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E Major
- this one you will need to know - um, u jus hafta
especially in context with other similar relevant chords
while not a staple of every form of music, it is ever-present
n therefore prolly the most played chord of all, ever, in all the world
| 0 2 2 1 0 0
| o 2 3 1 o o
| E B E G# B E
| E is the root note - B is the 5th - G# is the major 3rd
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E is the note that your lowest an highest strings are tuned to - often called E tuning
also, every other string is tuned to a note which is harmonic to E, in one way or another
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E Minor
this one is awesome - it's like the easiest "actual" chord to play
also, it leaves a couple fingers free for playin other groovy notes
see if u can grab another G, high up on the high E string, eh ?
also, the B string has some harmonic tonal goodies for ya too ;o)
| 022000
| o23ooo
| E B E G B E
| E is the root note - B is the 5th - G is the minor 3rd
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A Major
here's a sooper EZ chord to play, once u get the trick to it down
u can try any fingering u want, but the easiest is index finger barred, 2nd fret
let yer middle finger find D on the 3rd fret of the B string - for A suspended 4th
the high E is optional, but u can grab a way high A on the 5th fret of that string
| x01110
| xo222o
| x A E A C# E
| A is the root note - E is the 5th - C# is the major 3rd - high E is optional
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besides being the foist letter in the alphabet, A is also right in the middle of most music theory
whatever chord yer playin now, see for a minute how A sounds right next to it - jus for kix
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A Minor
now this one is exactly like E Major, except up one string (and it's minor)
everyone plays this, n it fits well with most any other chord - E D G C etc
let yer pinky naturally slide to the D on the 3rd fret of the B string - A sus 4th
now let that same string play open - jus for kix - n that's A suspended 2nd
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| xo231o
| x A E A C E
| A is the root note - E is the 5th - C is the minor 3rd - high E is kinda optional
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D Major
now this one is where everyone takes off n becomes a songwriter
have fun with intermittant open strings here - hammer-ons n pull-offs
grab the high G with yer pinky there, n then let that string play open too
that's D suspended 4th - n D suspended 2nd - which work well together
| xx0232
| xxo132
| x x D A D F#
| D is the root note - A is the 5th - F# is the major 3rd
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for both D chords, move these same fingering positions all up n down the fretboard
up 2 frets gets u E - up another for F - up 2 more for G - up 2 more for A, etc
switch between major n minor, as u change keys, for an added balancing effect
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D Minor
now this is like the coolest chord ever, jus the way it sounds
grab the high G with yer pinky there, n then let that string play open too
that's D suspended 4th - n D suspended 2nd - which work well together
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| xxo132
| x x D A D F
| D is the root note - A is the 5th - F# is the major 3rd
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G Major
now this one is like the 2nd most popular chord ever - learn n play it well
the three chord harmony of GCF, or GCD, or even GEA cannot be undersold
don't worry about hittin the B with yer middle finger there (on the 5th string)
or even stress or wig about yer pinky right away - but do get to it eventually
| 320003
| 32ooo4
| G B D G B G
| G is the root note - D is the 5th - B is the major 3rd
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F Major
now this one is a royal pain in the ass at foist, but it's important
find the D n G on the 3rd fret of the B n high E strings, respectively
add a low C for more punch, or leave yer pinky free for further fun
if ya wanna be Jimi, put yer thumb on the low F - 1st fret, low E string
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| xx3211
| - - F A C F
| F is the root - A is the major 3rd - C is the 5th
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- - G B D G |
- - A C# E A |
- - B D# F# B |
- - C E G C |
so now that u rawk, slide up the neck to find further fun-filled F-ing goodness
even leave that lowest (root) note out, (muting the D string entirely)
for an oddball, two-fingered, almost diminished sound
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F Major (the whole freakin thingy)
same as above, the complete formal version - high notes as well as low notes
(with the added extras, as mentioned above - n dotted in for yer perrenial view)
so it's basically E major, but jus up one fret - but here's the whole thing for ya
this one is also portable, n is the grandaddy n inspiration of all Bar Chords .....
| 133211
| 134211
| F C F A C F
| F is the root - A is the major 3rd - C is the 5th
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Major Bar Chords are real fkn hard to play - which is why i almost never play em ;o)
but if u think u might be playin proper music one day - learn em now, to be easier later
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Bar Chords
- the easy ones -
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F C F - - - |
G D G - - - |
- B F# B - - |
- C G C - - |
- D A D - - |
- E B E - - |
right - now, the Bar Chord phenomenon is something everybody thinks they must do - n they're right
n not jus if u wanna play out in some bar somewhere (DOH) - but cuz they're 2 fingered, n that easy
F n G shown here are the simple "no 3rd" versions - that is, just a root, 5th n an octave for added power
B, C, D n E show how easy it is to convert this into a full Major (by jus grabbin another stringy w yer ringy)
the B string (2nd string) is naturally n automatically positioned to sound off yer major 3rd for ya - how nice
move these anywhere along the fretboard, all up n down the neck - get used to it, it's a life's objective cause
n in no time at all, u 2 shall be a metal gawd - n now all ya hafta do is grow yer hair n learn to scream all kooky
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Slagger Chords
- simpler staples -
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B Hippie - Poor Man's B
now this one is the easiest chords period - I dare ya to try n find another
it has great tone, n is so easy to go to quick or on the way somewhere else
you can totally let any string ring open here - the low E is a nice choice too
now bend yer middle finger around a bit, wavering slightly - fun, eh ?
| x2x000
| x2xooo
| x B x G B E
| B is the root - E is the 4th - G is actually the flatted 6th -- (whatever)
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u can also use yer index finger to grab this one - depends on what other chords yer comin from
from there, it's easier to flip to C real quick, with yer middle finger (3rd fret, A string) - for a C 7th
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right - by now u should be able to fly between these here, no problem
this is a simple "Box Pattern" walk-up, only with simple chords - have fun
try some "double team" hammer-ons n pull-offs n u b some thang now, slappy
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- A D - - - |
E B E - - - |
- - D G - - |
- A E A - - |
it is important to know that these notes are always in the background
n will likely be landed on whether u like it or now - get used to it - work with it
tuning determines foundation or framework for your ever developing musical style
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