guitar chord tips

8/10/2019 Guitar Chord Tips

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Tip 4 - Change the Key (Use a Capo)

Some songs are made for easy guitar playing, because they use chord forms you find easy to play.

If Silent Night is played in D, the chords are: D, G, and A. These chords are relatively straight forward for mostbeginners. However, if someone hands you a copy of Silent Night in the key of B, you might struggle to play the B, E,and F# chords.

What to do? Change The Key!

If you know how to transpose keys, you can figure out a key that simplifies the chord forms. There are a couple easy

ways to do this if you can't do it off the top of your head: online tools, or pocket reference cards. Once you know the newkey you want to transpose the song into, you can use a capo to place a bar across the strings (basically moving theguitar’s nut up to a different fret). Then you can play the open chords you are already familiar with, but since you’replaying them higher up the fretboard they will sound a different chord.

For example, if you place a capo at the third fret, and play a G chord it sounds like Bb. Your C sounds like an Eb andyour D sounds like F. Therefore, you can play a song in the key of Bb by capoing the third fret and playing the chordforms you would normally play for a song in the key of G (i.e., G, C and D).

The chart below shows you how to translate keys using a capo:

Just remember to always place your fingers as if the capo were the guitar’s nut.

Tip 5 - Play a Substitute Chord

When you learn songs it's easy to think that the only acceptable chords are the ones listed. But, when you listen to aband, it becomes obvious that everyone is playing a slightly different note, pattern, riff, or chord - all of which complimentthe others. You can do the same thing by playing complimentary (or substitute chord) and it's easy to figure out!

Here's the rule: if you're supposed to play a major chord, you can also count down two letters (NOT frets, so it is really 3frets down) and play a minor chord. The reverse is also true: if you're supposed to play a minor chord, you can count uptwo letters (3 frets) and play the major chord.

For example, if you're supposed to play a B minor (Bm) but it's either inconvenient or difficult, use this guitar tip andcount up two letters (B...C...D) and play a D major chord. If you’re supposed to play a G major, you can count down twoletters (G...F...E), which is also 3 frets down, and play an E minor (Em) instead.

1st

Fret

2nd

Fret

3rd

Fret

4th

Fret

5th

Fret

6th

Fret

7th

Fret

8th

Fret

9th

Fret

10th

Fret

11th

Fret

A A# /

Bb B C

C# /Db

D D# /

Eb E F

F# /Gb

G G# /

Ab

B C C# /

Db D

D# /Eb

E F F# /

Gb G

G# / Ab

A A# /

Bb

C C# /

Db D

D# /Eb

E F F# /

Gb G

G# / Ab

A A# /

Bb B

D D# /

Eb E F

F# /Gb

G G# /

Ab A

A# /Bb

B C C# /

Db

E F F# /

Gb G

G# / Ab

A A# /

Bb B C

C# /Db

D D# /

Eb

F F# /

Gb G

G# / Ab

A A# /

Bb B C

C# /Db

D D# /

Eb E

G G# /

Ab A

A# /Bb

B C C# /

Db D

D# /Eb

E F F# /

Gb



Tip 6 - Play Power Chords

If you play only the root note of achord, plus the note fivesemitones above it (called thefifth), you're playing a power chord. Since the chord onlycontains two notes, you will onlyneed two fingers to play it. Manyclassic rock and blues songswere written and played usingnothing but power chords.

You can substitute a power chord for any chord. Need toplay an F? An F power chord willdo. Need an easy guitar way toplay a Bb-minor? Play a Bbpower chord instead.

And since power chords omit themiddle note of the chord (calledthe third and used to determine if the chord is major or minor

sounding) you can play the samepower chord for both the major and minor version of the samechord.

Here are a fewfrequently used power chords. If you maintainthe same shape, youcan move this form upand down any of thelower four strings (E-A-D-G) to form anypower chord you need.

NOTE: You might play power chords to avoid a moredifficult chord form, butsometimes they'rerecommended in the song.How can you tell? If you seea chord name that includesthe number 5 (e.g., A5 or C5)the author is telling you toplay a power chord. Themusic examples to the rightshows you how power chords are typical written out in guitar music.

Tip 7 - Chukka-Chukka!

Sometimes you just can't get from one chord to another, and the other easy guitar tips don't work. It's OK, there's still away to keep the song moving along - instead of playing a chord, keep the song going by fully muting the strings andstrumming to the beat.

Some call this full palm muting, some call it “chukka-chukka” or “scratchy-scratchy.” Regardless of the term you use, thisis a great way to fill in a few beats as you reposition your hands for the next chord.

To play a chukka-chukka, fully mute the strings with your left hand. Pick a finger you don't need for the next chord, or that will go into position easily when you're about ready to play the next chord. Strum as usual, keep the beat, and watchpeople marvel at your ability to improvise!

guitar chord tips

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