Beginner Guitar Lesson #5 - Minor Chords

Hey! Today, we're gonna learn some minor chords. Minor chords lend a sad or melancholy feeling to music, and major chords are more "happy". That is the major difference between them. So if you're trying to play some ballads, expect more minor than major chords. Major and minor chords are constructed in the same way, except that in minor chords third or middle note of the chord is flattened.

I will now give tab for the A minor chord.

E||------0-------|
B||------1-------|
G||------2-------|
D||------2-------|
A||------0-------|
E||------x-------|

The A minor chord is constructed of the notes A, C and E.
Now try first to play A major, than A minor chord. Feel the difference between the two chords.

Exercise for the A minor chord.

E||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
B||--1---1---1---1--|--1---1---1---1--|
G||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
D||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
A||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
E||--x---x---x---x--|--x---x---x---x--|

I will now give you tab for the E minor chord. This is the easiest one to play it and it sounds beautiful.

E||------0-------|
B||------0-------|
G||------0-------|
D||------2-------|
A||------2-------|
E||------0-------|

The E minor chord contains notes E, G and B. Now try first to play E major, than E minor chord. Feel the difference between these the two chords.

Exercise for the E minor chord.

E||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
B||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
G||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
D||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
A||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
E||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|

Now, it is time for you to get on the next step. You will now try the following turnaround progression. A turnaround progression is a sequence of chords that can be continually repeated due to "strong" sounding chord movement between the ending and starting chords. Try it!

     D                 G
E||--2---2---2---2--|--3---3---3---3--|
B||--3---3---3---3--|--0---0---0---0--|
G||--2---2---2---2--|--0---0---0---0--|
D||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
A||--x---x---x---x--|--2---2---2---2--|
E||--x---x---x---x--|--3---3---3---3--|

     Em                A
 |--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
 |--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
 |--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
 |--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
 |--2---2---2---2--|--0---0---0---0--|
 |--0---0---0---0--|--x---x---x---x--|

Another strong sounding chord change (D to G) resolves the progression back to its starting point.

     G                 Am
E||--3---3---3---3--|--0---0---0---0--|
B||--0---0---0---0--|--1---1---1---1--|
G||--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
D||--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
A||--2---2---2---2--|--0---0---0---0--|
E||--3---3---3---3--|--x---x---x---x--|

     C                 D
 |--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
 |--1---1---1---1--|--3---3---3---3--|
 |--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
 |--2---2---2---2--|--0---0---0---0--|
 |--3---3---3---3--|--x---x---x---x--|
 |--x---x---x---x--|--x---x---x---x--|

Now, play these fifth string notes with a down / up picking motion.

Down / up picking:  ▼    ▲     ▼    ▲
Down  Up   Down  Up

    E||--------------|--------------|
    B||--------------|--------------|
    G||--------------|--------------|
    D||--------------|--------------|
    A||--0--0--2--2--|--3--3--2--2--|
    E||--------------|--------------|

Count     1  3  2  4     1  3  2  4
Fingering none  2  2     3  3  2  2

Make sure to visit Jamorama, they have great jam tracks for this exercises.

Keep rockin',
Mike

Beginner Guitar Lesson #1 - Guitar Chords

Yo, Mike here. We talked last time about basic guitar stuff, so now we can go further in learning how to play chords. First of all, you have to know what the chord is. Chord is any set of harmonically related notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. The most common, and basic chords are the major and minor triads. They are called triads, because they consist of three distinct notes.

Ok so you know what is the chord, but you don't have any idea how to play it, neither how to place your fingers. You will use all of your fingers, except your thumb finger. You can use your thumb finger to mute string which shouldn't be played. It all depends which chord you will play. If you want to learn more about it, make sure to visit Jamorama the best guitar guide on internet.
Remember, it will not sound perfect when you play it for the first time. That is why you need to practice every day for a little bit. A thousand miles journey starts with a single step! Step by step, and you will become much greater guitarist. You will be a rock fucking star! Trust me. :)
I will now give you diagrams for 3 chords, so that you can practice them.

A major
E 0 / B 2 / G 2 / D 2 / A 0 / E x

D major
E 2 / B 3 / G 2 / D 0 / A x / E x

E major
E 0 / B 0 / G 1 / D 2 / A 2 / E 0

You can see there is a number next to the letter of guitar string. Lets take a look at the A major chord. For example, 0 means that you don't need to put any of your fingers on the first string E. For string B, you need to put your finger on the second fingerboard. Letter x means that you don't play the last E string.

Now, go practice these chords, and come back soon for some new beginner guitar lessons. Till then, feel free to add comment, suggestion or anything like that.

Keep rockin',
Mike