chords

I;m still trying to learn some chords but not really getting anywhere, I was just wondering if anyone has any tips. REally, i don't even know where to begin, I'm must playing as many chords I can find over and over again, but that's probably not the best way. Also, I was looking for another simple one note song that I could learn in the meantime ( i did the star spangled banner and a simple version of fur elise), anywho, someone help me out, i have no idea what im doing

I started with minor chords then major chords then bar chords. Power chords are pretty simple too. Start with E, A, D, G, C. F is a little trickier. Try some different strumming patterns with these.

now that you know some chords maybe you want to know howto put them togeter so try learn some progretions like this:
C-Dm-Em-F-G-Am-Bdim
I-IIm-IIIm-IV-V-VIm-VIIdim

I VIm IV V (C-Am-F-G) doo woop
IIIm VIm IIm V I (Em-Am-Dm-G7-C) decending 5ths
Im bVII bVI V7 (Am-F-G-E7) Runaway/Sultains of Swing
I-IIIm-IIm-V7 (A-C#m7-Bm7-E7) Something(beatles)
try trasposing them (change their key)

then search some songs to see how the chords work with each other

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]I hae no clue what the heck you guys are even talking about?????????[/FONT] :confused:

Originally Posted by: starter09[FONT=Comic Sans MS]I hae no clue what the heck you guys are even talking about?????????[/FONT] :confused:

Try some of the beginner lessons. There are several that have songs and several that have scales. Chords are great for strumming and alternate picking, arpegios and so on. Try learning something like Knockin On Heaven's Door by GNR on acoustic. There's a lesson for that on this site. It's only three chords but it's a cool song.

Originally Posted by: starter09[FONT=Comic Sans MS]I hae no clue what the heck you guys are even talking about?????????[/FONT] :confused:

OK Im gona try to explain the major tonality:

MAJOR tonality has this formula ==> I---IIm---IIIm---IV---V---VIm---VII°

C MAJOR
C---Dm---Em--F---G---Am---B°---C(octave higher)

now using the same formula with the root in G
G---Am---Bm--C---D---Em---F#°---G(octave higher)

in E:
E---F#m---G#m---A---B---C#m---D#°---E(octave higher)
° = (disminished)
# = sharp
b = flat
(so when you see a Gb chord means that you play the same shape of G but one fret lower OR with F# you play F shape one fret higher: F#=Gb)

knowing this you can find the chords of any key and transpose a song(or change the key to make it easier to sing for example) if you know the progretion like:
C-Am-F-G in C MAJOR
and change it to E MAJOR
E-C#m-A-G
this is a typical move of 50´s rock and roll ballad(doo woop)=>I-VIm-IV-V

What I was realy trying to do is gave him a few structures of what alot of songs are made of, and this way you can hear how the chords sound together...
cause he know the chords but not how to combine´em.

Originally Posted by: starter09[FONT=Comic Sans MS]I hae no clue what the heck you guys are even talking about?????????[/FONT] :confused:

I feel ya brother..... :D

Main thing I found on these type of websites and books/videos etc, is that the people that actually understand this stuff have a really hard time breaking this stuff down to simple enough terms for somebody that knows nothing to understand.....Kinda like trying to teach somebody to read that doesn't even know the alphabet.... :D

If you want something pretty simple with chords that are used in many songs try "Louie Louie" by the Kingsmen.

The chords are A major D major E minor D major,,,,in that order.

Pretty simple tune, and you will be much happier with yourself/your progress when you can actually play a song. It sure as heck is more fun than just playing random chords..

Good luck.....

Pick an album that you know really well and see if you can find a song book of the album with the chord charts in it. Or even just a couple of songs that you know well. You need to start piecing together what chords sound like in an actual song before you'll start to understand anything like theory.

A song with guitar charts is easy to read and figure out and you'll learn all the basic open chords. Later on you can start to learn barre chords.

Try some of the easy beginner songs in the beginner section too:

http://www.guitartricks.com/guide.php

There's some really simple stuff like Smoke on the Water and then slightly more advanced stuff like Boston, More Than a Feeling.
There's a few with simple strumming.

I'm still having a lot of trouble changing chords, like I know where the fingers are suppossed to go, but I can't get them there. Like I can't get my hand into the shape unless the fingers are already on the fret, thus, I have to put them on one at a time. Any suggestions, or any excercises for me to practice this better? Smoke ont he water I can basically do now, since the chord shape is easy.

Just keep practicing changing chords until you get better at it.
There's no easy way to learn.. you just have to keep working at it.
Some people progress faster than others. All I could play for the first few years was a D chord. Then for a coupla years after that the only song I knew was Song Sung Blue. (but hey, I was really lazy) Then it suddenly just kicked in when I grabbed a book of chords from an album I knew. I was already familiar with the songs so I knew how they were supposed to sound. Even then.. it was still a few years more before I moved beyond anything more than basic barre chords. (I was reaaaally lazy)

I tell you what Solo. I'm no master yet. But I found a couple of sites that REALLY helped me get better. They also have some great songs to learn and play with. www.guitartips.com.au and www.guitarsongs.com.au Unfortunately you do have to pay for these sites. But it is a 1 time fee. And I have to say myself. I am not sorry one bit for purchaseing access to these two sites. they are the best I've found and there customer service is EXCELLENT.