Soon, we begin to associate these basic chords with shapes - E, A, D, C and G shapes. These 5 shapes are way more fundamental than we initially think, because once it comes to mastering the dreaded F chord, or more accurately, the "E-shape barre", we immediately feel liberated - we can now create major and minor chord variations up and down the neck.
Some stop there. Some may even go on to realize the "A shape barre" (based on the A string) can widen our scope of tone and voicing that little bit more. True, these two movable shapes are indeed enough for most of today's middle-of-the-road rock music. You can write great songs with a mix of the 5 open position shapes, and these two barre shapes, even epics!
But why stop there? Why limit yourself at all? There's so much more to discover on the fretboard. Different voicings - voicings that can make a chord on its own sound 10 times more intricately lush. The truth is, as guitarists get into their 2nd year of playing, these fixed form chords begin to sound, well...a little dull.
Too many guitarists are missing out on producing music that will astound themselves, let alone others, because of their love affair with the quick-reference chord chart, learning parrot fashion, shrugging off any understanding of "what that chord would sound like voiced...here" and knowing your several options.
You may be thinking "this sounds complicated, where do I go from here? What do I need to learn to be able to think outside the box when it comes to constructing interesting chords?"
Two words that will make some jump into their guitar case - chord theory
Chord theory is a subject area of guitar that doesn't necessarily have to be pretentious, elitist or just for jazz/classical guitarists. Explained and learned the right way, knowing some basic guitar chord theory can open up a songwriting factory in your head, producing its goods right on your guitar.
There are 5 steps you need to go through to reach your guitar chord nirvana (and I DON'T mean the band!), the first 3 you probably already have...
1) Learn the 5 barre chord shapes (E, A, C, D and G) 2) Learn the major scale in 8 (yes, eight) different positions based around these barre shapes 3) Use your knowledge of the major scale to create triads, 7ths and extended chords in several positions on the fretboard. This is the foundation for building unique and interesting chord voicings. 4) Use your knowledge of chord construction to create unique chord voicings with inversions all over the fretboard. 5) Don't forget to "float" chords occasionally with open strings.
Once you invest a little of your practice time learning chord theory basics (it doesn't take long to pick up), you'll start to investigate the fretboard as second nature. You'll come up with chord progressions and really use your ears to identify the "right" chord for the change. Your playing will open up to a diverse range of styles.
Most of all though, creating unique original music that is truly "you" won't be limited by the size of a chord chart - it will only be limited by the 6 strings on your guitar.
When you have moved from the basic to the advanced stage, you will be able to play around with most of the chords. So you probably know how best to play the A major chord as it is one of the most elementary of all. If you are already a competent rhythm guitar then you probably know how to play the A major chord with three different variations: an open A major chord plus the two barre chord shapes, which has one with a root in the 6th string and the other with a root on the 5th string.
If you think with all these three positions you are ready to play your rhythm guitar but then here is something else that you need to know: There are several other ways of playing A major, which fall under what is called lead guitar chord inversions.
What chord inversions really mean is that you are playing the chords in inverse. If someone tells you to play a major or minor chord inversion on your lead guitar then it simply means that the major or the minor chord has to be played based on a different sequencing of the root chord, which is the 3rd and 5th.
When the root chord is right at the bottom then it can be said that the chord is "Major or Minor, Root Position". But now if we move the root chord to the top and leave the 3rd chord at the bottom then what we get is the chord "Major, or Minor, 1st Inversion". And if we raise the root further up to the middle say to the 3rd from the top then this will leave the 5th at the bottom and it will be known as chord "Major or Minor, 2nd Inversion".
When you learn how to invert the chords, it will add to your flexibility, which will help you vastly in playing rhythm guitar and especially when you are trying to bring in harmony using chords. There are times when the melody can be best played using the top note of the chord and sometimes you will be able to do it by playing the chord at the bottom or in the center.
Both Mike Beatham & Eugene W are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mike Beatham has sinced written about articles on various topics from Guide Guitar. Mike Beatham runs a website with the easiest to follow guitar lessons on the web. Get your chord theory to really sink in and finally open up your playing at http://www.audio-guitar-lessons.com/guitar-chord-theory.html. Mike Beatham's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.
Eugene W has sinced written about articles on various topics from Guide Guitar, Adsense and Guide Guitar. E Walker is the founder of Planet of Rock Music Studios and contributes regularly to many guitar publications. Find out how will improve your guita. Eugene W's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.