| F | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# |
| 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
In D we have two sharps F# and C#
| F# | G | A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C# | D | E | F# |
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
And in A this becomes three sharps - F#, C# and G#
| F# | G# | A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D | E | F# |
| 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Now to make a CHORD we take a note - any note and add the notes 3 and 5 above it! So Look back at the C table. If C =1 then E = 3 and G = 5. So the notes in a C major chord are C, E, G. In a G chord 1,3,5 gives us G, B, D (loop around again) and in a D chord D, F# and A. When we finger chord shapes on the guitar we are changing the notes on the strings to match these - depending on which chord we want to play. Normally a guitar is tuned E A D G B E (Easter Bunnies Get Drunk At Easter). If those notes are in the chord we want then they can be left 'open' otherwise they have to be altered. Taking G as an example this time,
We can only use G, B, D so.. E is no good - make it G. A is no good so make it B. D,G,B are all ok so leave open and E again becomes G. This gives us the G Major chord shape: |
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Now musically speaking the chords formed on different note numbers are different types. Some are Major(M) and some are minor(m). Those formed on notes 1,4 and 5 are Major and those on 2,3 and 6 are minor. We tend not to use note 7.
| F | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# |
| 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| M | m | m | M | M | m |
So what does all this mean?! If you play in the key of G (G is 'doh') you have one sharp note (F#) and the chords you use (and the notes making them) are:
| 1 | G | Major | G,B,D |
| 2 | A | minor | A,C,E |
| 3 | B | minor | B,D,F# |
| 4 | C | Major | C,E,G |
| 5 | D | Major | D,F#,A |
| 6 | E | minor | E,G,B |
Many songs only need the three majors - that is chords 1,4 and 5 - or G, C and D in this example. Indeed you could play about 90% of folk songs using just these. To add some colour or sophistication we add some of the minors too.
As I said above, Major chords are built on notes 1, 3 and 5 from any given note. For a minor chord we flatten the 3rd by one semitone (one fret on the guitar). So looking above, chord 2, in the key of G, is an Am. The A scale is here :
| F# | G# | A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D | E | F# |
| 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
So notes 1, 3 and 5 would be A C# and E but remember we flatten the 3rd, so this becomes C natural or simply C so the A minor chord is A, C and E.
We can only use A C and E so.. E is ok so leave open. A is ok so leave open D is no good so make E G is no good so make A B is no good so make C E is ok so leave open This gives us the A minor chord shape: |
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Sus 4 Chords
At the last workshop some of you asked about the sus(pended) 4 chords too! I have included those below for reference. In this case the third note is replaced by the fourth so the chord formula is 1, 4, 5.
