Hey guys, welcome back to another guitar lesson. Today I want to show you how to play a beautiful chord progression on electric guitar in E minor key.

One of the things that I like a lot about the electric guitar is the fact that we can embellish chords melodically and rhythmically. Hendrix first introduced this way of playing chords in songs such as Little Wings and Purple Haze but it was then used in many different styles of music.

In this lesson, I am going to show you my take on these chords and how I like to them melodically and rhythmically.

We will learn:

• 1. The chord progression.
• 2. How to strum the strings.
• 3. How to embellish the chords.
• 4. Lear the B section of the song.

Enjoy this lesson.

1.The Chord Progression

This chord progression is played in E minor key.

We are playing an E minor chord, D major, and C major chord. Each chord can be performed in its basic bar chord form.

Play the E minor chord with 5th string fret 7, 4th and 3rd string fret 9, 2nd string fret 8, and top E string fret 7 with the bar chord. The D major can be played with the 5th string fret 5 and 4th, 3rd, and 2nd string fret 7. I use the little finger to bar three strings, but you can play it using the ring finger. The C major has the same shape as the D major chord starting from the fret 3.

Also, play a G and D/F#.

2.How to Strum the Strings

The most challenging part about playing this chord progression is the strumming.

When I play the chords, I always single out some of the notes of the chord. For example, when I play the E minor chord, I would strum the low E string followed by the rest of the strings. I will also strum upwards only on the top two strings.

This type of strumming technique also occurs on the D major and C major. For the D major play the root note first then strum the rest of the chord. Don’t bother about the top E string; the left-hand finger mutes it. You can do the same for the C major.

This approach can be quite difficult depending on your level. Spend a little bit of time practicing the chords just like shown in this section before moving on to the actual guitar part.

3. How to Embellish the Chords

Now that you learned the chords and the basic strumming, it’s time to learn how to embellish the chords.

For the E minor chord, start by playing the low E string followed by the E minor chord. Strum the bar chord on fret 7 and quickly hammer the fret 9 on the G string and the fret 8 on the B string. Then, pluck the top two strings with an upstroke.

We can still add more notes on the E minor chord. Just play the G string fret 7 and B string fret 8 together followed by a hammer-on on the G string fret 9. Go back to fret 7 with a pull-off and then play the fret 9 and 7 on the D string.

The next chord is the D major. Play the bass note, then strum the chord. Slide the fingers from the fret 5 to fret 7, hammer the fret 9 and play the 4th and 3rd string fret 7 with a bar chord. Only play the two strings and add a wide vibrato. Keep the bar chord down and play the chord again, add a hammer-on on the D string fret 9, then go back to the fret 7 with a pull-off. On the A string play the fret 8 and 7.

You can play the same thing on the C major chord. The only difference would the last four notes which are played on fret 5 and 7 on both D and A string.

The last two chords, the G and D/F# are pretty simple. Just strum the G chord and the D/F# follow by a riff on the low E string fret 5 and 7, the A string fret 5, and back to the low E string open.

Repeat the same thing.

4. Learn the B Section of the Song

There is also a B section which is played with the same chords in a different order.

We will start by play the C major one time followed by the single notes on the A string fret 5 and hammer-on on fret 7. Play the 4th, and 3rd string fret 5 as well. Do the same for the D major chord.

Play the E minor twice. Start with the bar only and hammer the fret 9 and 8 just like we learned. Then play another upstroke with the bar chord only followed by the D major and C major. After you play the C major embellish the chord with the same hammer-on.

Start the chord progression again and play the C, the D, and the G major chord.

You can then go back playing the E minor, D and C major chord followed by the G/B (2, 5, 3), the A minor chord and the G major chord.

Let’s Wrap This Up

I love to spice up chords by using the Hendrix style chords.

The chord progression can be quite challenging so take things step-by-step and follow the four steps shown in this lesson.

Once you feel confident, use these chords for other chord progressions.

Good luck!

Marco