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 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