Simplify Chords using Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar
Six Chords in 29 Minutes
Since I started teaching guitar (fifteen years ago), I’ve heard this question a hundred times and saw the same expression every time I answered it.
The one thing that I love the most about teaching guitar is that you can change people’s beliefs. I can help someone changing their state of mind and go from worrying about learning guitar to enjoying playing guitar is priceless and driving.
Let’s simplify chords!
The Dreadful Question Every Beginner Asks
Student: Can you simplify chords on the guitar?
Me: Yes, we can! We will use the fingerstyle acoustic guitar technique!
Student: Ok, but they told me the fingerstyle technique is difficult.
Me: I know. Losers say that all the time.
There is a way to simplify chords on guitar using the fingerstyle technique, and today I am going to show you how! I have been using this system since I started teaching in 2002 and guitar players (especially beginners) loved it!
The awesome thing about fingerstyle guitar is that it allows you to get rid of strings you don’t need to play and simplify chords down to a “two strings chord.”
Six Chords in 29 minutes
This video lesson is awesome. The chord diagrams are on the screen so that you can easily follow them. Guys, as we will learn this new concept of simplifying chords, keep in mind that it might take a little bit of time to become familiar.
Take things step-by-step, and don’t stress out if it takes longer than 29 minutes to learn that. You can get the chord diagrams and part 2 and part 3 of this mini-program here.
The Chord Progression
The chord progression we are going to simplify today is in the key of C major, and it goes as follows:
C – G – Am – G – F – Em7 – F – G – C
If you had to strum all these chords, you would probably agree that some of them are more difficult than others. For example, the F major is always a pretty difficult chord to play at first, and the C major and G major can be quite stretchy at first.
In this lesson, we will play “two strings chord,” which can be possible only by using the fingerstyle technique.
Check out how we simplify the C major chord using fingerstyle.
The C major Chord Simplified
The C major chord is quite a basic chord. This is definitely not the most difficult one you’ll ever play, but some guitar players can be pretty challenging due to its stretch.
The distance between the 5th and 2nd string can be quite stretchy if you are a beginner. Also, I am sure that many of you struggled to get the 4th string sounding good.
I am sure you can make this chord pretty clear sounding after a few practice sessions, but what if you can make it super easy so that you don’t struggle at all?
In the example below, we will eliminate the 1st, 3rd, and 4th string so that we are left with just the 5th and 2nd to play.
How easy is that!
The F major Chord Simplified
Let’s try with a tough chord for beginners. The F major is known to be one of the most challenging chords on the guitar. And trust me, it is!
It’s a six strings chord that requires a technique called bar chord. I will not explain exactly how to play it but trust me, this chord is extremely challenging.
With fingerstyle guitar, we can simplify this chord to a two strings chord that any beginner guitar player can play.
Check it out and try.
