Guitar Chord Progressions – Where Do They Come From?
Chord progressions are derived from musical scales like C D E F G A B C. This is the C major scale which is used very often in music. It is just a sequence of notes with no sharps or flats which makes it easy to use to teach music students the principles of music. When we study chord progressions we think of these letters as chords instead of single notes. If we number the chords from one to seven we can work in a practical way with the chords in any key because the basic principles are the same.
If we write out the chords as numbers we have the problem of getting the numbers denoting the chords confused with numbers that are used in the names of the chords. If we are working with the chord B7 we do not want to have to stop and think what “77″ means so we use Roman numerals to number the chords. That way B7 is named VII7. To a newbie that might still be confusing but it is a good way of fixing the problem.
So, now the chords are named I II III IV V VI VII. To save us from getting too bogged down in musical theory, let us take some simple ideas for granted. First, in any key the chord that the key is named after is always the I chord. So now you can go back and look at the notes in the C major scale and check out the new names of all the notes. Not that it will mean much yet.
Another thing we are going to take for granted is that I IV and V are the three most important chords in the scale. When you learn a song or instrumental piece, the chances are that you will be starting the song with the I chord and when you end the song, the chord you finish on is also the I chord. There are exceptions but there is no need to go looking for them. So we can take that fact for granted.
That is all the basic theory we need to learn guitar chord progressions without blundering around like an elephant in an outhouse. There is more you could learn but we are more concerned with playing the chords than explaining them. Now we can take a look at the some chord progressions. The most common progression you will come across as a guitar player is I IV V. You will find these chords referred to in music theory as “tonic” “subdominant” and “dominant”.
You have probably heard that pop musicians only know three chords. This may or may not be true but they do mostly work with one chord progression consisting of three chords. The main variations come when for effect the composer or interpreter of a song might use the V7 or IV7 chords.
This chord progression is the basis of almost all pop, blues and rock songs. Many songwriters have made departures from this basic progression and jazz musicians have long ago abandoned sticking to this, or any basic form.
So there you have your basic chord progression for modern popular music. Other progressions that you could benefit from experimenting with are: I IV I V, I IV V IV, I V VI IV, I V IV V, I VI II V and I VI IV V.
Do you want to learn to play the guitar? Learn How To Play A Guitar For Free is a constantly updated blog which contains all the resources you need for: learning to play solo guitar, how to learn guitar chords, how to learn to read and play easy acoustic guitar tabs, finding a free online guitar tuner, looking for free guitar lessons online, and how to learn guitar scales.
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How to Play Country Lead Guitar
Many guitarists play their country solos on the Fender Telecaster with a Fender tube “Twin”, Super Reverb or Deluxe Reverb amplifier. On the other hand, if they are on a tight budget they have been known to settle for a Peavey tube amp. One piece of equipment you will not need is the whammy bar. It is not used in playing country music.
In contrast to other musical genres that use the electric guitar, country music does not employ a wide variety of electronic effects in guitar solos. Alot of country guitar players use a strictly clean sound, maybe sprucing the music up with a little reverberation. The only effect consistently utilized by country guitar soloists is compression which enforces limits on the sound waves produced by the guitar. This effect enhances the volume of the softer notes, and slightly mutes the louder notes. This makes the overall volume seem more even.
When it comes to technique you can start off as a flatpicker but many country guitar players will use a thumbpick in combination with the index and ring finger. This naturally increases your level of versatility more than somewhat. There is a technique called “chicken pickin” which involves popping the guitar strings with your fingers. It is a little hard to describe in writing but you can see plenty of examples on YouTube, but to get the general idea, try this experiment: hold your right hand over the guitar strings, then mute your E (sixth) string by resting your index finger on it down towards the bridge. Next, pluck the string with your thumb. This will give you a “thuck” sound. To complete the chicken pickin move, pluck the open string with the nail of your index finger. This move is repeated until it comes naturally.
Country solo playing can easily begin in the first position on the guitar. When you begin to play country guitar solos just play over the chords. Do not go looking for a “country scale”, although the blues scale is quite handy in country guitar playing. The trick is to practice with whatever chord shapes you have at your stage of playing and see what kind of riffs, licks and tricks you can get out of each of them. It is a very interesting way to learn because every chord has its unique character. Start with your basic chords like C, D, E, G, and A.
So if you want to learn to play country guitar solos which guitar players do you listen to? Listening to Chet Atkins will teach alot to a guitarist in any genre. He is largely responsible for the smooth Nashville sound which is so attractive to many music lovers. Chet owes his style to Merle Travis, using his thumb to pick bass notes and other fingers to play the melody and fills. And do not forget to look for music recorded by Merle Travis himself. Another guitar great is Jerry Reed. A guitarist with boundless energy and enthusiasm, he played on the Elvis Presley single of his own compositions “Guitar Man” and “US Male”. This list could go on and on, so let us finish by mentioning Albert Lee, a British guitar player admired by many other famous guitarists.
Do you want to learn to play the guitar? Learn How To Play A Guitar For Free is a constantly updated blog which contains all the resources you need for: learning to play solo guitar, how to learn guitar chords, how to learn to read and play easy acoustic guitar tabs, finding a free online guitar tuner, looking for free guitar lessons online, and how to learn guitar scales.
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Learn How To Play Guitar By Ear
Playing by ear is very useful for a musician for several reasons. If you wish to learn a piece of music, then with this ability you can do so very quickly. A person who can play by ear can simply listen to the piece several times, and then play it easy! If you wish to write your own music, then you can play whatever sounds are in your mind, rather than fumbling around the fretboard trusting to luck. If you are playing live, then you are far less likely to forget the next note or chord because you can hear in your head what you are supposed to play next, and simply play it as you hear it. A person who has the ability to play by ear can also improvise much easier, and can spontaneously jam with other musicians, since they are far better positioned to think on their feet.
These abilities are the hallmark of great guitarists. Not how many exotic scales or chords you know, but how you can play with your soul. Playing by ear definitely unlocks your soul and allows it to wander into your playing, making it special and unique just like you! You can relax and allow your powerful and creative subconscious mind to take over the playing, rather than play consciously and robotically. How can you open up your soul if you don’t know what sounds you are going to make until after you have made them?
Some people can play good solid improvised pieces without this ability. However if they don’t know what sounds they are going to make until after they have made them, then they are relying on technical knowledge such as chords and scales, and some luck. There is little opportunity for opening up the soul this way.
Here are some valuable tips to help you develop your skills in playing by ear.
1) Always make sure your guitar is tuned in concert pitch.
It is very important that your guitar is accurately tuned at all times. If it is not, then your mind can become confused when the sounds it produces are different each time you play it. When you hit a low E on the 5th fret, it should always ring a true A unless you are experimenting with alternative tunings.
2)Practice playing very simple tunes that you know the sound, but don’t know how to play.
Simple nursery songs like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” are a great way to start. Take your time and relax, and work out how to play these simple songs without relying on musical notation or TAB. It will be slow at first, but keep persevering. As time goes by you will be able to gradually increase the complexity of these songs, and find them quicker and easier to work out.
3)Try and re-learn old songs you have forgotten without consulting the sheet music or TAB.
This is great for developing your abilities to play by ear, as it forces your mind to work and fill in the gaps of your knowledge of the song.
4)When practicing scales or guitar melodies, sing or hum the note you are playing.
Start simply and build up. After some practice you will be able to hum every note that you play at the same time you play it. This exercise seriously helps bridge the mind guitar connection.
5) Really listen to yourself when playing.
This may seem obvious but it is not always. It took me many years of playing before I got into the habit of really listening to myself playing. I was too busy concentrating on what I was playing to really listen. You need to relax, let go, and listen to yourself. Your ears are the most important part of your playing. Jimi Hendrix once commented in an interview that he plays guitar with my ears. What he meant by this was that he had the ability to play guitar by ear, and he really listened to his own playing in order to express himself.
If you follow these pieces of advice every day, then you will quickly notice an improvement in your abilities to play by ear. To play fully by ear may take years of practice like this, but you can move some way close to this in a relatively short period of time. As your abilities to play by ear improve, you will find your enjoyment and all round guitar abilities improve.
The best way to practice this is definitely little and often. If you practice these exercises for even 10-15 minutes, several times per day, you will see vast improvements in your playing in just a few weeks. Your confidence on the guitar will soar when you realise you are no longer faking it – you intimately know the guitar and you know what you are doing. Your playing will rapidly grow to new heights, and your passion and enjoyment will grow exponentially.
So put in that work and share in the joy of being able to play guitar by ear. Just a few minutes every day will help you make significant leaps. It’s a wonderful world to live in, and you will be so grateful that you tuned in.
Jon Rhodes is both a clinical hypnotherapist and professional musician. He has helped many people advance their guitar playing abilities with his unique talents in the fields of both music and hypnotherapy. If you would like to improve your guitar playing and bring out the soul in your music, then click here for his guitar hypnosis programme.
If you would like to increase your general creativity, then please click here for details on his creative hypnosis audio session.
How to Play Bossa Nova Guitar Chords
By Cody John
Bossa Nova Guitar Chords
There is a whole family of guitar chords that are very much used in bossa nova music and they are called Major seventh chords. To start with a beginner should learn just three of these chords. These are C major seventh, F major seventh and A major seventh. The F and A versions are useful shapes all the way up the fretboard. When you strum them you can hear the signature sound of these chords. The extra note to make the seventh chord is the 11th. For C major seven this means adding a B note to the C chord. This is achieved by simply dropping the finger on the B string. For the A chord you add a G# and for the F chord you add an E note. This type of chord is used in other styles of music but not to such a large degree as in Bossa Nova.
Bossa Nova Guitar Plucking
There is a method of plucking and damping the guitar strings that is used extensively. This involves you plucking 4 strings and damping them to provide the rhythm. You can damp the strings early or late to add emphasis to the chord sequence. The thumb usually plucks one of the base strings and the three fingers pluck the top three strings. They are all plucked and damped in unison.
Using a Nylon String Guitar in Bossa Nova Music
You will find that nylon stringed guitars are used in bossa nova music to provide a softer feel to the backing chords. The mixture of the nylon strings with the plucking and damping described above will make your guitar playing sound authentically Latin in feel.
You can see the full chords shapes of all the major seventh chords on my downloadable guitar chords chart on my guitar warrior website.
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Bluegrass Guitar Lessons
Typically, 
bluegrass lessons involve acoustic equipment: no electric at all, and no drums! Many people believe bluegrass guitar to be very complicated, but it can also be very simple. Bluegrass is what you make it.
The origins of bluegrass lie way back to the days when times were hard for most; the day of shanties and life without all today’s modern conveniences. It has a raw acoustic sound, and should be fun to play and fun to listen to. It is something to take your mind off the daily worries of life, and allow yourself just to be yourself.
Bluegrass guitar lessons will not teach you bluegrass in a week: it’s for the longer haul and those of you that want to have fun while you learn. Bluegrass involves a good strong bass rhythm, and in between each bass pick you strum. You can make use of some of the traditional guitar techniques, used a lot by solo guitarists. Techniques such as hammers ons and pull offs can spice up a bluegrass run, and allow you to play with fewer picks.
Basically a hammer on is where you play a note then switch frets quickly by hammering a finger onto another note, using the same string vibration for more than one note. A pull off is when you fret a string, play it and then pull your finger off, playing another note with the same string vibration. Judicious use of these techniques allow you to play much faster and with fewer right hand movements.
You can then play two bass notes to each pick, and all the time remember that the picks take prominence over the chords. Which takes us on to chords. In bluegrass you have to learn chords and it is useful to have a good armory chords in your arsenal. The basic guitar skills of chords and scales apply as much to learning bluegrass guitar as to any other style. Bluegrass guitar lessons will focus on picks and chords, and your picking style is also very important.
Picking forwards and backwards combine with hammer ons and pull offs to enable you to increase your playing speed. These very fast bluegrass riffs that you all admire involve all of these techniques and more. You have no time to think on every individual note or chord, and have to build a memory of what comes next. That is where a mastery of scales can help you – that continual practice might seem a waste of time, but it is all money in the bank.
Bluegrass guitar involves learning different sequences of pick and strum, and then putting them together to form a finished piece. You don’t have to think on the individual notes in each sequence, just how to fit them together so that from a few sequences you can fit them together in different ways to suit the tune.
Before you start on your lessons there is some essential equipment you will need in addition to an acoustic guitar. Your pick is important, and you will find it difficult to play bluegrass guitar with too soft a pick. The best picks are stiff and made from tortoise shells. If you can get that, your pick should be fairly thick and not bend or flex much at all.
You should also get yourself a capo: that’s one of these devices that clamps onto the neck to effectively make the strings play shorter. What a capo does is to change the key you are playing in. Basically the capo allows you to play in G, while the capo adjustment makes it sound like other keys. Since bluegrass is played generally only between G and C the capo allows you to do that by learning to play only in G.
As for the bluegrass guitar lessons themselves, it is very difficult to learn just from a book. A good bluegrass guitar teaching book with a CD would be better: the CD at least let’s you hear what you are learning should sound like. However, by far the best bet is a video or DVD. With these you can see what your teacher is demonstrating as well as hear it. You can copy the finger movements and see exactly how you should be holding your guitar and your pick. You will understand better how a capo can be used to change key without changing your fingering. However, there is an even better way.
An online membership that offers tuition in different guitar styles, with an option of teachers, is likely the best way to learn bluegrass guitar, or any guitar style for that matter. OK, you might have to pay every month, but you get fresh material with such a site, as opposed to the one-time-only DVD, and can also try out a few other guitar styles when you need a rest from the pick-strum-pick-strum sequences of bluegrass.
Try a bit of country fingerpicking style, or even some ole heavy metal! When you are practicing hard with an end in sight, it’s good to relax a bit and enjoy practicing something else for a while. You could even get some practice at the techniques you will have to learn, such as hammer ons and others.
Without a doubt, bluegrass guitar lessons will teach a different guitar style that is fun to play, and if you choose your teaching medium properly, could open your horizon to a whole host of alternative styles and techniques that can do nothing but improve your abilities as a guitar musician.
For information on an online membership site that offers top-rated and highly regarded bluegrass guitar lessons, visit http://www.jamplaynow.com where you find a site offering everything any guitar student could ask for.
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