Blending blues, rock and country honk styles seamlessly, this easy-to-learn hit by Brad Paisley offers a great opportunity for learning the G chord. Hank Williams popularized single-note picking technique which defined country guitar playing; Hank’s single note picking technique helped shape country guitar playing as we know it today and this song provides an example of simple progressions with catchy melodies.
Note that to change a chord you may need to sacrifice a chord shape; this is acceptable as long as any substitute chords are either major or minor!
1. C Major
Cmaj7 chords consist of the root (C), major third (E), and perfect fifth (G). This chord formula can be used to build minor and major triads.
Diminished chords may not be easy to use, but they can add tension and depth to your music. Clean Bandit uses them on their popular pop hit 7 Years for this very effect.
2. G Major
G major chord is one of the first chords most guitarists learn and is generally played using three fingers from your 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers.
Beethoven employs diatonic common chord modulation at measure 14 to smoothly transition from G major into E minor. Because Em doesn’t function as the fifth note in G, he uses chromatic alteration in order to do this.
3. D Major
This song uses three basic open chords – A, D and E – as its core foundation. Beginners should find its strumming pattern straightforward; just play downstrokes while palm muting the high E string.
D major has a perfect fifth (F), meaning it contains all the notes in its major scale, making for an upbeat sounding chord and serving as the key’s tonic chord.
4. E Major
This chord progression uses diatonic common chord modulation for quick and effortless transition between closely related keys.
To play this sequence, place your index finger on the fifth fret of A string (an E) and your ring finger on seventh fret of G string (an octave E). Now move these two fingers up and down the scale an octave each time.
5. F Major
F Major is often one of the toughest chords for beginner guitarists to master, particularly if playing it using full barre version that produces lots of buzzing strings.
Use this shape for more advanced triad extensions like 7-9-11-13 (known as upper structure triads). They add greater complexity but could unlock endless potential in your guitar playing!
6. A Major
Carrie Underwood shows her country skills off in this popular song. With its easy learning approach, this smash hit can help refine your strumming hand technique and become part of your strumming routine.
Sometimes chords can be challenging to label because they don’t fall neatly into either major or minor categories of notes. A slash might help communicate this type of chord, such as B6(add #9)/E; however, I find naming chords according to their functions more helpful.
7. B Major
A seventh chord can be defined as the combination of a triad and one note to form an interval of a seventh above its root note, whether major, minor or dominant in nature.
Cmaj7 chord is formed from the initial three notes (root, third and fifth) from C major scale plus B. It creates tension but eventually gives way to I chord.
9. D Minor
Another bizarre chord, with 13ths! This chord features three modifications and thus comes close to being an altered dominant. It reflects the Aeolian mode perfectly!
Be mindful when playing this chord not to let your fingers or hand become fatigued! Make sure your back knuckle remains secure, and that your thumb remains perpendicular to the fretboard rather than leaning in towards it.