More Open Guitar Chords

If you've been through the first 3 parts of this basic guitar chords series, you'll have learned quite a large library of chords to play around with. We know the major and minor open shapes, plus the various open 7th chords that add some depth to those basic chords. This lesson we'll explore even more interesting variations on those basic major/minor chords.

That's really how you should look at chords - adding and changing notes to modify chords and finding a new sound. It gives your chord learning a touch of experimentation and individuality.

First, a short introduction, then we'll be looking at and listening to some very nice sounding chords.

Modifying those basic major and minor open chords

There are many chords you can create using the basic E, A, D, C, G shape chords (major and minor) as the foundation. The idea is, when creating your own music, that instead of just playing a straight A major chord (for example), you'll think about other options that might sound more interesting, such as A7 or Aadd6 (more on "add" chords in a minute!)

Just to be clear, though, don't feel like you MUST use a more complex chord through every chord change in your song. Sometimes those basic open chords are the perfect chord to use. It's ultimately down to your creative ideas and choices. I'm just helping you build a wider range of those choices!

Open major add chords

Not wanting to go into too much heavy theory right now, "Add" chords are basically chords with notes added to them (yep!). So all we're doing is adding notes to the basic major and minor chords we learned in the first and 2nd parts of this series. Let's take a look at some examples, but don't worry about what the numbers after the "add" mean right now. Just learn to associate the name of the chord with the shape it creates on the fretboard.

Click the diagrams to hear the chord

Also try using the same add chords but with the 7th chords we learned in part 3. Start with the basic 7th chord (e.g. A7, Amaj7) and add the same notes/strings as we did with the basic major chord above. You'll have to work out the fingerings you find most comfortable as you'll be using all 4 fingers in most cases!

Open minor add chords

Notice how it's exactly the same notes we're adding, the only difference being we're adding them to the basic minor chords (from part 1)! With the minor chords, there's not as many "add" chords we can play because of fingering restrictions (for example a Dmadd9 requires exceptionally long, spidery fingers!). Also, I've deliberately left out the "add6" for minor chords, because they become more useful when you learn about more complex chord progressions.

Click the diagrams to hear the chord

TIP: You can also add the same notes to the dominant 7th major and minor chords we learned in part 3!

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Suspended (sus) open chords

Again, I don't want to get caught up in what "suspended" means right now, but it has a particular sound you should get to know. Don't forget you can also apply the "sus" to dominant 7th chords from part 3 and, where possible, the "add" chords from above.

Suspended 4th (sus4) chords

Click the diagrams to hear the chord

Esus4 open position chord	E7sus4 open position chord
Asus4 open position chord	A7sus4 open position chord
Dsus4 open position chord	D7sus4 open position chord

Csus4 open position chord	C7sus4 open position chord
Gsus4 open position chord I find the Gsus4 chord sounds cleaner without the A string included. This means you have to block the A string using your 2nd finger. Simply angle your 2nd finger so that it just touches the A string and mutes it.	G7sus4 open position chord

Suspended 2nd (sus2) chords

Asus2 open position chord	A7sus2 open position chord
Dsus2 open position chord	D7sus2 open position chord
Csus2 open position chord	Gsus2 open position chord

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Now assess your confidence with open chords

Well, that's it - You've completed the basic guitar chords series! Ask 
yourself how confident you feel with open chords now.

If you've followed this course closely and really made the effort to KNOW 
these chords and experiment with their variations, you will now have a huge 
library of chords to use in your own songwriting. Just enjoy and use the 
knowledge you now have, because many guitarists get stuck using the same 
old chords over and over again. That won't be you!

Want to take things to the next level? If you enjoyed the simple, clear 
style of this course, you'll also really benefit from both the barre chord series and floating chord lessons on this site, which looks at using the chord shapes we've learned all over the fretboard. This is your next major step in guitar chord learning. Hopefully I'll see you at the next level some time!