Chord Scales
An Introduction to the Harmonized Major Scale, and Applying it to a Song
In this lesson path, you'll learn about the harmonized major scale AKA a chord scale. Chord scales help you better understand the fingerboard. Learning this can help greatly with your rhythm and lead playing. After learning about the chord scale we'll apply some of those patterns to a song. Lean on Me is a song most everyone has heard at some point, and it has a chord scale built right into the song. It's a really fun tune, and will be a great vehicle to demonstrate the chord scale concept. We'll also go over a few licks that show ways you can modify the chord scale to get some cool new sounds by leaving notes out, or adding them in.
- 16 Video Lessons
- 6 Licks
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C Major Chord Scale
Root Shapes
This is a Chord Scale! Say hello to all the chords in the key of C : ) You may have played some of these chords before, but maybe never in this order. These chords are what's known as a root shape....
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G Major Chord Scale
Same Root Shapes, Different Root Place
So, as you can see. This is the same pattern from our C major chord scale. The only difference is our root notes! Check out the tab. These are all the chords in the key of G. Since we're starting a...
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First Inversion - C Major
Another Chord Scale, but Using Different Chord Shapes
Here we are. Not too crazy, right? Check out the video to see suggested fingering. Notice that after the first transition from C to D minor, the pinky stays on the first string. The pointer finger ...
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First Inversion - G Major
Its' Like...We've Seen this Before.
Same pattern! The only difference is our first chord doesn't use any open strings.
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2nd Inversion - C Major
The Last Inversion
This last shape is not commonly used in bluegrass backup. It's a great one to know though. It further demystifies the fret board. Pieces of these chords are very often used in lead playing. Especia...
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2nd Inversion - G Major
Here We Go Again
Check out the G Major chord scale using 2nd inversion shapes.
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Lean on Me
Using the Chord Scale in a Song
These chords are right out of the scale. The timing is a bit tricky. Some of the chords fall on the off beat. This is called <b>syncopation</b>. Learning to hear, feel, and play with th...
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Backup Playing Using the Chord Scale
Rolling Backup, and Chord Scale movement
Notice that we're still using pieces of the 1st inversion chord shapes in the rolling backup. We'll go through a few licks in the next lesson. These licks will show how you can use different pieces...
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A New Voicing
Get a New Sound by Using a Different Piece of the Same Chord
This lick uses three notes from the same chords we've seen before. Because we are leaving out the low D string, it sounds different. A different note is now the lowest note we hear. Playing this sa...
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Chromatic Chord Movement
A Cool New Lick
Check out the second half of this lick. Our two note chord goes from the 3rd fret, to the 4th fret, and finishes on the 5th. Neither of the notes on the 4th fret are in the key of C. But because we...
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Using Different Chord Shapes Together
Going Up, But Staying in The Same Position
Playing the drone G string at the same time of the F chord gets what's called a "suspended" sound. Pretty ain't it?
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Lean on Me 2
Same Song with Root Shapes
Try to leave that bar in place, even when playing the major chords. It's one less thing to move with your fret hand.
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Lean on Me - Root Shape Backup
Using the Root Shape in the Context of a Song
This backup arrangement is all about the root shape.
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6 Degrees of Separation
Major and Minor 6th Lick Voicings
New voicing, who dis? In the second half of this lick, we leave out the notes on the B string. For this voicing we have the Root note on the high D string. The note on the G string is the second ch...
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Syncopation City
Time for Something Cool
As mentioned in a previous lesson, syncopation is an important aspect of R & B and soul music. This lick highlights that. You may need to loop it in the full song, along with measure 3, to really g...
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Majoring on the Minor
A Cool Piano Style Lick
One note. One note is the only difference between this, and the normal measure. It changes the sound so much! The last chord starts as a minor, but then we hammer on the major note. This is really ...