I'm an "accomplished hack" (I think) - 46 years playing, 3 singles and 2 albums released as well as producing a top 3 album and co-writing a top 7 single here in the UK, it's amazing what you can get away with by wearing sunglasses, drinking too much (plus ahem other things) and wearing a leather jacket 😂 ...but seriously, now I'm semi-retired from the live scene and still recording, I love coming and learning from Rhett and Tim Pierce all the stuff I never knew - even if I was doing it by accident. I hope you make it to "professional hack" one day as that is what I am currently aspiring towards 😎😎😎
Very important lesson for those who avoid chords. Chords are super important to rhythm playing, but they can also dramatically improve one's ability to play single line ideas. Definately my favorite thing to practice!
Even if one s a death metal guitarist, to know chords don't harm none, since their voicings open ears to scales and it can derive into more creativity at riff crafting. To not use chords in ones style of composing doesnt imply learning chords must be avoided, this clearly separates guitarists from underachievers no matter how narrow the style one play music of our own. Even without knowledge in theory one can broad horizons learning chords. My favorite thing to challenge myself, since i don't practice that much, although i make a living playing guitar every day, might be to extract passages and phrasings out of chords while singing. Sometimes little phrases added into a certain passage of a song i think makes it funnier to play to rather than mantain chords and rythmic straight and simple, it works spectacular if there s another guitarist or more musicians so one doesnt over fill the tune and have space instead... But when it comes to one pulling off the tune by oneself, certain arrangements can make a difference from the players perspective, i don't care how it sound when i start to deal with it so no restraint needed but if it's fun to play, thats enough at first. Thing is, to learn to play guitar past the pain when one begins, is an incredibly fascinating everlasting discovery.
I agree. When I was young I only focused on lead. Now I been focusing primarily on chords and yes it's much better I have auch larger vocab across the board
@@blindmelonstubbly it takes guts not to be tempted to play leads and focus on rythm by sheer will, more power to you, hope you're taking good care of yourself and keep making music, i see passion in your statement.
@@blindmelonstubbly i havent tried to lose passion towards guitar, i mean i love music a superb-lative deal, but guitar for me it's the real me... Something alike was being from 17 to 21 a better drinker than a guitarist is what i regret cause i saw voracity at learning by ear and instantly playing complex stuff when i was 16, still improving though, but i'm now lazy when it comes to practice, perhaps that state of being is gonna be wiped off pretty soon since i want to really study music theory, being able to write read and transcript scores, classical/flamenco/japanese/and many more styles repertoire, to become a teacher by my own. i'm taking very seriously this dream of running an academy for guitarists for free in five more years, i think five years of deep studying will do just fine. But in the meantime my go to guitar is waiting for me to take her back after Luthiers work is ready so i can begin this studying process finally, and a side guitar to keep working is what i have by now. Here in muthafucking chile is pretty slow when it comes to earn a living off as a street musician but all good things for those who wait, hope i can go somewhere else and keep living like this but not so overworked and underpayed as in here. I like to work a lot but it's pretty sad to feel outta place, i play country tunes and few to none give a shit about lending some cash, i'm not in this for the praise and the claps, since guitar defines my existence i got nothing better to do and lil desire to change that course of action 🤣 so basically i'm fucked, but it's nice to be alive after all the shit i and we ve been through as a planet. Have a new trio with two finished tunes with no lyrics yet, but they ll have them soon, and tons of musical passages to work maybe 5 more tracks all original. Hope your music turn well pal. glad you're busy at creating stuff of your own.
Love this! I first picked up the guitar at age 12. I played nothing but cowboy chords until my 20's because I didn't have this exact information. Anytime I'm teaching I always show people the "other" places to play the same chord. I think i t should be part of every beginner lessons.
Solid take. I might also add that organizing string sets into (5-6) Roots, (4-3) guide tones, (2-1) extensions is a solid method for building harmonies as well.
Thanks Rhett, Even tough I've been playing for 50 years now (I'm 61) and have been a solo, touring & studio musician at different times, I was still reminded of a few things here. Really like your clear presentation style as well as the nice tone you've got here, as well as your showing us that the "Pro Move" is rarely the most complicated one or the hardest one to physically make, instead it's the one that best serves specific arrangement & song at hand, & having various options at different places on the neck gives us the most developed chord "vocabulary" to best accomplish that. Thanks Again! 🎸🎶
It definitely helped me to learn theory on piano first, then it was easier to figure out different positions on guitar just from knowing which notes make up each chord, I was so excited when I discovered that the theory and chord "formulas" were the same
when people ask what instrument to start with, i always mention that piano is perfect for understanding theory in general. Piano does a really good job of helping me visualize everything
I appreciate how you moved smoothly from the most basic to more and more advanced concepts in a single video. It helps me get a handle on where I am, developmentally, as well as some things I missed, and where to go next. Great video. 👍
Just came across this video and this is exactly the type of invaluable content that seems simple at first glance but can elevate your playing more than any complex chord progression memorization. This, combined with chord structure basics and harmony are what makes it click. Well done Rhett and thanks for this.
The resources available now to learn from are amazing!! I started playing back in 1968, working thru Mel Bay method books and even Beatles song books-even had a song book for Led Zep II 🤪. With a strong ear, didn’t take me too long to figure out that the chords in the books were definitely NOT what was being played on recordings or even live performances. Figured out gradually(listening on my Koss headphones with the balance shifted left and then right)that lots of 2 or 3 fingered chord structures combined with muting/not muting strings were being used-major epiphany. Many power chords were just 2/3 notes- not full on barre chords. With the right amp tone settings less nearly always equals more. (even worked for Wes Montgomery)😜
Can't even imagine the dedication and hours you invested to find this out at that time. I started learning guitar around the mid 80's and even then the study matterial was subpar. Finally now we are getting enough information (maybe more than enough :))
I am six months in to learning guitar and my teacher is making me focus on regular chords. We haven't even talked about power chords or barre chords yet really. I mainly focus on metronome/timing exercises and properly executing chord changes(I struggle with this!) and strumming exercises. I can already make my own riffs and jingles and apply words to them. I can't help but feel there is so much more to know! Thanks for posting this Rhett!!!
Your instructor might be milking you for $. No reason you should not have been exposed to barre chords by now. Metronome work, chord changes and strumming work is essential, but those are like 10 min/day each exercises and drills… you should be adding Barre chords and the like as soon as you can, every day, and playing songs with them.
@@michaelvarney. I wouldn't go so far to judge his teacher by this single fact. Many roads lead to Rome and sticking to open chords for a time get you to playing complete songs on your own fast.
oh there is so much more to know for every player, people often expect teachers to "teach" everything, but e.g. I expect my students to explore the guitar and come up with his own questions, which we can explore together and try to direct towards finding the answer, as I believe what you discover by yourself through practice, you will never forget.. opposed to a simple practice or knowledge passed by somebody ... and of course there is no cheating the basics, you simple have to put hours and hours of playing to get a good sound, so even regular chord changes when you master them in tempo, believe me, thats a lot =)
I have a friend here in Nashville that always says, you’re playing those “jazz chords” in a country song. Then always without fail says, “But, I love ‘em.” Great video. WHO MAKES THAT STRAT? It sounds great!
When I was teaching myself guitar I saw the patterns in the chords. There was the E form (used in standard bar chords), the D form (the “banjo” form of D like John Lennon used), and the A shape of a chord. I would pick a chord then go up and down the neck switching positions but keeping that chord name. The song “Revival” does something like this after the “people can you feel it” part.
Ive always just made up my own chords, because at 53, and playing around with guitars since the age of 5, with my first ever guitar, a Roy Rogers plastic toy guitar I just make sounds, constantly exploring, never a single lesson. Learned to play by listening over and over and over with records, constantly moving the needle, then cassette tapes (ruined lots of those) I had a hard time with bands because I didn't want to do covers, for good reason. I wanted to make original songs, because then no one would know I had no idea wth I was doing 😁 Oddly enough, even though I couldn't always figure out notes for many main parts of songs, I could almost always get the solos down right but with my own style mixed in. I'm still having fun...
I’d love to jam w someone like u I’m the same way, and it’s hard to find people like that. Even though covers can be useful for just having fun and building chemistry with people so when you try experimenting or using your own style to make music the process can be more smooth
I find it interesting and somewhat funny that most of us start out with full size chords and then tend to play less but more meaningful notes onwards. I assume this is some kind of learning tradition, as you could just as easily approach this from the other side as Rhett does in this video. Great content, i like that Rhett sticks to whats most important the: music. Too many channels out there just drift off into gearland.
Yeah, if you listen to a lot of studio guys they often supplant keyboardists by "colouring" the harmony, just playing 2-3 notes out of a chord. Larry Carlton's work as a session player has a lot of this going on in the work he did with Leo Sayer and Barbara Streisand. I always notice real pros when you see them playing in a supporting capacity and playing stuff like that.
Thanks Rhett, the more we listen the more we learn. I'm a big fan of the guitar posse! I'm coming in for a landing on your tone course asap! Anchor down, all the best to the band too!
I find that a lot of players over-complicate this aspect of learning the guitar, but you’ve absolutely nailed it. Getting a grasp of basic music theory and how that translates to chord shapes and the fretboard will boost your playing tenfold!
From a person who pretty much only plays rhythm guitar, this is super helpful. Had no idea that the chords I've been playing for years are just 7 and sus chords. Now I'll be able to take the theory of what they actually are and apply that to other voicings. As a drummer who picked up guitar to be able to write music this is a huuuuuuuuuge help
Hi Rhett, this Video helped.me.a lot, because I am an amateur, who is still on training after 50 years of playing guitar. It was half way to the switch I am practicing on for decades.
When I taught myself to play, I always tried to make sure I had a free finger left over after making my chords. With a free pinkie, for example, you now have something to use for sus and 7ths. Just let that extra finger find someplace to land and enjoy the additional colorings.
Here's a small but important point that confused me for a while. *What's the difference between an Esus2 and an Emaj9?* I mean, in both chords, I'm adding an F#, because F# is the second note in the E major scale. So how are these chords different? And when should I choose to play each one? Here's the answer: - In a sus2 (short for "suspended") chord, the second *replaces* the third. That is, you play the F#, but *you don't play the G#.* Leaving out the third adds _tension_ to the chord-the listener wants to hear that second resolve to the third. - In a maj9, you play the second *in addition to* the third. That is, you play _both_ the F# and the G#. In this chord, there's no tension to resolve because the third is present, and the second adds color and complexity. This all applies to the fourth tone of the scale as well. In E major, that's an A, so if you play an E chord with an A but not a G#, that's an Esus4, while an E chord with both an A and a G# is an Emaj11 (because the fourth tone of a scale is also the eleventh tone of that scale). In short, when you want to add some tension, play a suspended chord by adding the second (or fourth) and leaving out the third. When you want to add color and complexity, play the second and also include the third.
Rhett i've been watching the channel for years, love watching your career flourish and the channel evolve! I really like that guitar sound, to me its the perfect rock platform, could you explain your sound tools for this one, pickups, amp, etc... thanks!!!
I’m old enough that I started playing before “power” chords really took off, so I’ve never played a power chord in my life. One of the biggest lessons that I learned early on though is that a “pro” isn’t cranking off six string chords all the time like beginners do. Playing chords on just three or four strings will also solve a lot of problems caused by imperfect intonation, or the natural imperfect pitches of major and minor thirds in the equal temperament system.
Rhett, you're a great teacher with a very concise, professional presentation. I bet this very video just helped many newer players step up their playing and imaginations to the next level. Also a great quick review for more advanced players who can stand to benefit from a revisit to important basics. New subscriber today, enjoyed and appreciated this episode.
Great breakdown! I like seeing you around! First saw/heard you on Rick B's channel. Also loved the video with Zeppleinbarnatra from the Chicago Guitar Exchange!
Certain shapes are also more mellifluous than others for a particular chord - I've discovered that I really like the major seventh voicing that has two thirds in it (x-2-1-3-4-x) more than the standard one (x-2-4-3-4-x), while for a major ninth I like the voicing that includes the fifth but no third (x-2-4-3-2-x) more than the standard one with the third (x-2-1-3-2-x). You'll know them when you hear them
this is excellent Rhett thAnk Uuu sO' much ‼️⚡‼️ it reminds me when i started learning in 78-79 studying and figuring out the chord pictogram used in music books at the time the beatles stuff for example had a lot of varying e and b chords Jackson Browne and Willie Nelson were fun to learn also the pictogram type of books 📚 when tablature became mainstream came out it helped change my perspective
Rhett, Something that taught me a lot in this video was your guitar itself. It seems that you have put in a lot of practice hours on that well worn Fender. Sadly, my used Squier is still quite shiny. I gotta fix that. Thanks for the lesson. Further, this lesson applies to other aspects in my life and relationships as well. Huge amount of thanks to you.
Back in the 60s there was a guy named Mel Bay. He taught most of us Boomers how to play. I learened my first position chords, after that I didnt need anything else.I dont believe you didnt know how to play dfferent positions and you were ready for Music school? Ive been playing since 65. And I am still learning.This was an interesting video but you kinda floored me with that that usic school intro thing. I always thoughtthey asked some pretty tough stuff. Like Jazz music, and play me a 13th in 4 places, or play some Bach. I guess nobody would ever go then. Thanks , good stuff.
I’ve played for 49 years and get better every year yet it’s still such a mystery to me. This little lesson just made my understanding slightly less of a mystery yet opened another layer making the mystery even bigger than it was before. For you beginners you will never arrive. The revelation will just get bigger. But there isn’t much that’s more satisfying. Those of you who love to study the word of God will know it’s almost an identical experience. The more you learn, the more you realize how much more there is to know.
It’s uploads like this which enable pentatonic noodlers (33 years and counting) to benchmark their mediocrity. Supremely useful and brutally honest. Thank you, good sir.
I am not a great musician but movable chord shapes were obvious to me from the start, just from looking at E and F .There are plenty of other things I didn't "get" for ages though.
When you said Pro, I assumed it meant abbreviated. For me E Maj is x22x0x, or x22xxx. (Yeah, if you're playing Little Sister by Elvis, play the entire E chord). B min would be x2x23x. C Maj would be xx555x, or x7555x. A13 would be xx567x. C Maj7 would be xx545x. But that's just because I can't do it any other way. Al least not on the fly. I usually leave the bass note out especially on Dominant 7th chords. I mostly play chords on the inside 4 strings. I can't do the Chuck Berry thing below the 8th fret. I'm not the most dexterous mofo who ever lived. Great video, Rhett.
Every open chord is also a barr chord. Thats how I learned how to play different inversions of the most obvious chords. E and A are your first 2 most obvious chords and their minors. Then you can use the D chord with a barr and if you play the D chord with the barr on the 5th fret that is a G then you can play the D5 and A5 and you don't even need to move your hand and you got a 3 chord song. Play the Dm7 on the fifth fret which is an open Am7 shape moved up the neck and with that free pinky finger put it on the 5th string 8th fret which is the open C shape moved up 5 frets and you just created an F chord. Etc
A friend thought he had invented anew chord, he asked me what chord it was, thinking it would have a fancy name, it was simply a major chord. Like Rhett he didn’t realize you could have different voicing. So I asked him to consider what notes he had played, now I think it was a C chord, but it could have been any major chord.
So, years ago I was hanging out with Al Stewart after a show, and he showed me a chord. I asked him what it was. He chuckled and said, "I don't know, but Lawrence Juber showed it to me, and it just sounds great." So... there you go... LOL.
I have risen above the level of "hack" to that of "intermediate hack." Gunning for "accomplished hack" and beyond!
Life goals 😀
I'm an "accomplished hack" (I think) - 46 years playing, 3 singles and 2 albums released as well as producing a top 3 album and co-writing a top 7 single here in the UK, it's amazing what you can get away with by wearing sunglasses, drinking too much (plus ahem other things) and wearing a leather jacket 😂 ...but seriously, now I'm semi-retired from the live scene and still recording, I love coming and learning from Rhett and Tim Pierce all the stuff I never knew - even if I was doing it by accident. I hope you make it to "professional hack" one day as that is what I am currently aspiring towards 😎😎😎
@@martin-1965 Rock on Brother !
Ted Greenes chord books are amazing,too.
@@martin-1965 fon
Very important lesson for those who avoid chords. Chords are super important to rhythm playing, but they can also dramatically improve one's ability to play single line ideas. Definately my favorite thing to practice!
Even if one s a death metal guitarist, to know chords don't harm none, since their voicings open ears to scales and it can derive into more creativity at riff crafting. To not use chords in ones style of composing doesnt imply learning chords must be avoided, this clearly separates guitarists from underachievers no matter how narrow the style one play music of our own. Even without knowledge in theory one can broad horizons learning chords. My favorite thing to challenge myself, since i don't practice that much, although i make a living playing guitar every day, might be to extract passages and phrasings out of chords while singing. Sometimes little phrases added into a certain passage of a song i think makes it funnier to play to rather than mantain chords and rythmic straight and simple, it works spectacular if there s another guitarist or more musicians so one doesnt over fill the tune and have space instead... But when it comes to one pulling off the tune by oneself, certain arrangements can make a difference from the players perspective, i don't care how it sound when i start to deal with it so no restraint needed but if it's fun to play, thats enough at first. Thing is, to learn to play guitar past the pain when one begins, is an incredibly fascinating everlasting discovery.
I agree. When I was young I only focused on lead. Now I been focusing primarily on chords and yes it's much better I have auch larger vocab across the board
@@blindmelonstubbly it takes guts not to be tempted to play leads and focus on rythm by sheer will, more power to you, hope you're taking good care of yourself and keep making music, i see passion in your statement.
@@blindmelonstubbly Kun flu fighting 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@blindmelonstubbly i havent tried to lose passion towards guitar, i mean i love music a superb-lative deal, but guitar for me it's the real me... Something alike was being from 17 to 21 a better drinker than a guitarist is what i regret cause i saw voracity at learning by ear and instantly playing complex stuff when i was 16, still improving though, but i'm now lazy when it comes to practice, perhaps that state of being is gonna be wiped off pretty soon since i want to really study music theory, being able to write read and transcript scores, classical/flamenco/japanese/and many more styles repertoire, to become a teacher by my own. i'm taking very seriously this dream of running an academy for guitarists for free in five more years, i think five years of deep studying will do just fine. But in the meantime my go to guitar is waiting for me to take her back after Luthiers work is ready so i can begin this studying process finally, and a side guitar to keep working is what i have by now. Here in muthafucking chile is pretty slow when it comes to earn a living off as a street musician but all good things for those who wait, hope i can go somewhere else and keep living like this but not so overworked and underpayed as in here. I like to work a lot but it's pretty sad to feel outta place, i play country tunes and few to none give a shit about lending some cash, i'm not in this for the praise and the claps, since guitar defines my existence i got nothing better to do and lil desire to change that course of action 🤣 so basically i'm fucked, but it's nice to be alive after all the shit i and we ve been through as a planet. Have a new trio with two finished tunes with no lyrics yet, but they ll have them soon, and tons of musical passages to work maybe 5 more tracks all original. Hope your music turn well pal. glad you're busy at creating stuff of your own.
Love this! I first picked up the guitar at age 12. I played nothing but cowboy chords until my 20's because I didn't have this exact information. Anytime I'm teaching I always show people the "other" places to play the same chord. I think i t should be part of every beginner lessons.
Thank you !!!
13:23 When you say 6/9 you mean Tekashi SixNine.
This should be taught straight up at the beginning of someone learning to play the guitar. Your doing it right!!
I've seen people never move past cowboy chords.i mean if that's all you want,I guess that's fine.i want to no everything lol
Solid take. I might also add that organizing string sets into (5-6) Roots, (4-3) guide tones, (2-1) extensions is a solid method for building harmonies as well.
This is a great way to think about it. Thanks.
13:23 When you say 6/9 you mean Tekashi SixNine.
Thanks Rhett, Even tough I've been playing for 50 years now (I'm 61) and have been a solo, touring & studio musician at different times, I was still reminded of a few things here. Really like your clear presentation style as well as the nice tone you've got here, as well as your showing us that the "Pro Move" is rarely the most complicated one or the hardest one to physically make, instead it's the one that best serves specific arrangement & song at hand, & having various options at different places on the neck gives us the most developed chord "vocabulary" to best accomplish that.
Thanks Again! 🎸🎶
13:23 When you say 6/9 you mean Tekashi SixNine.
It definitely helped me to learn theory on piano first, then it was easier to figure out different positions on guitar just from knowing which notes make up each chord, I was so excited when I discovered that the theory and chord "formulas" were the same
13:23 When you say 6/9 you mean Tekashi SixNine.
when people ask what instrument to start with, i always mention that piano is perfect for understanding theory in general. Piano does a really good job of helping me visualize everything
Definitely helped me too! It was a huge help in visualizing things
I appreciate how you moved smoothly from the most basic to more and more advanced concepts in a single video. It helps me get a handle on where I am, developmentally, as well as some things I missed, and where to go next. Great video. 👍
This something I’ve been working on for the last couple of days. This video is greatly appreciated
Just came across this video and this is exactly the type of invaluable content that seems simple at first glance but can elevate your playing more than any complex chord progression memorization. This, combined with chord structure basics and harmony are what makes it click. Well done Rhett and thanks for this.
The resources available now to learn from are amazing!! I started playing back in 1968, working thru Mel Bay method books and even Beatles song books-even had a song book for Led Zep II 🤪. With a strong ear, didn’t take me too long to figure out that the chords in the books were definitely NOT what was being played on recordings or even live performances. Figured out gradually(listening on my Koss headphones with the balance shifted left and then right)that lots of 2 or 3 fingered chord structures combined with muting/not muting strings were being used-major epiphany. Many power chords were just 2/3 notes- not full on barre chords. With the right amp tone settings less nearly always equals more. (even worked for Wes Montgomery)😜
Love this info
Can't even imagine the dedication and hours you invested to find this out at that time. I started learning guitar around the mid 80's and even then the study matterial was subpar. Finally now we are getting enough information (maybe more than enough :))
Hey didnt you think those songbooks sucked? Im down with old Mel too. I started playing in 65. You gave me a laugh.
This has been one of the more eloquent guitar guides of my time spent on RUclips.
B.B. King: “I'm no good with chords, so what we do is, uh, get somebody else to play chords." (Love the sound of that guitar/amp, btw.)
Been playing guitar almost 6 years and this was probably one of the best explanations for me personally!!
I am six months in to learning guitar and my teacher is making me focus on regular chords. We haven't even talked about power chords or barre chords yet really. I mainly focus on metronome/timing exercises and properly executing chord changes(I struggle with this!) and strumming exercises. I can already make my own riffs and jingles and apply words to them. I can't help but feel there is so much more to know! Thanks for posting this Rhett!!!
Your instructor might be milking you for $. No reason you should not have been exposed to barre chords by now.
Metronome work, chord changes and strumming work is essential, but those are like 10 min/day each exercises and drills… you should be adding Barre chords and the like as soon as you can, every day, and playing songs with them.
Watch more videos like this to learn chords it’s super nice and gives you more freedom on the fretboard
@@michaelvarney. I wouldn't go so far to judge his teacher by this single fact. Many roads lead to Rome and sticking to open chords for a time get you to playing complete songs on your own fast.
oh there is so much more to know for every player, people often expect teachers to "teach" everything, but e.g. I expect my students to explore the guitar and come up with his own questions, which we can explore together and try to direct towards finding the answer, as I believe what you discover by yourself through practice, you will never forget.. opposed to a simple practice or knowledge passed by somebody ... and of course there is no cheating the basics, you simple have to put hours and hours of playing to get a good sound, so even regular chord changes when you master them in tempo, believe me, thats a lot =)
6 MONTHS WOW IF YOU DONT KNOW THE WHOLE NECK BY NOW GET A NEW TEACHER /CHORD POSTER AND NECK POSTER WILL HELP
Best free lesson any guitarist could ask for. Great stuff Rhett
Even after 50 years of playing,sometimes I still stumble across new ways to play chords!.it never ends!
Thanks Rhett. Your vids always make me want to practice more and improve instead of just working on what I already know. Much appreciation!
I have a friend here in Nashville that always says, you’re playing those “jazz chords” in a country song. Then always without fail says, “But, I love ‘em.” Great video. WHO MAKES THAT STRAT? It sounds great!
When I was teaching myself guitar I saw the patterns in the chords. There was the E form (used in standard bar chords), the D form (the “banjo” form of D like John Lennon used), and the A shape of a chord. I would pick a chord then go up and down the neck switching positions but keeping that chord name. The song “Revival” does something like this after the “people can you feel it” part.
Hell yeah
Dude the why you explained the dynamic of the fretboard is the best ever man
Ive always just made up my own chords, because at 53, and playing around with guitars since the age of 5, with my first ever guitar, a Roy Rogers plastic toy guitar I just make sounds, constantly exploring, never a single lesson.
Learned to play by listening over and over and over with records, constantly moving the needle, then cassette tapes (ruined lots of those)
I had a hard time with bands because I didn't want to do covers, for good reason.
I wanted to make original songs, because then no one would know I had no idea wth I was doing 😁
Oddly enough, even though I couldn't always figure out notes for many main parts of songs, I could almost always get the solos down right but with my own style mixed in.
I'm still having fun...
I’d love to jam w someone like u I’m the same way, and it’s hard to find people like that. Even though covers can be useful for just having fun and building chemistry with people so when you try experimenting or using your own style to make music the process can be more smooth
You have cleared up a mystery in a clear and simple demonstration of chords and why thy are named as they are. Great demo thanks.
Excellent video. I've been stuck in a rut on playing for a long time now so this will help a lot!👍
So good! Learned a few things here. Great reference video. Will have to rewatch and get the guitar out. Thanks for sharing!
Nice exposé on chord construction & voicings, Rhett. Congratulations on hitting 500K subscribers. You deserve it!🙌🏻🙌🏻🍎
I find it interesting and somewhat funny that most of us start out with full size chords and then tend to play less but more meaningful notes onwards.
I assume this is some kind of learning tradition, as you could just as easily approach this from the other side as Rhett does in this video.
Great content, i like that Rhett sticks to whats most important the: music. Too many channels out there just drift off into gearland.
Yeah, if you listen to a lot of studio guys they often supplant keyboardists by "colouring" the harmony, just playing 2-3 notes out of a chord. Larry Carlton's work as a session player has a lot of this going on in the work he did with Leo Sayer and Barbara Streisand.
I always notice real pros when you see them playing in a supporting capacity and playing stuff like that.
Thanks Rhett, the more we listen the more we learn. I'm a big fan of the guitar posse! I'm coming in for a landing on your tone course asap! Anchor down, all the best to the band too!
13:23 When you say 6/9 you mean Tekashi SixNine.
Great-paced video and exercises. Been playing 22yrs, self taught. Perfect amount of new info and old info, thanks.
Rhett, your videos always make me pick up my guitar. That is a good thing.
I find that a lot of players over-complicate this aspect of learning the guitar, but you’ve absolutely nailed it. Getting a grasp of basic music theory and how that translates to chord shapes and the fretboard will boost your playing tenfold!
From a person who pretty much only plays rhythm guitar, this is super helpful. Had no idea that the chords I've been playing for years are just 7 and sus chords. Now I'll be able to take the theory of what they actually are and apply that to other voicings. As a drummer who picked up guitar to be able to write music this is a huuuuuuuuuge help
Hi Rhett,
this Video helped.me.a lot, because I am an amateur, who is still on training after 50 years of playing guitar. It was half way to the switch I am practicing on for decades.
Hi Rhett, I am just wondering on how to add a screenshot to my comment.
When I taught myself to play, I always tried to make sure I had a free finger left over after making my chords. With a free pinkie, for example, you now have something to use for sus and 7ths. Just let that extra finger find someplace to land and enjoy the additional colorings.
Best chord tutorial I have ever come across....excellent!...eloquent!
Well done! You just saved thousands and thousands of guitarist years of learnin by putting it into 16:21. Much appreciated.
THIS IS THE EXACT LESSON I NEED RN!!! thank you so much Rhett! will make sure to check your video course
Been searching for a video that covers this very topic. Thank you.
Here's a small but important point that confused me for a while. *What's the difference between an Esus2 and an Emaj9?* I mean, in both chords, I'm adding an F#, because F# is the second note in the E major scale. So how are these chords different? And when should I choose to play each one?
Here's the answer:
- In a sus2 (short for "suspended") chord, the second *replaces* the third. That is, you play the F#, but *you don't play the G#.* Leaving out the third adds _tension_ to the chord-the listener wants to hear that second resolve to the third.
- In a maj9, you play the second *in addition to* the third. That is, you play _both_ the F# and the G#. In this chord, there's no tension to resolve because the third is present, and the second adds color and complexity.
This all applies to the fourth tone of the scale as well. In E major, that's an A, so if you play an E chord with an A but not a G#, that's an Esus4, while an E chord with both an A and a G# is an Emaj11 (because the fourth tone of a scale is also the eleventh tone of that scale).
In short, when you want to add some tension, play a suspended chord by adding the second (or fourth) and leaving out the third. When you want to add color and complexity, play the second and also include the third.
Its insane when you start mixing it all. It makes a song much fuller.
I've been learning the guitar for some time now. And I am STILL learning. Wish I had this 50 years ago.
Rhett i've been watching the channel for years, love watching your career flourish and the channel evolve! I really like that guitar sound, to me its the perfect rock platform, could you explain your sound tools for this one, pickups, amp, etc... thanks!!!
The tone on this little video is killer (as always with Rhett).
Man, that tone was gorgeous
I’m old enough that I started playing before “power” chords really took off, so I’ve never played a power chord in my life. One of the biggest lessons that I learned early on though is that a “pro” isn’t cranking off six string chords all the time like beginners do. Playing chords on just three or four strings will also solve a lot of problems caused by imperfect intonation, or the natural imperfect pitches of major and minor thirds in the equal temperament system.
Awesome vid. Help me start my unlocking the neck journey.
Thank You Rhett for taking the time to make this Video. :)
Great lesson! Clear and to the point. In a few minutes it clarified some of Beato's fancy talk...
Rhett, you're a great teacher with a very concise, professional presentation. I bet this very video just helped many newer players step up their playing and imaginations to the next level. Also a great quick review for more advanced players who can stand to benefit from a revisit to important basics. New subscriber today, enjoyed and appreciated this episode.
Great breakdown! I like seeing you around! First saw/heard you on Rick B's channel. Also loved the video with Zeppleinbarnatra from the Chicago Guitar Exchange!
This is the reason I study Ted Greene's stuff. His chordal playing is pure gold.
Certain shapes are also more mellifluous than others for a particular chord - I've discovered that I really like the major seventh voicing that has two thirds in it (x-2-1-3-4-x) more than the standard one (x-2-4-3-4-x), while for a major ninth I like the voicing that includes the fifth but no third (x-2-4-3-2-x) more than the standard one with the third (x-2-1-3-2-x). You'll know them when you hear them
Very informative coverage of this topic! Thanks!!!
3:53 well now I know how to play the intro to hold on loosely by 38 special! Thank you!
Rhett with a Shabat axe? Very cool guitar. Avi does a great job with the relic work.
I have purchased the course Rhett has made. It is very very good. I highly recommend it 😀😀😀
this is excellent Rhett
thAnk Uuu
sO' much ‼️⚡‼️
it reminds me when
i started learning in
78-79
studying and figuring out
the chord pictogram
used in music books
at the time
the beatles
stuff for example had a lot of varying
e and b
chords
Jackson Browne and
Willie Nelson were fun to learn also the pictogram type of books 📚
when tablature became mainstream came out
it helped change my perspective
I really dig that furry "May This Be Love" clean-ish tone! It makes your chords purr. Anyway, this is a Good and Useful video. Thank you.
Very good video Rhett, clear and easy to understand explanations. Thank you 🎵
Such a clear and interesting video. Well done Rhett!
Rhett, Something that taught me a lot in this video was your guitar itself. It seems that you have put in a lot of practice hours on that well worn Fender.
Sadly, my used Squier is still quite shiny. I gotta fix that.
Thanks for the lesson.
Further, this lesson applies to other aspects in my life and relationships as well.
Huge amount of thanks to you.
I really like this video. I spent a lot of time on chords and rhythm playing which is of particular interest to me.
Excellent video Rhett!
Nghe xong bài này cái thấy tâm trạng buồn và nặng nề kinh khủng. Nhưng lại cứ phải replay hoài cả ngày😍
Learned alot from this Rhett... appreciate it very much..great work man 🤘
Really informative. This answered a few questions I had. Nicely done
Outstanding! Great information, very well presented, very coherent and clear. Thank you!
13:23 When you say 6/9 you mean Tekashi SixNine.
2 min ago. Earliest I’ve seen a Rhett vid after it was released. Great vid.
Back in the 60s there was a guy named Mel Bay. He taught most of us Boomers how to play. I learened my first position chords, after that I didnt need anything else.I dont believe you didnt know how to play dfferent positions and you were ready for Music school? Ive been playing since 65. And I am still learning.This was an interesting video but you kinda floored me with that that usic school intro thing. I always thoughtthey asked some pretty tough stuff. Like Jazz music, and play me a 13th in 4 places, or play some Bach. I guess nobody would ever go then. Thanks , good stuff.
This may be yer best lesson yet…this really breaks things open for the learning guitarist 👍
Thanks alot for all this informations Rhett. I really learn alot in this.
Rhett, I wish I had this video when I was starting! Would have saved me a few years..
Awesome video, great basics. Very helpful.
Thank you Rhett, it's time people learn that there is more to being rythym. That it's abke to impress nearly as much as lead.
This was a great video , learned a lot , thanks Brett
As a drummer in a band I now know what the guitars and keys are talking about. Thanks Rhett
Love your philosophy on chords, great lesson! ♥
Brilliant. I might remember some of this until tomorrow.
Loved this Rhett great video
I’ve played for 49 years and get better every year yet it’s still such a mystery to me. This little lesson just made my understanding slightly less of a mystery yet opened another layer making the mystery even bigger than it was before. For you beginners you will never arrive. The revelation will just get bigger. But there isn’t much that’s more satisfying. Those of you who love to study the word of God will know it’s almost an identical experience. The more you learn, the more you realize how much more there is to know.
It’s uploads like this which enable pentatonic noodlers (33 years and counting) to benchmark their mediocrity. Supremely useful and brutally honest. Thank you, good sir.
I am not a great musician but movable chord shapes were obvious to me from the start, just from looking at E and F .There are plenty of other things I didn't "get" for ages though.
Thanks for the video. Great looking guitar by the way.
I need this 35 years ago
Great tone on the strat
Thank you, Rhett! Very useful for self taught players
thank you Rhett !!!!!! great work .
That was awesome Rhett. Thankyou!
Great lesson Rhett. Really good.
When you said Pro, I assumed it meant abbreviated. For me E Maj is x22x0x, or x22xxx. (Yeah, if you're playing Little Sister by Elvis, play the entire E chord). B min would be x2x23x. C Maj would be xx555x, or x7555x. A13 would be xx567x. C Maj7 would be xx545x. But that's just because I can't do it any other way. Al least not on the fly. I usually leave the bass note out especially on Dominant 7th chords. I mostly play chords on the inside 4 strings. I can't do the Chuck Berry thing below the 8th fret. I'm not the most dexterous mofo who ever lived. Great video, Rhett.
Every open chord is also a barr chord. Thats how I learned how to play different inversions of the most obvious chords. E and A are your first 2 most obvious chords and their minors. Then you can use the D chord with a barr and if you play the D chord with the barr on the 5th fret that is a G then you can play the D5 and A5 and you don't even need to move your hand and you got a 3 chord song.
Play the Dm7 on the fifth fret which is an open Am7 shape moved up the neck and with that free pinky finger put it on the 5th string 8th fret which is the open C shape moved up 5 frets and you just created an F chord. Etc
And of course Fmaj is just an open E moved one fret with a barr chord and B is just the open Amaj moved up 2 frets with a barr on the second fret.
Thank you!!! Very informative and helpful!!!!
Surprisingly, all of these concepts work great for bass, too.
Good stuff. Shared it with some friends.
Wow this lesson taught me a lot Thanks Rhett great vid :)
A friend thought he had invented anew chord, he asked me what chord it was, thinking it would have a fancy name, it was simply a major chord.
Like Rhett he didn’t realize you could have different voicing.
So I asked him to consider what notes he had played, now I think it was a C chord, but it could have been any major chord.
So, years ago I was hanging out with Al Stewart after a show, and he showed me a chord. I asked him what it was. He chuckled and said, "I don't know, but Lawrence Juber showed it to me, and it just sounds great." So... there you go... LOL.
You know a videos good when you have to pause it and pick up your guitar to keep watching
Good video Rhett!
Man, the Fingerstyle Master is such a cool dude!
duuuuude !!! you rock !
and it is awesomely mellow (good moood) !
Thank you for this lesson!
Love that Shabat Strat!