Wonderful Tonight is an iconic Eric Clapton tune, known for its vibrant chords. For guitarists beginning their musical journeys, Wonderful Tonight provides an ideal lesson, using simple voicings and progressions that beginners can pick up quickly.
This song provides an ideal way to practice moving laterally across the fretboard, while simultaneously emphasizing accuracy over speed when learning these chords.
E major
E major is one of the most ubiquitous chords on guitar, and often one of the first that beginners encounter. Additionally, this chord serves as an ideal foundation when learning progressions as it works well with many melodies and keys (such as songs written in E major using E, A and B chords to form one sequence or IV and V sequences).
Try different voicings of this chord to achieve unique sounds, such as using only three strings to play an overdriven or distorted tonality. Or add in the fifth note for sus2 shape – although this can be challenging for new players but will help build dexterity in fingers, create independent control over every finger, and speed up fretboard progression faster! Practice until your fingers leave dents in their tips from pressing too hard!
E minor
The E minor chord, also known as Em, is an ideal guitar chord to begin learning. Requiring only two fingers to play, this chord can be found in numerous songs by Eric Clapton such as his hit single “Wonderful Tonight”. Part of the E minor pentatonic scale, this chord produces a deep yet melancholic sound when played.
E minor chords are widely employed in rock and blues music. They elicit emotions such as sorrow, longing and melancholy; as well as creating tension and anticipation within a song due to being followed by major (C7) or dominant (B7) chords which provide harmonic movement.
To create this chord, place your middle finger on the second fret of the 5th string and your ring finger on the second fret of the 4th string, and strum all six strings with these fingers in this position while keeping all six open at all times. Take four beats off before lifting your hands from strings – repeat this exercise to memorize its shape!
A sus2
The A sus2 chord, commonly abbreviated to Asus2 or DSus2, is an easy chord to play. Similar to a major chord without its third note present, its fuller sound makes up for any sharpness associated with major seventh chords.
Sus chords are an indispensable element of musical harmony and serve to elicit anticipation and tension in your music, adding depth and color. By postponing resolution of dominant chords to their tonic chords using two or four note patterns, sus chords remain in harmonic limbo until eventually dissolving downward.
Taken advantage of with a capo at the second fret, try switching back and forth between major chords and an A sus2 for an engaging blend of movement and stability. You’ll hear this type of progression in KT Tunstall’s Other Side Of The World opening track; C and G suspended chords also work nicely; just make sure your open E string remains muted during practice!
G major
G major is an amazing guitar chord that can be played in various styles and genres, including rock. You might recognize its use from AC/DC’s Highway To Hell or Shook Me All Night Long songs; and even hymns and religious songs use G major as their key.
To play this chord on guitar, all six strings will need to be engaged simultaneously. Your fingers may require stretching slightly; just be sure not to mute other strings by keeping them curved as this will lead to cleaner sound quality.
One variation of this chord involves skipping the third string and double fifth instead, to increase power and energy of the chord. Also, practicing finger stretching exercises prior to playing this chord will help strengthen grip on strings while alleviating finger pain.