Guitar Chord Lessons. Add Some Flair to Basic Chords
So your can strum some basic chord guitar... now what? These free guitar chord lessons teach some cool techniques that add flair to basic guitar chords.They aren't difficult...just takes some patient practice.
If you know how to count and tap your foot while strumming basic chords, you're ready for this lesson. If you can't tap your foot and strum go to guitar strumming patterns. Work with the information in that lesson and then come back here. Bookmark this page so you won't forget :-)
All the lessons in this 'Acoustic" section of the website are connected. None of them are truly independent...but they each stand on their own. Certain techniques or concepts that are presented in other lessons will definitely help with the techniques or ideas in other lessons. Sometimes its important to understand material in one particular lesson before going to the next lesson. When that's the case, I mention it and include links. So once again, be patient and have fun. Explore.
What these Guitar Chord Lessons Cover...
It's not necessary to "give" the whole chord away. Breaking the chords up into smaller pieces sounds more interesting.
A little bit of movement in the bass. This happens automatically when you play the bass note on beat one of each chord. Again, you don't need to strum the whole chord all the time!
Dynamics... What? Playing soft to loud and in between. Makes a huge difference in how musical your acoustic guitar playing sounds.
Some of the common acoustic guitar licks that make chords sound prettier.
Using some alternate picking to arpeggiate the chords.
Maintaining a steady sense of timing while doing this :-)
LESSON ONE
This chord lesson is on how to break up chords. Read through the instructions below. Everything is demonstrated in the guitar chord lessons video.
Grab a C chord in open position. The rhythm is in what's called a cut time feel. Don't worry, just follow along with the video.
The beats that fall on the numbers are downbeats and the ones that fall in between are upbeats.
Hit the root of the chord on counts 1 and 2.
Hit string 4 open on count 3. Hammer on with your 2nd finger for the offbeat.
On count 4 hit open G string with an upstroke.
On count 1 of the next measure hit the root.
Strum down on strings 1, 2 and 3 for count 4.
There you have it! Watch the video and count out loud. Practice it every day until you feel a sense of muscle memory with it. Apply it to songs where you use a C chord. You may need to vary the rhythm as this is only one example of how to play the lick. Come up with your own ways!
Remember, all the instructions for these guitar chord lessons are in the video. As always, I still suggest reading slowly through the instructions. Make the connection with what you read and what you see in the video if possible.
LESSON TWO
This guitar chord lesson is about movement in the bass. It's also a "cliche" ... this movement of chords has been used in music since at least the 18th century. I certainly don't think anyone can "get me" for copyright infringement on this one ;-)
It's also an example of Compound Time. The difference between Simple and Compound Time is "simple" ;-) In Compound Time, there are smaller beats grouped inside the usual beats. These smaller beats are always grouped in 3's. The most common time signature for Compound Time is 6/8. There are others, but that's beyond the scope of this lesson. Once again, the guitar lesson video will make things clear.
Tap your foot at approx. 60 beats per minute (b.p.m.) This is roughly 1 beat per second.
Gently clap your hands while you tap your foot. Your foot is doing the main beat and you'll be clapping the smaller subdivided beats. Remember it's 3 smaller beats to each larger beat. Copy what you see in the guitar chord lessons video.
Now you can clap count and tap the beat, you're ready to apply it to your guitar. Grab a "C" major chord in open position.
You'll also need to know a simple "chord inversion". You may have seen it in songbooks. It's called G/B. There's a guitar chord diagram of it just below just in case you're not yet familiar with it. It's just another way to play G major and to also get the smooth bass movement we want.
You'll also need A minor in open position.
You'll be counting 1 2 3 4 5 6 with the strong accent felt on 1 and 4. In other words, we're in 6/8. Again, it's demonstrated in the guitar lesson video.
This exercise will use alternate picking throughout.
On beat 1, pick down on string 5 while grabbing a C major chord.
On beat 2 pick up on string 3.
On beat 3 pick down on string 2.
Switch to G/B chord.
On beat 4 pick down on string 5.
On beat 5 pick up on string 3.
On beat 6 pick down on string 2.
Switch to A minor chord in open position.
On beat 1 pick down on string 5.
On beat 2 pick up on string 3.
On beat 3 pick down on string 2.
On beat 4 pick up on string 1.
On beat 5 pick down on string 2.
On beat 6 pick up on string 3.
Whew! That was a long list of instructions. Once again, watch the guitar chord lessons video. It'll help you to understand these instructions even better.
Any of the other ideas for these guitar chord lessons are in the free guitar lesson video on this page.
I hope these guitar chord lessons are helpful to you and your guitar playing. Thanks for joining me here and allowing me to play a small part in inspiring you to keep dusting off your guitar :-)
