How do they know what to play?
Guitar players can find things quickly. Many guitarists have memorized where chords are
located. However, finding chords is often easier than learning millions of Chinese
characters. It's because there is a shortcut to understanding the guitar fretboard.
Root Notes
Most chords can be moved up and down the guitar fretboard. For example, if you
have a E chord then you can move the shape (pattern) down two frets. This movement will
change the F chord to a G chord. It's because the G root note is two frets down from
the F root note.
The root note is the key to finding chords (and scales) on the fretboard. Let's look
at fretboard chart.
Guitar
Fretboard Chart (all notes)
As you can see, the G root note is indeed on the 3rd fret of the the Low E string. It is
two frets down from the F root note on the 1st fret (of the Low E string).
Of course, we can not only move chords around but also chord progressions.
Root Notes
Movable Chord Progressions
Chord progressions are groups of chords which sound good together. For example, the key
of G progression contains the chords G, C and D. However, let's say we wanted to play an
A chord progression. First of all, we would move the G root note (on the low E string)
down two frets to the A root note. The G bar chord shape would be come the A bar chord
shape. The A bar chord will be the main chord for the A chord progression.
Now we have to find the D and E chords. We know the A chord progression contains the D and
E chords because they are two frets down from the C and D chords (C and D root notes).
Therefore we would look on the A string to find C root note and the C bar chord. We would
then move this shape down two frets to get the D root note and D bar chord.
Next, we would find the D root note and bar chord of the G progression. We would move it
down two frets to obtain the E bar chord. Now we have found all three chords for the
A progression. Those chords being A, D and E which are two steps down from G, C and D.
Overview
Note: The root notes have been bolded and underlined.
How to Read the Notation
We want to change the G chord progression (G, C and D chords) into the A chord progression
(A, D and E chords).
1. We find the G root note on the low E string. Next, we make a G bar chord.
G bar chord - 3 5 5 4 3 3
2. We move that G bar chord down two frets to make an A bar chord.
A bar chord - 5 7 7 6 5 5
3. Next, we know that the C chord belongs in the G chord progression. Therefore, we find
the C root note on the A string. We proceed to make a C bar chord.
C bar chord - x 3 5 5 5 3
4. Now we want to move it (the root note and C bar chord) down two frets because we moved
the A chord down two frets. If we do this movement then we get a D bar chord.
D bar chord - x 5 7 7 7 5
5. Finally we need to find the D root note of the G progression. Next, we need to move
that root note and D bar chord down two frets. If we move it then we will have the E
bar chord. Remember we moved it down because root notes are like algebra. If you do
one thing to one chord then you have to do it to the others.
Anyhow, we know have the E bar chord.
D bar chord - x 5 7 7 7 5
becomes
E bar chord - x 7 9 9 9 7
Now we have changed the G chord progression (G, C and D chords) into the A chord
progression (A, D and E chords).
Now let's look at some various bar chords that can be moved.
Bar Chord Chart
Movable Guitar Scales
Guitar scales can also be moved up and down the fretboard. Check out the next lesson.
Movable Guitar Scales
and
Guitar Fretboard Chart Lesson.