What Are Chords?
Chords are combinations of 2 or more notes. There are different types of chords which have different characteristics based on the synergy between the individual notes played within that chord, this is called the "tonality". Basic chords can sound happy (major tonality) or sad (minor tonality), but a variety of tonalities are available to us through the use of extended chords. There are dozens of different tonalities available to us in music, however the ones we'll be focusing on for the moment are Major, Minor, Suspended 2nd, Suspended 4th, Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th, and Diminished 7th.
The guitar is often considered a 'cheating' instrument because the key to playing chords on the guitar is to memorise moveable shapes. These shapes can be moved around the neck of the guitar and as long as the shape begins on the root note of the desired chord you will play that chord. For example, a major chord shape placed on the open position of the low E string, will always give you an E Major chord (as long as the guitar is tuned to standard tuning and your technique is good). No need to focus on making sure we're playing an E, G#, and B (although we technically are). By memorising a few shapes, and combining them with some knowledge of the guitar's fretboard we can combine these two bits of information and play chords on the guitar.
Technically the same theoretical principles are being applied to the guitar as they are on they keyboard. So if you want to understand the theory a little better you can read through the keyboard chord lesson also, however this isn't necessary for competently performing chords on the guitar.
The moveable chord shapes on the low E string are as follows.
Chords are combinations of 2 or more notes. There are different types of chords which have different characteristics based on the synergy between the individual notes played within that chord, this is called the "tonality". Basic chords can sound happy (major tonality) or sad (minor tonality), but a variety of tonalities are available to us through the use of extended chords. There are dozens of different tonalities available to us in music, however the ones we'll be focusing on for the moment are Major, Minor, Suspended 2nd, Suspended 4th, Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th, and Diminished 7th.
The guitar is often considered a 'cheating' instrument because the key to playing chords on the guitar is to memorise moveable shapes. These shapes can be moved around the neck of the guitar and as long as the shape begins on the root note of the desired chord you will play that chord. For example, a major chord shape placed on the open position of the low E string, will always give you an E Major chord (as long as the guitar is tuned to standard tuning and your technique is good). No need to focus on making sure we're playing an E, G#, and B (although we technically are). By memorising a few shapes, and combining them with some knowledge of the guitar's fretboard we can combine these two bits of information and play chords on the guitar.
Technically the same theoretical principles are being applied to the guitar as they are on they keyboard. So if you want to understand the theory a little better you can read through the keyboard chord lesson also, however this isn't necessary for competently performing chords on the guitar.
The moveable chord shapes on the low E string are as follows.
The above chord diagrams display the shapes for playing chords on the low E string. The notes on the E string indicate where the root notes of these chords are located on the neck of the guitar. Moving any of those shapes on to any of the frets listed below them will give you a chord with the corresponding root note, with the corresponding tonality. For example using the third shape on the 5th fret will give you an A Major 7th chord. Using the fifth shape on the 2nd fret will give you an F#7 chord. Using the second shape on the 6th fret will give you a Bb Minor chord.
The above chord diagrams display the shapes for playing chords on the A string. The notes on the A string indicate where the root notes of these chords are located on the neck of the guitar. Moving any of those shapes on to any of the frets listed below them will give you a chord with the corresponding root note, with the corresponding tonality. For example using the third shape on the 5th fret will give you an D Major 7th chord. Using the fifth shape on the 2nd fret will give you an B7 chord. Using the second shape on the 6th fret will give you a Eb Minor chord.
Please note: You may have noticed that some chord shapes on the A string look identical to those on the E string, for example the A string minor chord looks like an E string major chord, or the E string Dominant 7th chord looks like an A string minor 7th chord. This is a blessing and a curse, as we have less shapes to memorise in total, but we have to make sure we are playing the right chord shapes on the right string, otherwise we will end up playing the wrong chord.
Please note: You may have noticed that some chord shapes on the A string look identical to those on the E string, for example the A string minor chord looks like an E string major chord, or the E string Dominant 7th chord looks like an A string minor 7th chord. This is a blessing and a curse, as we have less shapes to memorise in total, but we have to make sure we are playing the right chord shapes on the right string, otherwise we will end up playing the wrong chord.
FYI E string sus2 chords are quite rare and difficult to pull of due to the stretch your fingers need to do in order to play them. Give them a try if you want a finger workout!
The above chord diagrams display the shapes for playing diminished chords. While the E string shape is very similar to the other chord shapes in that it is played as a barre chord, notice that the A string diminished chord is not (although it is incredibly similar). The root note of the A string diminished chord is played separate to the rest of the notes that are being held down with one finger.