The A major chord is an essential building block of guitar playing. It can be found across genres and can be executed many different ways.
We will learn to play Coldplay’s popular song Yellow on acoustic guitar in this lesson! Featuring four easy chords and driving 8th all down strumming, this piece is ideal for beginner guitarists!
Key of B Major
This key has five sharps, so chords constructed using scale degrees 1, 3, 5, and 7 will all produce major chords; when an additional sixth note is added to a triad, however, it becomes a minor chord.
This key can be slightly more challenging to use due to having sharps at both the bottom and top of its scale, but don’t be put off – just take time getting used to it and eventually it should come naturally.
Verse 1: G
The initial progression in G is composed of a flattened third and 7th, creating a modal feel, perfect for the Seattle grunge genre.
Songs will often open in one key and change to the key of the chorus; this technique is particularly common among folk songs.
One way to address this is by picking one chord from each verse and basing an original progression off it for the intro, giving your song a fresh new start without sounding repetitive.
Verse 2: D
Thom uses only notes from major and minor pentatonic scales in this progression to avoid clashing harmonically, with only an exception being a C natural in the bass which doesn’t belong to D major but works over this chord progression.
The bridge adds contrast by switching to an unconventional IImaj7 chord–in this case Bbmaj7 in C key–that allows melody to ascend a register and creates dramatic tension.
Verse 3: E
Sheet music indicates chords by their key signature. This indicates how sharp or flat its notes are.
At approximately one minute and thirteen seconds into the next verse, its opening phrase recalls the arching pattern found in the opening interlude but becomes increasingly chromatic on piano part.
At “aufwarts fahre”, the voice drops two full chords to an expected resolution in G major, but with an unexpected addition: an accompanying bass throbs low below.
Verse 4: C
This song’s verse features borrowed chords that alternate between major and minor keys – an effective way of adding chromaticism without overdoing it.
C major is the major triad in this chord, yet as its diagram illustrates, the chord also contains a minor interval that gives it its somewhat melancholic sound.
This chord, also known as a flat-III or Picardy third, often appears at the end of a verse to give songs an energetic finish.
Chorus: G
Chord progressions are a critical aspect of music theory, and understanding them is integral to writing your own songs. Acquiring knowledge about intervals is also critical and this can make an enormous difference when playing certain chords.
This chord progression in G major makes use of a basic triad shape. Triads contain three individual notes and are the easiest type of chord to play; therefore they serve as an excellent introduction when learning how to play barre chords.
Chorus 2: D
Once we reach the chorus, a whole new side to this song emerges: crashing cymbals and an elegant walking bass line emerge, with Paul McCartney taking advantage of any gaps between chord changes (marked by beats 3 and 4) to add extra notes into its rhythmic fabric.
This bass line begins by beginning on the root note of its chord, then ascending an octave higher in order to harmonize with G at its highest note. Musicologists refer to this type of chord progression as a pivot chord – it provides an easy and seamless way to transition through key changes without losing momentum.
Chorus 3: E
Chorus progressions that shift keys subtly can add an element of musical surprise to your songs, like this one from C to E major.
Reason being, this technique works because the third of a v chord has been raised a half step, creating an “leading tone” which tends to move toward C, creating an ideal solution.
An enjoyable song to sing around a campfire, this tune uses all five necessary chords and is easy for beginners to learn.