Learning Guitar Chords
~guitar chord charts / chord diagrams

In using any guitar chords, we see that the guitar song chords are constructed from the scale.

Major Scales:

Tetra Chords

To form any major scale apply the rule of two and a half tones for the first four notes called the first tetra chord and three and a half tones for the next four notes called the second tetra chord.

Note the above diagram. You will see that:

the distance from C to D is 1 whole tone,

the distance from D to E is 1 whole tone, and

the distance from E to F is half a tone.

This form the first Tetra Chord.

Now for the Second Tetra Chord. Referring to the diagram above, you will notice that:

the distance from F to G is 1 whole tone,

the distance from G to A is 1 whole tone,

the distance from A to B is 1 whole tone, and

the distance from B to C is half a tone.

This form the second Tetra Chord

Using the above principle, all the major scales can be constructed to be used in forming basic guitar scales.

The Cmajor scale is made up of these notes:

Now this principle applies to all major keys.

* C is called the Tonic or Root also called, Do or 1.

* D is the Super-tonic, Re or 2.

* E is the Merdiant, Mi or 3.

* F is the Sub-Dominant, Fa or 4.

* G is the Dominant, So or 5.

* A is the Sub-Merdiant, La or 6.

* B is the Leading-Note, Ti or 7.

* C is the Tonic, Root also called Do or 1.

Minor Scales:

Natural minor scale:

The relative minor scale is related to the major scale. It begins from the 6th degree of the major scale. In the key of Cmajor, it starts on the A note.

* A is called the Tonic or Root also called, Do or 1.

* B is the Super-tonic, Re or 2.

* C is the Merdiant, Me or b3.

* D is the Sub-Dominant,Fa or 4

* E is the Dominant,So or 5

* F is the Sub-Merdiant or b6

* G is the Leading-note or b7

* A is the Tonic, Root also called Do or 1.

Guitar chords chart and chord diagrams require an understanding of how to form chords.

The chord types used frequently are:

* Major

* Minor

* Dominant

* Diminished

* Augmented

* Half-Diminished

To form a major chord, use the: 1, 3, 5 of the scale of the moment. Adding the 7th or the 9th does give a variety to the chords. The 6th note can also be added for variety. Use 1 3 6 of the scale to form the chord.

Using 1, 3, 5 of the scale is the easiest way to form major guitar chords.

To form Maj7 type chords, use 1, 3, 5, 7 of the scale.

To form Maj9 type chords, use 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 of the scale.

For minor type chords, we use the 1, b3, 5 of the scale. And if required, add the 7th or 9th to the chord from the scale.

Use the:

--------------1-----------b3------------5-----6-----b7------------

In the key of:

--------------C-----D----Eb-----F-----G-----A----Bb-----C-----

= Cmi, Cmi7

---------------F-----G----Ab-----Bb----C-----D---Eb------F-----

= Fmi, Fmi7

--------------Bb-----C----Db----Eb-----F-----G---Ab-----Bb----

= Bbmi, Bbmi7

--------------Eb-----F----Gb----Ab-----Bb----C----D-----Eb----

= Ebmi, Ebmi7

--------------Ab-----Bb--Cb----Db-----Eb-----F----G-----Ab---

= Abmi, Abmi7

--------------Db-----Eb---Fb----Gb-----Ab----Bb---C-----Db--->

= Dbmi, Dbmi7

--------------Gb-----Ab---Bb---Cb-----Db----Eb----F----Gb----

= Gbmi, Gbmi7

--------------Cb-----Db---Eb----Fb-----Gb----Ab---Bb---Cb----

= Cbmi, Cbmi7

Dominant type chord use: 1, 3, 5, b7 of the scale. And if required, add the 9th.

Use the:

--------------1------------3------------5------------b7-----------9

In the key of:

--------------G-----A-----B-----C-----D-----E-----F-----G-----A

= G7, G9

---------------D-----E-----F#-----G----A-----B-----C-----D-----E

= D7, D9

---------------A-----B----C#-----D-----E----F#-----G-----A----B

= A7, A9

---------------E-----F#---G#-----A-----B----C#----D#----E-----F#

= E7, E9

---------------B-----C#---D#----E-----F#----G#----A#----B----C#

= B7, B9

--------------F#-----G#---A#----B-----C#----D#---E#-----F#---G#

= F#7, F#9

--------------C#-----D#---E#---F#-----G#----A#----B#---C#----D#

= C#7, C#9

Diminished type chord use: 1, b3, b5, 6

Use the:

--------------1------------b3------------b5-----6-----------------

In the key of:

--------------C------------Eb-----------Gb-----A-----B-----C---

= Cdim

---------------F------------Ab-----------Cb-----D-----E-----F---

= Fdim

--------------Bb-----------Db-----------Fb-----G-----A-----Bb--

= Bbdim

--------------Eb-----------Gb------------A-----C-----D-----Eb--

= Ebdim

--------------Ab-----------Cb------------D-----F-----G-----Ab--

= Abdim

--------------Db-----------Fb------------G-----Bb----C-----Db--

= Dbdim

--------------Gb-----------Bbb-----------C-----D-----F-----Gb--

= Gbdim

--------------Cb-----------Ebb-----------F-----Ab----Bb----Cb--

= Cbdim

Augmented type chord :

Use the:

--------------1------------3------------#5----------------

In the key of:

---------------C------------E-----------G#-----B-----C---

= Caug

---------------F------------A-----------C#-----E-----F---

= Faug

--------------Bb-----------D------------F#-----A-----Bb--

= Bbaug

--------------Eb-----------G------------Bb-----D-----Eb--

= Ebaug

--------------Ab-----------C------------Eb-----G-----Ab--

= Abaug

--------------Db-----------F------------Ab-----C-----Db--

= Dbaug

--------------Gb-----------Bb-----------Db-----F-----Gb--

= Gbaug

--------------Cb-----------Eb-----------Gb----Bb----Cb--

= Abaug

Half Diminished type chord:

Use the:

--------------1------------b3------------b5--------b7--------

In the key of:

--------------C------------Eb-----------Gb--------Bb-----C---

= Cmi7b5

---------------F------------Ab-----------Cb--------Eb-----F---

= Fmi7b5

--------------Bb-----------Db------------Fb--------Ab-----Bb--

= Bbmi7b5

--------------Eb-----------Gb------------A---------Db-----Eb--

= Ebmi7b5

--------------Ab-----------Cb------------D---------Gb-----Ab--

= Abmi7b5

--------------Db-----------Fb------------G----------B------Db--

= Dbmi7b5

--------------Gb-----------A-------------C----------E------Gb--

= Gbmi7b5

--------------Cb-----------Ebb-----------F----------Bbb----Cb--

= Cbmi7b5

In conclusion,

* Review the guitar chords lesson.

* Practice the examples on the fretboard.

* Listen to the different types of notes produced as a chord.

* Do not put too much pressure on the fingers when holding guitar chords.

* Practice moving the positions up and down the fretboard.

From here, you can proceed to learn how to read Guitar Chord Charts.

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