|
Moveable
Chord Forms
(excerpted from Chord Workbook for Guitar, by Bruce Arnold)
|
| The
chords that follow allow you to learn a chord form and then move it
around the neck to get that chord type for every degree of chromatic
scale. All the notated examples of chords should be practiced "cycle
5". Cycle 5 is a way to play all 12 chromatic notes by moving in a
pattern of 5ths (or 7 half steps) down from the previous chord. Therefore
C moves to F then Bb, Eb, Ab, Db,
Gb, B, E, A, D, G. On the guitar this means you would play
for example the first C major chord at the 3rd fret as indicated and
then play the same fingering at the 8th fret on the fifth string.
This will give you you F major. Then the 1st fret for Bb
major, 6 fret for Eb major etc. The example below shows
you how to proceed. |
| Don't
just memorize the position of each of these chords without thinking
of what chord you are playing. Memorize, for now, the shape so you
can recognize the chord type then memorize the bottom of each chord
to tell you which chord you are playing as you move through the cycle
5 progression. Remember all examples in this book have the root as
the lowest note of each chord voicing so by memorizing the bottom
note as you move cycle 5 you will be memorizing the notes on the E
and A strings. When you have memorized the notes on the E and A strings
you only need to memorize the new chord type as you move through this
book. |
| Cycle
5 is one of the most common chord movements in music.Therefore practicing
chords in cycle 5 is excellent preparation for playing music. |
Cycle
5 Progression or the Circle of Fifths:
C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db,
Gb, B, E, A, D, G
|
| It
is also a good idea to go through the cycle in a couple of ways. For
example when you get to Gb think F# instead. Gb
and F# are said to be enharmonic keys because their pitches are the
same on the guitar but their names are different. Refer back to your
list of keys to find other enharmonic keys to practice. |
| Try
not to think down a certain number of frets to find the next chord.
Memorizing the pitches of each fret will be much better in the long
run. All chords contained in this book should be practiced using the
cycle 5 movement, and remember when practicing always think what note
you are playing rather than memorizing the position. |
|
©
1995 Bruce Arnold • All Rights Reserved
To download this
page as a GIF (18k) click or shift-click HERE
and select “download/save image to disk”
Check out
Bruce Arnold's Chord
Workbook for Guitar
|
|
