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Home > Chords

Learn Guitar Chords The Right Way - Not Just Chord Charts

Learn Guitar ChordsThis section will encourage you to learn guitar chords, not just by their fingering and formation on the fretboard, but also through the theory behind chord construction and how chords work together.

Only then will you truly know how to apply chords in your own music and how they relate to other theoretical elements, such as scales.

Don't worry though, it's not difficult. Any chord theory I cover is broken down into simple steps and I only teach you what is absolutely necessary for you to reach your full playing potential. So you get all the chord charts you'd expect, but with that little bit extra along the way!




Learn Guitar Chords Step by Step

small chevron Guitar Chord Basics  The absolute basics of fingering guitar chords on the fretboard. Some essential tips to ensure your chord playing is clean and clear. Take this lesson before you move on to learn guitar chords and their fingerings.

small chevron Basic Guitar Chords  The best place to begin your chord learning journey. 5 part course that takes you through the main open position chords and their interesting variations. Some of the most loved music out there exclusively uses the chords in this course and you'll probably use them for your entire guitar playing life.

Grab your free printable Beginner Guitar Chord Chart

Also in this series...
small chevron Power Chords  Power chords are not strictly chords, rather two notes played together (dyads). However, they are played in the same context as chords. Power chords are used religiously in rock and heavy metal and sound great with gain/distortion turned up. Very easy to play, and a good primer for the chord forms we'll come to later. Also in this series... small chevron Barre Chords  Learn how to play guitar chords away from the first few frets to completely dominate the fretboard. Get introduced to the main barre chord shapes and use the exercises to gain physical confidence with playing them. Also in this series... small chevron Closed Position Chords  These are economical, minimalist (three-string) voicings that occupy just one octave. We start with the basic triad shapes before moving on to seventh and other chord qualities. Also an effective lesson for developing a rudimentary awareness of how chord intervals form on the neck.

small chevron Major 7th Chords  Often described as a "dreamier", more "soulful" type of major chord. Learn the basics of maj7 and how to use it in major and minor key progressions. See also...
small chevron Slash Chords  Learn how to change the bass note of those familiar open chords to create new sounds and songwriting ideas. Especially useful if you're playing solo, without accompaniment (e.g. fingerstyle). See also...
small chevron Movable Open Chords  This series of lessons expands on the open chord shapes from earlier, moving them up the fretboard and using open strings to create unique, beautiful sounding chords. Expand your chord vocabulary even further.

small chevron Dark / Tension Chords  A unique chord chart that explores the darker side of chord playing! A great first step in learning how to create tension in your songs.

small chevron Blues Chords  Chord charts of the most common (and some less so) blues chord forms in different positions. Plus, a look at some typical chord phrasing variations and turnarounds used in blues.

small chevron Funk Chords  Teaches you those jazzy/bluesy chord voicings heard in funk, starting with the basic barre/movable chord shapes.

small chevron Suspended Chords  Try replacing instances of major and minor chords with suspended chords for more creative options. Learn how and when to play them in your chord progressions.

small chevron Diminished 7th Chords  Learn how to use the "symmetry" of diminished 7th chords to play them anywhere on the neck. Plus examples of how dim7 chords can function in your progressions.

small chevron Augmented Chords  Learn how to play these wonderful chords and some of the common functions of augmented chords in progressions. Charts and audio examples included.

small chevron Metal Guitar Chords  Modify and add to those basic root-5th powerchords commonly used in metal and you'll have tons more options for making your metal more melodic. Looks at cut down 9th, diminished, suspended and other forms commonly used in heavy metal.

small chevron Guitar Chord Theory  This course is for those guitarists who want to understand how chords are constructed and where they "come from". Really adds a new perspective to learning chords on the guitar, showing you how to effectively build your own chords from scratch. Also in this series...
small chevron Guitar Chord Inversions  A logical next step from learning basic chord construction (above). Chord inversions give you even more voicing options and fingering positions. They also give you more control over how harmony flows through your chord changes. Also in this series...
small chevron Major Chord Colouring  Learn how to use the CAGED system to create colourful, extended major voicings across the neck. Here we learn that by omitting the bass root and even 5th from the chord (which would be covered by other instruments) we can free up our fingers to focus on the "colour tones" of the chord for accompaniment.

small chevron Chord Melody  Give your chord playing a lead voice by adding melodic lines/phrases around your shapes and learn how to harmonize melody in multiple parts. We start with open chords and then move up the neck...
small chevron Transpose Guitar Chords  Learn how to transpose chord progressions from one key to another using 3 quick and simple methods. This is useful for a number of things, one example being if you need to play a song in a more comfortable register for the vocals.




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