How can we make chords sing? Very simple! In this lesson, I am going to show you how you can make your guitar chords sing a beautiful melody.
A chord is just three notes. The Root note, 3rd, and 5th. The 5th doesn’t sing as beautifully as the 3rd, so the first step would be to change the interval structure and play the chord with Root, 5th, and 3rd.
In this lesson, I am going to put these chords into practice and play a beautiful chord progression. I am also going to add a few additional notes to the chords and a B section where we are going to combine chords and melody.
I am using an electric guitar, but you can try with your acoustic too.
Happy Easter, guys! I hope you are having a fantastic day.
Today I want to talk to you about the D minor key and how you can spice up chords by using a straightforward guitar trick.
I call these types of chords “Mysterious chords” because they have this obscure, mystical sound that is really characteristic of this key.
Chords in D minor key love the note “E,” and the awesome thing about the guitar is the fact that the first open string happens to be E. All we got to do is to play the chords so that the open strings are always open and never fretted.
Using this simple trick, you will be able to create beautiful, mysterious chords without changing the basic chord or having to learn more difficult shapes.
As always we will keep the exercises very practical and musical, so you feel playing some music.
Once you are done with the exercise, don’t forget to experiment with the chords and apply them to songs you already play (as long as they are in a key of Dmin).
For now, grab your guitar and play along.
Let’s get started.
The Video
The Chord Progression
Mysterious Chords in D minor
Let’s take it to step by step and learn the chords we will be working on today.
You will be surprised to see how each chord will change once the first open string is added to it.
Let me analyze every chord, and let me show you the difference between the basic and mysterious chords.
D mind add 9
The D minor chord we will be playing for this exercise sounds pretty basic.
The chord on the left is a simple D minor chord with Root, root, and minor 3rd. Once we add the E open string, the chords become Dmin(add9)
Bbmaj(#11)
This chord sounds very mysterious and beautiful to arpeggiate.
Notice that the only difference between the D minor chord and the B flat is the bass note.
The simple Bb major chord has the Root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th, but when we add the E open string, it will be a Bb(#11) chord.
The Gmin7(6)
Another interesting sounding chord. The Gmin7(6) is a basic G minor 7 chord with the major 6th. This chord reminds me of the Dorian more (because of the major 6 over a minor chord).
Cmaj (add9/11)
This chord can have two different names. Dmin/C and Cmaj (add9/11). The E open string is definitely closer to a C major chord with the 9th and 11th.
Don’t forget to Experiment.
Guys, once you are done with the exercise, you should always implement these chords in your playing.
The ultimate goal is to copy and learn, then experiment and implement.
Chords are an amazing tool that any guitar player can use to create beautiful chord progressions or melodies.
One of the things I love the most is experimenting with different chord progressions and trying to come up with chords that sound “different” than the one I already know.
In this example, I will show you how you can spice up this simple chord progression in E major with some beautiful Stretchy Chords that sound nothing like the chords you already know.
You will need to slowly stretch your fingers if you want to play them correctly so, take your time and don’t rush.
If you are a beginner, I highly recommend coming back when you know more about basic chords and all the extensions Maj7, min7, 7, 9, 11, 13, and alt chords.
Grab your guitar, and let’s get started.
The Video
The Chord Progression
From Simple to Advanced
Now that you watched the video and what to play, I will get more into details and analyze the chord progression and show you how to play the chords.
The progression is Emaj7 – Amaj7 – C#m7add11 – Badd9 – C#m7add11 – Amaj7 – Emaj9 – Badd11
Each chord looks pretty simple on paper but waits until you play them.
Check the first 4 chords. IMPORTANT The last chord is actually a Badd9 chord and not a Bsus mentioned in the video and tab.
Spice up with Arpeggios
The second part of the chord progression is played with a nice arpeggio that sounds perfect with the chords.
Stretchy chords sound much better when arpeggiated.
Today I am going to show you the sweetest chord progressions I can play on guitar.
It was challenging, but we made it.
I really love working on a chord progression based on a specific mood or emotion.
It takes time to get the right chord progression and voicing, and my struggle is always finding the first two chords. Once I get them, it is pretty natural for me to write the whole thing.
But getting the first two chords right is more difficult than you think.
That’s why I will share the 5 sweet chord progressions I came up with, so you can learn from them and come up with your own.
The Video
Which Chord Progressions?
Last Time Together Kind of Hug
This is an unfortunate chord progression in C major.
This is the chord progression: C – G/B – Am – F – C/E – F – C/E – Fadd9 – Am – Em – F – G
The melody starts on the high range. The first chord starts on fret XII, so the melody sounds tiny. This is the best approach if you want to create sweet/sad melodies.
The second part of the music opens up with basic chords in C major.
I love the C/E chord before the Fadd9.
Couple in Love Kind of Hug
This chord progression really reminds me of When you Say Nothing at All by Ronan Keating.
I really love the voicing and melody over this chord progression.
We are in D major Key, and there are two different sections.
The first part is D – A – G. The D major and G major chord are embellished with different extensions. For the D major, you can use a hammer on and pull off on the first string. The G major can be played as Gadd9.
The second part is more melodic, and the melody more predominant. The chord progression is D – A – Bm – G.
Definitely one of my favorite chord progression.
Together Again Kind of Hug
Another chord progression in E major, this time more melodic challenging to play.
The chords are Eadd9 – B/D# – C#min (add9) B – A – E – A – E – A – E – B – E which repeats twice.
Another section at the end of the song goes like this: E – E/A – E/B repeated three times, then Amadd9 and E.
Honestly, one of my favorite progression of chords I’ve ever played.
Father and Son Kind of Hug
We are in E major key, and the chord progression is fascinating and fun to play.
There are three different sections:
The music starts with E – E/F# – A – E – C#m – E – B. The chords are pretty basic and simple to play. The only challenging chord is the E/G#, which is quite stretchy. Take it to step by step with this chord.
Then you have a more difficult chord progression: C#m – B/D# – E – A – C#m – B/D# – E – A
The last section is only few chords: E/G# – A – E/G# – A – E/G# – F#7(13) – B7 – E.
Please don’t Go Kind of Hug.
A major key and a simple arpeggio.
I wrote this music when I was 12, and this is the first time I am recording it, so I hope you like it.
The progression starts with A – A/D – C#m – Bm – A – E, which you can repeat twice. The second section is more challenging, and it goes like this: A – A/D – C#m – D – E – F#m – D – A – E – A.
I am mainly using 153 chord shapes, so the melody is within the chord and easy to play.
