Still More Open Chords

The next chord I'll show you is called C Major (abbreviated to C). If you hold down an Am chord first, all you have to do to change to C is swing your third finger around to the third fret fifth string. The other two fingers are common to both chords. You might also have to shift your second finger a little bit closer to the second fret fourth string. Look at the chord diagram below and give it a go.

C Major also shares a common first finger with D7. Practice changing between C Major and all the other chords learnt so far, then try Exercise 15 below.

Exercise 15
In this exercise you'll use the new C major chord, and play a different rhythm as well. The rhythm is shown using rhythm notation as explained on the previous page. Listen to Exercise 15 sound file * and follow it with your eyes on the chord chart below, then pick up your guitar and try to play it yourself. You'll notice a common finger linking together all the chord changes.

.

The next chord is called D Major (D). It shares no common fingers with any of the chords learnt so far, but it's relatively easy to hold down. Have a look at the chord diagram below, then practice changing between D and all the other chords.

As we move through the program, some of the chord changes will be become slightly more demanding than others because there won't always be common positions shared between chords. We're at the stage where we'll have to have a different look at how to move from one to the other. You might have noticed that with some of the easier chords your fingers automatically move into position almost at the same time. Well that's what you need to achieve with all the chords eventually.

Try holding down an E minor chord, then slowly move your fingers off the fret board and form an A minor chord in mid air before placing your fingers down in the A minor position. The aim is to try to make each finger touch the fret board at the same time. It won't happen overnight but it will happen (someone should use that in advertising).

Practice changing between all the chords learnt so far by slowly forming the chord in mid air then placing your fingers into position on the fret board (all fingers at the same time). It might seem impossible for some chords at the moment, but the more you practice this the easier it becomes. After you've experimented a bit with that, go back and play all the chord progressions we've done so far, while concentrating on this new method of chord changing. (I bet you don't.)

Exercise 16
You're going to use the new D Major chord in this next exercise. There's also a new sign at the end of bar four (the double bar line with two dots). This is a repeat sign. It tells you to play up until the repeat sign then repeat from the beginning again. I'm going to use a lot of repeat signs from now on so I don't have to write out so much music.
As in all the exercises so far, look at the chord chart below whilst listening to Exercise 16 sound file *, then play through it yourself. Don't forget to repeat the top line.

.

There's quite a jump from G to D chords, so remember to try the chord change using the method I talked about on this page. When you're ready go to the next page and you'll learn some more new rhythms.

home | lessons | sound files | off-line | chords | glossary | links | bookstore | guestbook

Still More Open Chords

Exercise 15

Exercise 16

home | lessons | sound files | off-line | chords | glossary | links | bookstore | guestbook

Copyright ©1997 Kim Wainwright.