THE EASY CHORD IDEA BOOK. Dan Donnelly. CD TABLATURE

THE EASY CHORD IDEA BOOK. Everybody knows a few guitar chords, and it's fun to use them to accompany your favorite songs. This book is just full of ideas to help you sound like a pro while playing even the simplest chords. Concentrating on the most commonly used chords in the most frequently used keys, Dan Donnelly teaches enjoyable ways to embellish chords in a friendly, step-by-step approach. Learn what chords are usually combined and many great-sounding ways to go between them. Discover how variety and color can be added to your songs just by picking up a finger or adding another. Get started in this book today and become everybody's favorite accompanist. CD TABLATURE

As a guitar teacher, I have noticed that many students, from the novice to the advanced, ask similar questions about chords. This book was written in response to those questions. I saw the need for a book that would dig into the "street knowledge" of simple guitar chords: easy chord theory, sweet chord substitution ideas, embellishments for accompaniments, picking and strumming patterns, alternate tunings and many other topics. This book assumes that you already play the guitar and have a basic knowledge of chords, hammer-ons, pull-offs and other basic techniques. There is a quick review of reading standard music notation and TAB, and other concepts are covered as the book continues. If you have gaps in your knowledge, these explanations will help you use the book. The information in this book was acquired by studying the techniques of many great players the world over, as well as by personal trial and error. In order for you to use this information most efficiently, I suggest that you work on a small amount of material at a time. Whether you're a performing songwriter, a band member, an accompanist, a campfire strummer or just a weekend picker, you should grab a few ideas at a time and experiment with them for awhile before you come back for more.
 

This book contains lessons on:

• Easyways to play "hard" chords.

• How to "spice up" open position chords you've played for years.

• How to play those chord embellishments you've heard on recordings for years but never

knew how to play.

• The basic theory of chord progressions.

• An overview of chord families, or which chords go with which keys.

• How best to use a capo.

• Voice leading, or the movement of notes between chords.

• Fingerpicking patterns that will work well in your accompaniments.

• Strumming techniques and styles.

• Chord cadences, or "endings for songs."

• Hammer-on and pull-off licks within chords.

• A quick and easy (but still inspiring) introduction to alternate tunings.

• A guide for accompanists and songwriters.

• An introduction to blues ideas and slide technique.

• Several helpful tunes to play that put the techniques you learn to practical use.

CAGED

Make sure that you know the five chord forms* below before you get started. Together, the names of these chords form the word CAGED. These chord shapes will be fundamental to some ideas that will be covered in this book.

NOTE:

This book is full of great ideas for players of all levels. There are hundreds of examples for strumming and picking. Although some of the music notation and chord diagrams may look difficult, they aren't. Just be patient as you look at each diagram. They are very detailed and descriptive. You'll find the playing is fun and easy. Enjoy!

About the Author

Introduction

Review the Basics

Standard Music Notation

The Chord Diagrams

TAB 7

Roman Numerals

The Major Scale

Introducing Triads

Four-Note Chords

Major Chord Scales

Chord Progressions

Minor Chord Scales

Chapter l-Fingerpicks and Strums

Fingerpicking Patterns

Strummi ng Patterns

Four-Note Chords

7th-Chord Scales

Chord Progressions

Chapter 2-C Major Family Chord EmbeLLishments

C Ideas - The I chord

Dmin Ideas - The ii chord

Emin Ideas - The iii chord

F Ideas - The IV chord

G Ideas - The V chord

Amin Ideas - The vi chord

Bdimj Bmin7b5 Ideas - The viiO chord

Common Chord Progressions

Common "Ear Twisters"

An Etude for the C Family

By the Sea

Chapter 3-A Major Family Chord Embellishments

A Ideas - The I chord

Bmin Ideas - The ii chord

C#min Ideas - The iii chord

D Ideas - The IV chord

E Ideas - The V chord

f#min Ideas - The vi chord

G#dimjG#min7b5 Ideas - The viiO chord

Common Chord Progressions

Common "Ear Twisters"

Etude for the A Family

Chapter 4-G Major Family Chord Embellishments .

G Ideas - The I chord '

Amin Ideas - The ii chord '

Bmin Ideas - iii chord .

C Ideas - The IV chord .

D Ideas - The V chord .

Emin Ideas - The vi chord .

F1#dim/F1#min7b5Ideas - The viiO chord .

Common Chord Progressions .

Common "Ear Twisters" .

Little Etude in EMinor .

Etude for the GFamily .

Chapter 5-E Major Family Chord Embellishments .

E Ideas - The I chord .

F1!minIdeas - The ii chord .

G#min Ideas - The iii chord .

A Ideas - The IV chord .

B Ideas - The V chord .

C#min Ideas - The vi chord .

D#dim/D#min7b5 Ideas - The vii° chord .

A Common Chord Progression .

Eternal Highway (Strumming Etude for the E Family) .

More Common Progressions .

Common "Ear Twisters" .

Chapter 6-D Major Family Chord Embellishments .

D Ideas - The I chord .

Emin Ideas - The ii chord .

F1!minIdeas - The iii chord .

G Ideas - The IV chord .

A Ideas - The V chord .

Bmin Ideas - The vi chord .

C#dim/Cijmin7b5 Ideas - The vii° chord .

Common Chord Progressions .

Common "Ear Twisters" .

D'Nice (Etude for the D Family) '

Chapter 7-Capos are CooL! .

Reasons to Tra ns pose .

Capas inAction .

How to Use a Capo to Play in Difficult Keys .

CAGED Formula .

Different Types of Capos .

Waterfall (Etude for Partial Capo) .

Chapter 8-0dds and Ends .

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs .

Etude for Hammer-ons and Pull-offs .

Passing Tones and Chords .

Pivot Finger Chord Combinations .

Endi ngs a nd Cadences .

Pedal Tone Diatonic Chord Scales .

Chapter 9-Introduction to Alternate Tunings .

Open D Tuning .

Blues for Ry .

Open G Tuning .

Open C Tuning .

The Hope Song (Etude for Open C Tuning) .

D-A-D-G-A-D Tuning .

What's Next? .