Learn to Play Chord Melody — The Major Family

In general guitarists learn their chords in a rather un-systematic way.

There might be a teacher or a guitar playing friend showing you some standard voicings. Then there's the odd chord gleaned from a chord book or transcription. Some chords you find while experimenting and noodling on the instrument.

You get the picture.

So even though you might know quite a few chords, the question is: how well do you know your chords? Do you know them inside out so you can utilize them in a chord melody style?

If your answer is no, don't worry, I've got good news for you.

It ain't that difficult to get started on the road towards a personal chord melody system.

Let me show you how.

Take the good old major scale and attach some sort of major chord to every note from the scale. To keep enough room for the harmony, the top melody note stays on either the B or E string.

Here's the process applied to the C major scale:

Root Note

root on B string

root on E string

root on B string (2)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

First we have a 2nd inversion major 7th. I like the slight tension between the B and C note. It gives the chord a somewhat edgy quality. If you don't want that half-step between the 2 top voices, feel free to lower the B note down 2 frets to an A note. Then you'll end up with a C6 chord instead.

The 2nd voicing is a C6/9 chord consisting of 4th intervals. Sounds good, easy to play, what more could you ask for.

"Simple" triads are an option too. Therefore, I've included a nice 1st inversion open triad voicing.

2nd/9th

2nd/9th on B string

2nd/9th on E string

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

A common ma9 voicing and a slash chord style G/C fingering for a ma9 without a 3rd.

3rd

3rd on B string

3rd on E string

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Take a closer look at the 2 provided chord shapes. You'll be using different fingerings, but notice that the voicings are 100% identical. Both chords are ma7 chords in a 1573 order.

4th

4th on B string

4th on E string

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The 4th and the 3rd don't get along too well, so we kick out the 3rd and end up with sus4 shapes.

5th

5th on B string

5th on E string

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The 6th string root shape is probably the first ma7 chord you've learned. The 2nd option is one of my favorite chord forms - an atmospheric drop2 ma7 chord in 2nd inversion.

6th

6th/13th on B string

6th/13th on E string

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

A useful ma13 chord followed by a C6 shape.

Major 7th

ma7th on B string

ma7th on E string

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Here we have a ma7th in 1st inversion followed by a ma7th in 2nd inversion.

Bonus Material

There's 2 more notes you should prepare a major chord for: the #11/b5 and the #5/b13. The other chromatic notes (b9, #9, b7) are generally not used in the major chord family context.

#11/b5

#11 on B string

#11 on E string

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

An atmospheric ma7#11 chord followed by a C6/9 #11.

#5/b13

#5 on B string

#5 on E string

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Notice how the Cma7#5 chord can also be viewed as E/C.

Practice Tips

Here's a couple of tips to get this information under your fingers:

Like this blog post? Buy me a cup of tea or leave a tip...

Related posts:

1. Challenge of the Month — November 2009
2. Learn to Hear all 12 Chromatic Notes
3. Upgrade Your Listening Skills with Functional Ear Training
4. Challenge of the Month — December 2009

Tagged with: chord melody • harmony • inversion • slash chord • voicing

Filed under: Challenge of the Month • Guitar • Practicing

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and never miss an update!