Wednesday, March 7, 2012

How To Play Guitar: Practicing Chords Effectively

What's up future rock stars!!!
This article is going to be a bit different from the previous ones.
This one isn't a lesson, but more of a general tip to help you improve.

If you have been following the curriculum, you know we have been learning a bunch of chords. Today, however, we are going to discuss how to practice those chords.

In my opinion this is the most efficient way to practice chords. Don't try to learn all of them at once! Instead start by focusing on two chords that you like. I recommend starting with any of these (Am, G, C, D), because those 4 chords are used in an enormous amount of songs. Start off with two chords, and practice changing from one chord to the other as fluently as possible. The key to great rhythm guitar is fluent chord changes.

Got two chords down? Alright, add a third and keep practicing. Do this for a few hours (or minutes, depending on how fast a learner you are) and then you can have some fun and start messing around with these chords. Try to come up with some cool strum patterns. You can create a huge amount of different sounding progressions with just three chords, it's amazing.

Next up, add a fourth chord, and a fifth and so on and so forth.

One reason I really love barre chords, is that you can learn just one shape, and by moving it around you can play all kinds of chords. Learn the Am7 shape, move it around the A-string and you got every single minor 7
th chord you would ever need. Learn the Dm7 shape and move that one around and you also get every single minor 7th chord. Now here is where the magic happens. The same chord can be played on different parts of the fretboard, using a different chord shape, and although the chords have the same notes, they will sound a little bit different. This opens up a sea of endless possibilities, scratch that, an ocean of endless possibilities. 

Keep practicing your chords and let your creativity run loose!

For the next few lessons I am planning on discussing my favorite topic, scales. Scales are an awesome tool for improvisation, endless jam sessions and great lead guitar riffs and solos. Combine that with some awesome chord progressions and you get one amazing musical experience. But that's for later, for now, have fun practicing your chords.

I hope this article helped you out.
If you have any questions, e-mail them to:
thenoobguitarist@gmail.com.
Don't forget to listen and have fun!!!

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