Throw in an E, A, E minor, and A minor.
That opens up a HUGE number of songs - and they're all "easy" chords to play.
Because of the way music works, there's two chords that are slightly more difficult to play - but they'll actually do well enough in a pinch.
There's a B and an F. They're seldom used, but it's good to know them.
You can, for the most part, ignore 'em - for the sake of this response.
Anyhow, with just those chords, you can fake (or outright play properly) thousands and thousands of songs.
This is sloppy - but it works.
The E minor, to give you one example, is just the 2nd fret on the A and D strings - that's it. Just don't play the bottom two most strings, unless you feel some overwhelming urge to play 'em. They're not required.
E - open. A - 2nd fret. D - 2nd fret. G - open. Ignore the B and high E strings.
The A minor is pretty simple, as well.
E - open. A - open. D - 2nd fret. G - 2nd fret. B - 1st fret. E - open. You can completely ignore the two E strings and it'll sound fine.
The F? This is some F#dim - but it works just fine almost all the time.
That's a little more complicated - but we can make it easy.
E - open. A - open. D - 3rd fret. G - 2nd fret. B - 1st fret. E - 1st fret. Use your pointer to fret both the B and E strings!
The B? This is some B minor, but like the F above, it works just fine - for most things that call for a B chord.
E - ignore it or play it open. A - ignore it or play it open. D - 4th fret. G - 4th fret. B - 3rd fret. E - 2nds fret.
You seldom need the F or B. I'm pretty sure it's 'cause they're more difficult to finger, so guitarists just don't use 'em!
(Not really, there's a more complicated reason for it. It actually has to do with 'chord progression' and the most common 'keys' that music are in don't really need either to sound rich and robust.)
I've mentioned this before.
G D C are enough to play lots of songs. E and A add a ton more. Em and Am add even more.
With just those 3, you can jam. With the first five, you can jam a lot. Throw in the last two, and you've got tons and tons of songs available for your strumming needs.
Not only can you play a bunch of songs by 'faking them.' You can actually play a bunch of songs properly (according to the actual requirements in the original artists music - but you can recreate a song any damned way you want to) with them
For instance, Grateful Dead's *Friend of the Devil" is just G C and D! Other than an interlude/solo, so isn't Uncle John's Band. Knocking On Heaven's Door? Just G D C - in that order!
Once you get those fingers to start listening and doing what they're told, you'll discover a whole giant world of options. It's just getting to that point where your fingers listen to basic commands.
I ain't sorry for the novella! I am, after all, trying to help.
Appreciate it. I'll get it down eventually and I'll keep trying until I do.
Damned right, you will.
And, I repeat myself - but...
The goal, right now, isn't speed. In fact, if you try to go quickly then you're going to slow down your learning.
Instead, the goal is to play the chords clean. When you play 'em, they should be clean - no muted strings. It should ring out and sustain.
I know that everyone wants to play single notes, so that they can rip out bitchin' solos and so that they can play 'lead guitar.'
Literally - everyone! (Well, except for a few weirdos!)
But, it's actually the chords that will get your fingers to behave better. You pretty much need to do them both. The muscle memory for one is muscle memory for the other.
Wanna hear my morning's project?
This is our band's demo for a few radio stations, so that they can promote an upcoming show. These are all pulled off live recordings, so you can kind of hear the audience in 'em and there's the ambiance effects naturally.
Sounds pretty awesome. I'd come up with more to say but today isn't a good day. Tomorrow will be better.
(post is archived)