Modernising Hymns with Christian Guitar Chords

Christian guitar chords is a contemporary approach to re harmonizing Christian hymns and popular melodies.

The basic approaches to reharmonizing is to be aware of the basic chord groups and its families, that have the same harmonic function, meaning that a chord can be changed with another similar harmonic function chord, and it will still retain its same color. The basics of simple substitution is to understand the seven diatonic chords, of the diatonic scale and which belongs to which groups or families in the diatonic scale;

Simple Substitution in Christian guitar chords

Diatonic Chords belonging to the key of CMajor

CMaj7...D-7...E-7.....FMaj7...G7...A-7...B-7b5

IMaj7...II-7..III-7...IVMaj7..V7...VI-7..VII-7b5

In Christian guitar chord substitution, we need to know the Root or Tonic groups, as these have the same harmonic function. The IMaj7, III-7, VI-7, of the diatonic scale have these similar harmonic functions and can be interchanged between one another.If you have chord changes written like these:

IMaj7 III-7 VI-7

example: || CMaj7 | E-7 | A-7 || you can change them

III-7 VI-7 IMaj7 VI-7 IMaj7

to: || E-7 A-7 | CMaj7 A-7 | CMaj7 ||

Note that CMaj7, E-7, and A-7 are all interchangeable between one another they belong to the same family of the diatonic scale.

Now try these out and find and interchange the Root with similar Harmonic Function Chords.

Example: || A-7 E-7 | CMaj7 | E-7 | CMaj7 A-7 |

E-7 A-7 ||

Christian guitar and the Sub dominant Group

Diatonic Chords in the key of C

CMaj7 D-7 E-7 FMaj7 G7 A-7 B-7b5

IMaj7 II-7 III-7 IVMaj7 V7 VI-7 VII-7b5

The sub dominant chord has the second and fourth degree of the scale in it. This 4th note has a tendency to badly want to resolve to the third note of the scale. In the key of C the diatonic chords belonging to the sub dominant area are the D-7, FMaj7 and the G7sus4. The Roman numerals are: II-7, IVMaj7 and the V7sus4, so note that the II-7, IVMaj7 and the V7sus4 of the diatonic chords all belong to the Sub dominant group area.

Try substituting these chords in the Sub dominant area.

IVMaj7 II-7 II-7 V7sus4 V7sus4

|| FMaj7 | D-7 | D- G7sus4 | G7sus4 |

IMaj7 II-7 V7sus4

FMaj7 | D-7 G7sus4 ||

Applying the Dominant group in Christian guitar chords

Diatonic Chords in the key of C

CMaj7 D-7 E-7 FMaj7 G7 A-7 B-7b5

IMaj7 II-7 III-7 IVMaj7 V7 VI-7 VII-7b5

The Dominant group contains the 4th(F) and the 7th(B) of the diatonic scale and it forms a tritone or Augmented 4th.These Dominant chords have a strong tendency to want to have a resolution. The chords belonging to the Dominant group are:G7, B-7b5 and the G7sus4 the Roman numerals used are:V7, VII-7b5 and the V7sus4.The G7sus4 acts is a dominant function chord and it resolves to the Root chord, it does not contain a tritone.

Try substituting the chords in this Dominant chord group.

| G7 | B-7b5 | G7sus4 | B-7b5 G7 | G7sus4 |

Summary of Christian Guitar Chords.There are three basic chord families in the C diatonic chord/scale.1. The IMaj7, III-7 and the VI-7 are interchangeable and they belong to the Root/Tonic group.2. The IVMaj7, II-7 and the V7sus4 belong to the Sub dominant group.3. The V7, VII-7b5 and the V7sus4 belong to the Dominant group.

Most Christian guitar books have a lot of chords and melodies written out. Experiment with these chords change them and get a feel of how they sound from the original and you will be amazed at how good and different they will sound.Play around with this technique and find some interesting changes that will really spur you on in your guitar playing.We will now go to our next interesting lesson on Reharmonization of Christian Guitar Music.

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