Guitar Noise

Let’s return to the one-finger lesson series. The chord we’re learning today actually uses two fingers. It’s a minor chord, which means it feels kind of sad or final.

Here’s how to form the chord: we make our one-finger foundation shape and bar it across strings 1 to 3 or 1 to 4, whichever is more comfortable. We can do this on any fret, but I recommend fret 5. Finger 3 goes two frets up from your first finger, and sits on string 4. Pluck strings 2 through 4 with your right hand and debug any strings that don’t sound.

Let’s put this chord to use. We’ll play just a simple two five one progression. Here’s how we do it:
On fret five, form the chord just described. Then, play strings 2 through 4 on fret 7 with the one finger shape. Lastly, play this shape on fret 3, strings 1 to 3: the one-finger bar with finger 2 added onto fret 4.

Play those three chords together. Take the time to try different rhythms as you explore this progression. You’ll find this mini progression in countless songs.

In coming lessons, we may get into seeing the many shapes for playing one chord. This will be a great help in understanding how chord progressions work.

Thanks for reading.

Copyright © 2010 Darrin Koltow

This first appeared in the Guitar Noise News – May 15, 2008 newsletter. Reprinted with permission.