Many students gathered Tuesday evening at the Jefferson Theater to watch Noah Cyrus, younger sister of Miley Cyrus. Her performance brought both emotion and power with slower ballads mixed in with upbeat dance tunes.
The music video for “July” perfectly compliments its lyrics and instrumentation, capturing its feeling of longing and heartbreak. It includes scenes with two men–one white and one black–on a boat that may symbolize a toxic love triangle.
Am
In this lesson we’ll be looking at one of the easiest chord types, known as triads. A triad is composed of three notes separated by what is known as a chord interval.
Major and minor triads are two of the easiest guitar chords. Both share a basic shape; however, major triads contain notes from major scales while minor triads contain notes from minor scales.
Chord diagrams typically utilize circular note markers or other shapes on strings and frets as note markers, with circles or other shapes used to represent which finger is on that fret. Muted strings (Xs) may also be indicated to denote non-played notes.
C
The open C major chord (C-E-G) is one of the first guitar chords most players learn and a mainstay in rock or country songs.
To create a more powerful version of the C major chord, move up to the eighth fret and use your index finger as a bar across all six strings, with all six being played by barring. This form is called a barre chord and sounds more robust without playing low E string.
This strumming pattern breaks from the usual rhythmic expectation that musicians create with their beats, creating a sense of syncopation that keeps listeners interested and engaged with music. Many musicians aim to develop this type of variation over time.
G
G chord is an ideal starting point for beginners as many of its open shapes are easy to finger and do not require much stretching. Furthermore, it provides a perfect opportunity to experiment with more advanced chords such as sevenths and ninths.
TIP – when transitioning from G to C chords, keep your ring finger on the B string both times for ease. This process is called pivoting and should make changing chords much simpler. Additionally, don’t forget to practice these chords often so as to develop muscle memory and accuracy! Good luck!
E
The E major barre chord is one of the easiest and simplest guitar chords to learn and play, providing the foundation for many popular rock songs as well as ancient compositions like Greensleeves.
To play an E chord, simply barr all six strings with your first finger placed on the A string fret 7; your second should land on D string fret 12 and third on G string fret 14. Mute low E string so as not to sound muddy; once this chord has been formed and played successfully, enjoy its strength in your songs!