Chords
Latest about Chords

Learn how polychords and slash chords hold the key to musical exploration, just as scales do
By Richard Barrett published
Knowing the difference between slash chords and polychords can give you a much greater understanding of harmony

Get more out of one of guitar’s most important shapes with 5 chords that demystify the dominant 7th
By Richard Barrett published
They are so commonplace that we take the theory behind them for granted. Here are five 7th chords, the theory underpinning them, and some ideas for modifying them

5 dissonant guitar chords that hold unexpected delights
By Richard Barrett published
We're always talking about harmonious chord pairings, but these discordant shapes will bring tension and surprise to your playing

5 shapes to try using 6/9 chords – a voicing loved by the likes of Brian Setzer and a perfect closer
By Richard Barrett published
What are 6/9 chords? Well, it might sound complicated but they simply have the 6th and 9th of the parent scale, and their stacking of 4ths gives them a sound like no other

Open G tuning chords: 5 shapes you need to know
By Jon Bishop published
Loved by the likes of Joni Mitchell and Keith Richards, open G makes a good tuning for bottleneck blues, and these chords are essential voicings for exploring its musical potential

5 easy ways to make open chords more interesting
By Richard Barrett published
Players such as David Bowie and Joni Mitchell have deployed alternate voicings to great effect in their songwriting, and they can be a powerful songwriting tool to have under your belt

5 weird chord shapes that will add mystery, suspense and drama to your songwriting
By Richard Barrett published
Aspiring film soundtrack artists, apply within, because with high drama, sometimes you need something more exotic than an open G...

Jazz guitar theory 101: 5 ways you can use tritone substitutions to jazz up your chord progressions
By Richard Barrett published
Tritone substitutions are jazz theory 101 – and you don't need a degree from Berklee to put them into practice

30 open tuning chords you need to know
By Richard Barrett published
Expand your guitar vocab with chord ideas for Double Drop D, Open G, DADGAD, Open D and Open C tunings, favorite tunings for Keith Richards, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Page and more

Want to be a good rhythm guitarist? You need to know your 7th chords – and the CAGED system can help you find them all over the neck
By Simon Barnard published
It's time to throw some shapes on the fretboard, navigating using the CAGED system, and deploying chord choices that makes players like John Frusciante such great rhythm players
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