Recently joined a soul pop band. It has two keyboardist, bass, another guitar, vocalist, two back up singers, and they’re talking about adding a horn section. I’ve found single notes and two to three note chords are the only ones that don’t muddy up the mix.
Two guitars by themselves are tough. That sounds like a circus 😂 My first band had 2 guitars, a bass, drums, and occasionally keyboard (Grateful Dead/Phish style jam band)
Here is how I approached chords: 1. Learn CAGED (Both Major and Minor) 2. Learn movable sus2 and sus4 on 6th, 5th and 4th string 3. Learn movable add9 chords on 6th, 5th and 4th string 4. Learn diminished chords on 6th, 5th and 4th string 5. Learn 7th chords on 6th, 5th and 4th string (Major, Minor, Dominant, m7b5, diminished, minor-major 7th) 6. Learn shell chords of 7th chords on 6th & 5th string (Just for Major, Minor, Dominant only) a) learn to locate 9th, 13th and 11th intervals at lower string frets to build fancy jazz chords (ex. Dominant 9th, M13b9, etc.) Extra Steps you might want to take: 7. Learn 6th chords (Major & Minor) on 6th, 5th and 4th string 8. Learn drop 2 voicings for 7th chords on 5th fret (for Major, Minor and Dominant) 9. Learn drop 3 voicings for 7th chords on 6th fret (for Major, Minor and Dominant) Even if you learn up to step 6, you know about 90% of the chords used in modern popular music. And it only took me about 3-4 months to get up to step 6... I am sure ya'll can learn them much faster than I do
Was that from a standing start? pretty impressive if you where a total newbie. The first six months is all about pain! and building muscle memory and protective hard skin on finger tips!!
Loved the vibe of this video. Seemed more like your friend showing you a bit of his “style” after you asked “Hey I like what you were doin there, where did that come from?” And less like a tutorial.
Wait a minute! At 2:20 i take issue with what you said. It's not because it's a 3rd that it "muddies" the sound! It's because it's a lower octave! A 3rd doesn't muddy the sound, that's the "emotive" tone. Similarly, at 3:30 I agree that you don't need the tone played with your pinky in that C shape. But it's not because of the reasons you're stating, it's because you don't need to play bass notes on lead guitar. You're stepping all over the bass player and other instruments. That's why lead guitarists play diads & Triads using the thinner strings. Sometimes you want to play a lower tone, but often not. Usually your choice of what string to play is based on the timbre you want. But the lower strings of chords are not played.
As a hobbiest who messes around in my free time writing songs on guitar, these types of videos are super helpful for me as I have little understanding of music theory and do most of my writing by ear. Definitely appreciate your insight and mini lessons you throw out there, thanks a bunch!
And then the next video should add to not only play different colors, but using different rhythmic patterns. Page was a master at that, so is Pa Metheny.
Hey, I'm a pro, & I'm way hobbier than you, but I'll never try to say I'm the hobbiest. Hobbyist, Pro, Jim, or Joe, don't be bragging everywhere you go. . . It won't get you anywhere, you know?
Love this type of video from your channel! It's great that you shed a little light on some great techniques, while still plugging your courses to learn more. Keep it up!
Bro simplest open G chord, is just middle finger on the low E string, which also mutes the A, which also mutes the hi E . You end up with G, D, G, B. Potent, very power-chord sounding yet it's still major. Play that through distortion YUMMY!! One finger 'n that's it OHHHHHHH yEAHHHH :)
I’m 43 and 3 years into slowly teaching myself guitar. I played drums and bass up into my 20s and regretted not picking up guitar or really understanding theory. My bass playing was more like timpani. I love most of your videos, you’re a refreshing presence in the guitar community. But these “playing” ones create so many aha moments for me. And it finally suckered me in to buying the CAGED course 😂. I’m still a “bedroom” (home office) player and mostly noodle, but I’m totally going to start a rock band when I grow up.
That’s helpful. I play in a Cajun band that doesn’t have a bassist but has two guitars. Melody is fiddle and sometimes Cajun accordion. My role is to cover tempo on a low root while offering something beyond the cowboy chords the other guitar covers. This gives me some ideas to explore, ways to offer something more to the mix while staying true to my role in the band.
You Just gave away in an easy to understand 10 min video some of the best kept secrets to guitar playing that took myself and probablymany others years to figure out
I sing along with my acoustic- that’s just two voices and I still end up removing guitar bits so it doesn’t compete. I’ve pulled whole chords from my current piece. I don’t need to play the same notes I’m singing. I think on my next piece I’m going to follow Rhett’s advice and thin out some more chords.
Very good points! With the open G, I learned to mute the A from Justin Sandercoe of Justin Guitar several years ago. It was the best advice I got as a beginner. It’s both easier to play and sounds better. The only time I play the A string is if I want to quickly turn it into a Sus chord as a quick embellishment. But by and large, I muted the string. I actually have trouble with Barre chords because of my disabilities. I often replace them with power chords or use less fingers. I guess I was finding a natural solution that was helping me make guitar more accessible- but it often really does sound better anyway. I really should pay more attention to alternate fingering options!
There is no such thing as chords that are boring. Simple chords , intricate chords, difficult chords...there are boring people that create boring music, that play with a boring attitude, but there are no boring chords. Never underestimate the power of music...!!
It's crazy how we naturally gravitate toward playing in certain ways. I've been playing guitar for 28 years, but I'm entirely self taught and just noodle around most of the time. Before watching your channel I didn't really know squat about music theory (and let's face it, I still don't...Dave Grohl said its ok, lol) but I figured out the simplification technique on my own before I even knew it was a thing, and that's exactly how I play. Example, I play "I will follow you into the dark" by DCFC in a completely different way compared to how Ben Gibbard plays it live, but it still sounds pretty close. On electric, same thing. My G chord is identical to yours. It's fascinating, the little nuggets we pick up over the years. Might need to check out that course of yours, though...My 16 year old son also started when he was 12, and is far and away a better guitarist than I am at this point. 😂 Edit: Only $29 for the full CAGED course?? That's a no-brainer for me. Purchased, can't wait to take a look!
Alex Lifeson isn't exactly a music theory guru, but I'm sure there are plenty of gurus who dive into his stuff. Sometimes hand/ear knowledge is better than brain knowledge ;)
This is exactly the type of thing for chords I was looking for because I have a severed tendon on the index finger of my fretting hand, so making some chords is difficult, but triads and power chords are playable.
I love this tutorial... I’ve been playing the same chord shapes for years... I've heard about inversions... but you really made a solid case for simplified inversions... also the 10th and 6th shapes... they just SOUND incredible! The way you presented this makes it click in for me. Thanks you for your step by step guidence through these ideas. Well done friend!
Good stuff Rhett! When I play with my old guy band (which has like 4 guitar players) I do these kind of revoicings of chords to avoid mush and (paradoxically?) to stand out more.
Really like this sort of lesson/content on expanding and exploring different chord options. Best guitar tutorial video I have watched all month 🙌 Going to spend my weekend practicing this.
If you play in a 2 guitar band with lotsa gain, it is hard to get the full chords sound nice. Divide the duties! Your singer asked for a Em7? One guitar plays E powerchord. Next one does the G powerchord. Both will play strong powerchords. Together they end up sounding HUGE, with none of the mush that would arise from 1 guitarist playing Em7 on full tilt.
Hey! I learned to play guitar by the fire 25 years ago. So I can play chords in a simple way but I don't know how everything works basically. I stuck for 25 years. What is my step to learn how to improvise and to understand the fret board? Thanks:)
Rhett, I have a tendency to overthink myself into a corner, so would you mind clarifying something about guitar overall that I think will unlock this for me and others: given that in any chord, any tuning, any set up, the way your brain has to approach it is this-- you MUST know the notes so when playing, you use knowledge of those notes to build the chords (in variations, inversion, etc) to create the sounds. This means if I am in standard tuning vs Open G, I am not going to use the same shapes / hand positions to get the same notes. Fretting a C chord on standard EADGBE tuning is not going to look the same as trying to do a C chord on open G tuning, right? It might sound like a "Duh?" kind of thing, but again, my brain & disabilities pigeonhole me. I actually have a music background (albeit "dusty"), but my brain stumbles on stringed instruments. I'm looking at multiple lessons and courses being offered online and trying to find the right fit for me.
Hi Rhett, I watch your show a lot. I belong to Active Melody and Brian the owner never uses full chords either for the reasons you point out. Where did you pick up the guitar? P-90's?
When I jam with other hobbyist players, I notice they are all literally stuck on specific chord progressions, and it just sounds... cheap and lazy, non creative. I encourage them to search for something unexpected, but which flows well, and with just that new frame of mind, things begin sounding more polished and interesting. That chord you originally mentioned is the most common "go to" for many hobbyist players, it appears in almost every single riff/piece they introduce, and its gotten to the point the sound of it actually makes me cringe inside and throw up in my mouth a little... It's definitely my trigger chord
Versatility is a beautiful thing. Minimizing any style of playing is not. Even the method you're showing off here can and does get boring sometimes, too. Full chords can be quite enjoyable.
When I test a guitar for the first time? Always unplugged. An open G strummed pretty hard but only with the low G and either the high D or high G usually not both. IMHO you can tell volumes about a guitar from that. Great video.
Thank you. I have often watched your videos and tried to figure out why your index finger was waiving around while you were playing a G chord. Now I know. I'll sleep better tonight!
I like your sentiment, but you are so wrong. Full 6 string barre chords are important and have their place. Yes, I often minimalse my chords to the bare minimum, but I encourage every new player not to skip playing full chords.. It opens up your musicallity and gives you an improved understanding of soloing when you know where each string in each chord lives
I only agree to this in a band context, propably rock. For acoustic music there is nothing wrong with bass notes or the major third in a Gmajor. It brings the warmth and emotion. I play guitar 40 years and composed some hundred songs and I know what I'm talking about. Good day.
ain't it so. us keyboard' players learn to switch from 1-3-5 C chord to a G below mid C with the mid C as a 4th interval to match the guitars tuning of 4th's spacing. it can happen both ways.
I would say it another way that you should never ever use, for example, a G major bar chord. It depends so much on different factors what/how you should play. Try what fits and sounds the best, also technically.
one suggestion, put some kind of graphic showing what you are playing. It's kind of hard seeing which fingers are actually touching the fretboard and where
That's a matter of opinion! The bar.cords give you a full cord every time, you don't have to figure witch strings to strum and you get that clean sound, no offense please!😊
A lot times when I am trying to come up with original guitar parts, I try to forget what chords I am playing and just move my hands around the neck looking for unique and interesting voicings I have never heard… and then I base the song around it and figure out what chords I am actually playing later.
Honestly, this approach has been how I've been looking at guitar for years. I break things down, using bit and pieces of the common cowboy and barre chords (especially working up different voicings in CAGED shapes). Working in a duo with another guitarist is my way of working on live improve, from soloing and working out better rhythm accompany with another chordal instrument.
Rhett please do a guitar collection video. I’ve seen you play some cool things and I need to know what you still have. What’s yours and what is on an extended holiday from a company that you we’re supposed to send back, but they never asked about it???
To this day I find it difficult, when playing acoustic, to play an open C chord without my pinkie slipping onto the low E string at G. Like, nearly impossible for me to stop. It just fills it up so much lol
Your guitar sound is extremely smooth in this video. Is it the strings, the old battered guitar or maybe the amp? I also liked the subject. I can use the advice.
I enjoyed this video I understand now, and yes, I like to learn things myself, but I now have an explanation for myself so I can keep on learning the things you have just taught me
If someone is already playing the basic chords, your approach to playing variations and alternate voicings is also a great approach to playing lead phrases over those chords...as scales tie exactly to those chords. It would be cool to see a "part II" video for this where you do just that.
That is a very nice sounding guitar!. About chords. I like Robben's approach in not playing the tonic because the bass player is taking care of that. Makes the rhythm guitar sit nicely in the mix.
Thank you Rhett. I never ever played an E-shaped bar-chord for the last 30 years or so. I did so because they do not sound. I also never saw great players (Hendrix, Vaughan, Van Halen, Setzer, more.....) use this chord
Here is how I approach chords and everything musically: LISTEN, and ADJUST as necessary until it sounds good. If you care enough, you will figure out what is most genuine and pleasing to play. In other words, don't fall for any gimmicks. It just takes patience, listening intently, and caring about beauty to play well. A lot of trial and error. And that whole process is FUN, don't rush it, enjoy it. And it never ends no matter how good you get.
An early part of classical music theory is doing four part harmonisations (often in the style of Bach). And one of the key things is: don't double the third (except when you do). So yes, in your first example there are two Bs in the G chord - the one on the A string and the open B. That will muddy the sound up. Octaves & fifths are perfect intervals. Also you Csus2/sus4, the 2nd & 4th are a long way from the third so not dissonant. Makes total sense.
