G

G B D are the notes of a G major chord. The strings to play would be sixth string, third fret (G), fifth string, second fret (B) and the fourth string open (D). You can also double notes in the chord, so the third string could be played open (It is a G as well, an octave higher) the third fret of the second string (A octave higher D) and the third fret on the first string (It is two octaves above the starting G).

Now that you know how to build a chord you need to know the characteristics of all the chords. A “b” indicates a flattened note, moving it down one fret, and a “#” indicates a sharpened note, moved up one fret. Keep in mind I’m only using “G” as an example, remember that the note you start the scale on determines the key of the chord and scale.

Major – GMaj or G – 1 3 5
Minor – Gm – 1 3b 5
Diminished – Gdim – 1 3b 5b
Augmented – Gaug or G+- 1 3 5#
Dominant Seventh – G7 – 1 3 5 7b
Major Seventh – GMaj7 – 1 3 5 7
Minor Seventh – Gmin7 or Gm7 – 1 3b 5 7b

That should keep you busy for a little bit, sorry if it was a little long but I think by the “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day” simply giving the fingerings of a chord “teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime” actually learning to build any chord for any situation.

admin answers:

G, C and D