This timeless 80s new wave hit from The Who features one of our favourite minor key chord progressions and can help beginners learn an AB type song structure.
The F major chord has an intimidating reputation as being difficult, but learning three simple alternatives will make this tune play effortlessly.
1. C-A-G-E-D
A guitar fretboard may seem intimidating at first, so it is helpful to memorize some basic things if you want to begin learning chords and scales.
CAGED system offers one effective means of doing this, pairing five open chord shapes with major scale patterns to cover the fretboard logically and methodically.
These chord shapes can also serve as the starting points for improvising solos and can serve as an overlay on pentatonic boxes, which feature 5 notes instead of 3, but have the same way they connect and lay atop chord structures. Both provide excellent avenues of musical creativity.
2. C-G-B-Am
This chord progression provides an effective way to become comfortable switching between various chords. Try counting aloud at beat 1 of each bar of music or use one of the training audios below to follow along and switch between pairs of chords in this pattern.
Consider learning how to move this chord shape around your neck. Keep in mind that cigar box guitar fretting employs a chromatic scale with both sharps and flats present alongside natural notes.
Note that this chord shape does not contain the third inversion; thus it can function both as a major and minor chord. These power chords are frequently seen in rock music.
5. D-C-G-E-D-B
Cadd9 chords are powerful sonic forces to be reckoned with; combining major chords with an extra note for added flair, this chord makes an impactful statement that can fit into any genre from modern country and classic rock, all the way through grunge like Green Day’s post-grunge hit “Wonderwall.”
Ed Sheeran employs the Cadd9 to produce an airy sound on his acoustic ballad “Perfect.” This song offers another opportunity to showcase your Cadd9 strumming abilities on an acoustic guitar.
Make sure your pinky finger doesn’t touch the 3rd string – this may take practice to achieve. Strum your chords and verify each is sounding clearly before strumming further.