As an absolute beginner to guitar chords, it may be challenging to absorb all this information at first. But everything will come together eventually!
Chords are composed from simple scales and formed using intervals of thirds. A major triad is an example of such an easy chord.
Easy
Learn the guitar chords Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) from Don McLean’s popular song with this tutorial that features video lessons, backing tracks and tabs.
This song’s acoustic beauty provides an ideal environment for developing fingerpicking patterns, while its melancholic melody and emotive storytelling enable players to dive deep into its story of artistry, mental health struggles and finding beauty even amid chaos. For beginner guitarists this piece provides both fun and rewarding playing experiences; its narrative of artistry, mental health struggles and finding beauty even amid turmoil is engaging to watch as a tale is told through lyrics, melody, melancholy melodies, emotive storytelling and expressive chording. For beginners this piece will teach Don’s part note-for-note with full performance-standard play through video instruction as well as detailed tabs and chords which will open on PC or Mac compatible Zip programs when downloading as a zip file lesson file upon download (zipped files can only open with compatible Zip programs).
Intermediate
An intermediate guitarist must be ready to progress beyond open chord movement and strumming to start learning 7th, 9th and other chord voicings that may not always sit comfortably with them. Furthermore, they should possess palm muting expertise as well as understand how hammer-on and pull-off techniques add extra texture and color to their chord playing.
One of the cornerstones of intermediate guitar playing is mastery of chord change smoothly and effortlessly. Practice this skill using a metronome until it becomes instinctive. “Vincent” by Don McLean provides an ideal opportunity to perfect this technique as its eight note composition makes strumming easy without needing complex chords.
This song also makes extensive use of syncopation – accented strums between beats that add drive, funkiness and coolness – which adds drive, fun and coolness to guitar strumming.
Advanced
Advanced jazz guitarists will find this book an encompassing and well organized collection of chordal concepts that span from basic three note shell voicings (three note shell voicings) through close and open position triads, “walking guitar”, Shearing-style voicings with drop 2 reductions, Shearing style drop two reductions, upper structure chords triad pairs extensions in dominant cycles quartal harmony etc. etc.
He also covers Shearing style chord melody scales and his “tweaked” diminished voicings (which feature b9s etc), although unlike Barry Harris he doesn’t make the connection between these voicings and minor 6th diminished scales. All-in-all this book remains an excellent resource and invaluable reference.
Blues
Learn Vincent (Starry Starry Night) by Don McLean on guitar with this easy guitar lesson, featuring video instruction, performance play-through video, full tabs chords and lyrics.
We’re moving beyond open chords for this exercise and onto a set of movable blues chords, perfect for beginners looking to add blues feel into their playing. Also take some time getting used to dominant chords as these can add tension unlike their natural counterparts.
To play these chords, press down on your index finger firmly with it to create rich-sounding chords that may prove challenging for beginners at first. However, it’s worth persevering as this type of chord shape works all along the neck for a much more varied sound than just simple open chords.