Just For A Change,
More Open Chords

The chord diagram below shows how to hold an A major (or A) chord. Your first three fingers are squashed together, all on the second frets of the fourth, third and second strings.

If your fingers are quite thick and you're having trouble fitting them into place, try an alternative fingering. Instead of using your first three fingers, hold the chord down with your second, third and fourth fingers instead.

Whichever fingering you decide to use, practice changing between the A major chord and all the other chords you've learnt, then try the exercise below.

Exercise 22 This exercise introduces the A major chord with a rhythm similar to the last one in the chapter entitled New Rhythms. Listen to Exercise 22 sound file * whilst following the chord chart below, then pick up your guitar and play it yourself. The most difficult chord changes you've just done would have been between A major, G major and C major. Practice these chord changes over and over separately, then play the exercise again.

The chord diagram below shows another major chord- E major (written as E). It's very easy to hold down because you've already played A minor which is exactly the same shape only played one string lower on the fret board. Have a go.

As I said, E major is the same shape as A minor, so practice changing between the two chords by lifting your fingers off one chord whilst maintaining the shape in mid air, then lower them down together on the other chord.

When you practice changing between chords always look for a common link between them. For example, when changing from D major to E major your first finger should slide back from the second fret third string to the first fret third string, then move the other two fingers into position. Practice these chord changes before you play the next exercise.

Exercise 23 This exercise uses the new E major chord with yet another rhythmic variation. If you look at the chord chart below you'll see the bottom line has five bars instead of four. These bars are squashed together and appear smaller than on the lines above, however they are played with exactly the same timing as in the rest of the exercise. When you're ready listen to Exercise 23 sound file * then try to play it yourself. .

Two more chords you won't have much trouble with are E dominant seventh, (written and commonly referred to as E7), and A dominant seventh (A7). To play E7 just hold down an E major chord then lift off your third finger. Here it is in the chord chart below...

You can do the same with A7 by holding down an A major chord then lifting off your second (middle) finger. This would be the easiest way to play it in the next exercise, however when playing A7 with another group of chords you might find the following fingering more suitable...

Whichever fingering you decide to use, make sure you hold down the correct notes on the fret board.

Exercise 24 In this exercise you'll use all four new chords (E major, E7, A major and A7), with the swing rhythm you learnt in the chapter entitled New Rhythms. Once again, listen to the sound file * then try it yourself. Don't forget the repeat sign at the end of the second last bar. .

Notice the sound of all the dominant seventh chords as you move from the major chord before each one? They have a bluesy quality. Each chord type has a characteristic sound. The two minor chords you learnt, (Em and Am), have a sad or dark sound, and the major chords have a slightly uplifting or happier sound.

Play around with these different chord types and see if you can hear their characteristic sound as you strum each one, then when you're ready move on to the next page.

 
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Copyright ©1997 Kim Wainwright.