Major & Minor

Chords

When a group of notes are held together, they are called Chords. Chords are generally used to play rhythm, as an accompaniment for a lead instrument or a Singer. As a beginner one feels most excited to learn chords! Below are all the Major chords and Minor Chords. Some of the shapes, especially the ones where you have to place your 1st finger across all the strings (Barre) will be difficult to begin with and will require a lot of practice! The best way to judge whether you are playing it correctly is to hold the Chord shape and pick the string one by one making sure each note rings, as if you were fretting that one single note.

Major Chords

Chord Progressions

When multiple chords are combined and played in a sequence they form a Chord Progression. Progressions form good exercises which help in shifting from one chord to the other. Playing a progression smoothly without any gaps while changing is the biggest challenge for any learner. Many a times Progressions are the starting point in creating a song. You could do these exercises to gain control over all your Major Chords.

Use 4 downstrokes on each Chord. Choose a slow tempo to begin with making sure each chord sounds clean. Click on the audio player to hear each individual Chord progression.

1) C | F | G | C

2) G | C | D | G

3) D | G | A | D

4) A | D | E | A

5) E |A | B | E

6) B | E | F# | B

7) F# | B | C# | F#

8) C# |F# | G# | C#

9) F | Bb | C | F

10) Bb | Eb | F | Bb

11) Eb | Ab | Bb | Eb

12) Ab | Db | Eb | Ab

Minor Chords

Minor Chord Progressions

We use the same strumming pattern. 4 downstrokes on each Chord.

1)   Cm | Fm | Gm| Cm

2) Gm | Cm | Dm | Gm

3)   Dm | Gm | Am | Dm

4)   Am | Dm | Em | Am

5)   Em |Am | Bm | Em

6)   Bm | Em | F#m | Bm

7)   F#m | Bm | C#m | F#m

8)   C#m |F#m | G#m | C#m

9)   Fm | Bbm | Cm | Fm

10) Bbm | Ebm | Fm | Bbm

11) Ebm | Abm | Bbm | Ebm

12) Abm | Dbm | Ebm | Abm

Chord Progressions using Major and Minor Chords

Below are chord Progressions exercises in a couple of keys. Feel free to try out progressions in other keys as well. The more keys you practice the better it is for you!

Key of C

1)    C | Dm | F | G

2)    C | Em | F | G

3)    C | Am | F | G

4)    C | F |Dm | G

5)    C | F | Em | G

6)    C |F | Am | G

7)    C | G | Dm | F

8)    C |G |Em | F

9)    C |G | Am | F

10) C |Am | Dm | G

Key of G

1) G | Am | C | D

2) G | Bm | C | D

3) G | Em | C | D

4) G | C | Am | D

5) G | C | Bm | D

6) G | C | Em | D

7) G | D | Am | C

8) G | D | Bm | C

9) G | D | Em | C

10) G | Em | Am | D

Finding Chords in a particular Key

Its important to know that each key houses 3 major, 3 minor chords & 1 diminished chord. We'll get to the diminished chords later. Also remember that every thing in Music has a formula to it. Eg - A Major scale has a certain formula, a Major chord has a formula, a Minor chord has a formula and so on.
So, Chords that are found in a certain Key is the direct result of the the notes that are derived by applying the formula!
For eg - The formula of a Major Chord is 1-3-5. In the Key of C, if you play the 1st (C), 3rd (E) and 5th (G) note together you get a C Major Chord.

For more on Chord Formulas click here.

You can choose to memorize the following -

1) Chord formed on the 1st degree is a MAJOR - IM
2) Chord formed on the 2nd degee is a MINOR - IIm
3) Chord formed on the 3rd degee is a MINOR - IIIm
4) Chord formed on the 4th degee is a MAJOR - IVM
5) Chord formed on the 5th degee is a MAJOR - VM
6) Chord formed on the 6th degee is a MINOR - VIm
7) Chord formed on the 7th degee is a DIMINISHED - VIIdim

Please note that it is absolutely essential that you know the notes in each Key or Scale.

Lets apply the formula in a few keys to see what chords we get -

Chords in the Key of C - C - Dm - Em - F - G - Am - B dim

Chords in the Key of G - G - Am - Bm - C - D - Em - F#dim

Chords in the Key of F - F - Gm - Am - Bb - C - Dm - Edim

Work this idea with other keys and try and figure out Chords in all of the twelve keys!