Chords
So, what is a chord?
It would be easy to step off into the deep end of music theory, but that’s not what the Chord Buddy is all about. My philosophy has and always will be to get people playing, let them have fun and make the music their own. Music should come from a person’s heart and not just a regurgitation of notes from a printed piece of sheet music. Sure, they’ll pick up some “theory” along the way, but only when they need and want to.
Anyway, back to that question —What is a chord? The simplest way to describe it is that a chord is three or more notes that sound good, when played together. And that’s really all you need to know for now. But, if you’re dying to learn more, then keep reading.
A chord is called a triad. To help you remember this I always think tri means three notes and ad means added together. But, not just any three notes will work – mostly the ones that follow the pattern of 1-3-5. To illustrate this, let’s look at the table below:
The Chord Buddy includes the tabs to form the necessary chords to play in the key of G. For reasons that will be explained in a few moments, this includes the G, C, D, and E-minor chords. As such, the above table includes the G, C, D, and E-minor scales, along with the notes of each scale numbered one through eight.
Now, using this scale, let’s apply that 1-3-5 pattern to the G-chord using this table. The first note of the G scale is the G (called the “root” of the chord), the third note is the B, and the fifth note is the D. These three notes, when played together, form the G-chord. The blue button on the Chord Buddy forms the G-chord:
The 6th string (E-string) is fretted at the third fret to play a G;
The 5th string (A-string) is fretted at the second fret to play a B;
The 4th string (D-string) is played without fretting to play a D;
The 3rd string (G-string) is played without fretting to play a G;
The 2nd string (B-string) is played without fretting to play a B; and
The 1st string (E-string) is fretted at the third fret to play a G.
Thus, when you press the blue button on the Chord Buddy and strum all six strings, you will be playing a G-chord, with each string noting either a G, B, or D.
Chord Progressions
As noted earlier, the Chord Buddy comes with the tabs to form the necessary chords to play in the key of G- the G, C, D, and E-minor chords. But, why do these chords make up the key of G? Why not G, B, and D, like we used to form the chord?
While we use the pattern 1-3-5 to form a chord, we use the l-IV-V-vi-ii-iii pattern to form a family of major and minor chords, called a chord progression, in any specific key.
Note: When referring to the notes of a scale, we use numbers. When referring to chords in a progression, we use roman numerals. Capitalized roman numerals denote the major chords (I-IV-V) and the lowercased roman numerals (vi-ii-iii) identify the minor chords.
Let’s say you found the chords to your favorite song, but it is in the key of A (A, D, E and F-minor chords. Don’t fret, because you can easily convert it to the key of G, so you can play it with the Chord Buddy, or any other key you desire using the l-IV-V-vi pattern.
The following table illustrates the major and minor chords for the keys of G and A. Thus to change from the key of A to the key of G, the A-chord becomes the G, the D-chord becomes the C, the E-chord becomes the D, and the F-minor-chord becomes the E-minor.
Chords
So, what is a chord?
It would be easy to step off into the deep end of music theory, but that’s not what the Chord Buddy is all about. My philosophy has and always will be to get people playing, let them have fun and make the music their own. Music should come from a person’s heart and not just a regurgitation of notes from a printed piece of sheet music. Sure, they’ll pick up some “theory” along the way, but only when they need and want to.
Anyway, back to that question —What is a chord? The simplest way to describe it is that a chord is three or more notes that sound good, when played together. And that’s really all you need to know for now. But, if you’re dying to learn more, then keep reading.
A chord is called a triad. To help you remember this I always think tri means three notes and ad means added together. But, not just any three notes will work – mostly the ones that follow the pattern of 1-3-5. To illustrate this, let’s look at the table below:
The Chord Buddy includes the tabs to form the necessary chords to play in the key of G. For reasons that will be explained in a few moments, this includes the G, C, D, and E-minor chords. As such, the above table includes the G, C, D, and E-minor scales, along with the notes of each scale numbered one through eight.
Now, using this scale, let’s apply that 1-3-5 pattern to the G-chord using this table. The first note of the G scale is the G (called the “root” of the chord), the third note is the B, and the fifth note is the D. These three notes, when played together, form the G-chord. The blue button on the Chord Buddy forms the G-chord:
The 6th string (E-string) is fretted at the third fret to play a G;
The 5th string (A-string) is fretted at the second fret to play a B;
The 4th string (D-string) is played without fretting to play a D;
The 3rd string (G-string) is played without fretting to play a G;
The 2nd string (B-string) is played without fretting to play a B; and
The 1st string (E-string) is fretted at the third fret to play a G.
Thus, when you press the blue button on the Chord Buddy and strum all six strings, you will be playing a G-chord, with each string noting either a G, B, or D.
Chord Progressions
As noted earlier, the Chord Buddy comes with the tabs to form the necessary chords to play in the key of G- the G, C, D, and E-minor chords. But, why do these chords make up the key of G? Why not G, B, and D, like we used to form the chord?
While we use the pattern 1-3-5 to form a chord, we use the l-IV-V-vi-ii-iii pattern to form a family of major and minor chords, called a chord progression, in any specific key.
Note: When referring to the notes of a scale, we use numbers. When referring to chords in a progression, we use roman numerals. Capitalized roman numerals denote the major chords (I-IV-V) and the lowercased roman numerals (vi-ii-iii) identify the minor chords.
Let’s say you found the chords to your favorite song, but it is in the key of A (A, D, E and F-minor chords. Don’t fret, because you can easily convert it to the key of G, so you can play it with the Chord Buddy, or any other key you desire using the l-IV-V-vi pattern.
The following table illustrates the major and minor chords for the keys of G and A. Thus to change from the key of A to the key of G, the A-chord becomes the G, the D-chord becomes the C, the E-chord becomes the D, and the F-minor-chord becomes the E-minor.
Chords
So, what is a chord?
It would be easy to step off into the deep end of music theory, but that’s not what the Chord Buddy is all about. My philosophy has and always will be to get people playing, let them have fun and make the music their own. Music should come from a person’s heart and not just a regurgitation of notes from a printed piece of sheet music. Sure, they’ll pick up some “theory” along the way, but only when they need and want to.
Anyway, back to that question —What is a chord? The simplest way to describe it is that a chord is three or more notes that sound good, when played together. And that’s really all you need to know for now. But, if you’re dying to learn more, then keep reading.
A chord is called a triad. To help you remember this I always think tri means three notes and ad means added together. But, not just any three notes will work – mostly the ones that follow the pattern of 1-3-5. To illustrate this, let’s look at the table below:
The Chord Buddy includes the tabs to form the necessary chords to play in the key of G. For reasons that will be explained in a few moments, this includes the G, C, D, and E-minor chords. As such, the above table includes the G, C, D, and E-minor scales, along with the notes of each scale numbered one through eight.
Now, using this scale, let’s apply that 1-3-5 pattern to the G-chord using this table. The first note of the G scale is the G (called the “root” of the chord), the third note is the B, and the fifth note is the D. These three notes, when played together, form the G-chord. The blue button on the Chord Buddy forms the G-chord:
The 6th string (E-string) is fretted at the third fret to play a G;
The 5th string (A-string) is fretted at the second fret to play a B;
The 4th string (D-string) is played without fretting to play a D;
The 3rd string (G-string) is played without fretting to play a G;
The 2nd string (B-string) is played without fretting to play a B; and
The 1st string (E-string) is fretted at the third fret to play a G.
Thus, when you press the blue button on the Chord Buddy and strum all six strings, you will be playing a G-chord, with each string noting either a G, B, or D.
Chord Progressions
As noted earlier, the Chord Buddy comes with the tabs to form the necessary chords to play in the key of G- the G, C, D, and E-minor chords. But, why do these chords make up the key of G? Why not G, B, and D, like we used to form the chord?
While we use the pattern 1-3-5 to form a chord, we use the l-IV-V-vi-ii-iii pattern to form a family of major and minor chords, called a chord progression, in any specific key.
Note: When referring to the notes of a scale, we use numbers. When referring to chords in a progression, we use roman numerals. Capitalized roman numerals denote the major chords (I-IV-V) and the lowercased roman numerals (vi-ii-iii) identify the minor chords.
Let’s say you found the chords to your favorite song, but it is in the key of A (A, D, E and F-minor chords. Don’t fret, because you can easily convert it to the key of G, so you can play it with the Chord Buddy, or any other key you desire using the l-IV-V-vi pattern.
The following table illustrates the major and minor chords for the keys of G and A. Thus to change from the key of A to the key of G, the A-chord becomes the G, the D-chord becomes the C, the E-chord becomes the D, and the F-minor-chord becomes the E-minor.
Chords
So, what is a chord?
It would be easy to step off into the deep end of music theory, but that’s not what the Chord Buddy is all about. My philosophy has and always will be to get people playing, let them have fun and make the music their own. Music should come from a person’s heart and not just a regurgitation of notes from a printed piece of sheet music. Sure, they’ll pick up some “theory” along the way, but only when they need and want to.
Anyway, back to that question —What is a chord? The simplest way to describe it is that a chord is three or more notes that sound good, when played together. And that’s really all you need to know for now. But, if you’re dying to learn more, then keep reading.
A chord is called a triad. To help you remember this I always think tri means three notes and ad means added together. But, not just any three notes will work – mostly the ones that follow the pattern of 1-3-5. To illustrate this, let’s look at the table below:
The Chord Buddy includes the tabs to form the necessary chords to play in the key of G. For reasons that will be explained in a few moments, this includes the G, C, D, and E-minor chords. As such, the above table includes the G, C, D, and E-minor scales, along with the notes of each scale numbered one through eight.
Now, using this scale, let’s apply that 1-3-5 pattern to the G-chord using this table. The first note of the G scale is the G (called the “root” of the chord), the third note is the B, and the fifth note is the D. These three notes, when played together, form the G-chord. The blue button on the Chord Buddy forms the G-chord:
The 6th string (E-string) is fretted at the third fret to play a G;
The 5th string (A-string) is fretted at the second fret to play a B;
The 4th string (D-string) is played without fretting to play a D;
The 3rd string (G-string) is played without fretting to play a G;
The 2nd string (B-string) is played without fretting to play a B; and
The 1st string (E-string) is fretted at the third fret to play a G.
Thus, when you press the blue button on the Chord Buddy and strum all six strings, you will be playing a G-chord, with each string noting either a G, B, or D.
Chord Progressions
As noted earlier, the Chord Buddy comes with the tabs to form the necessary chords to play in the key of G- the G, C, D, and E-minor chords. But, why do these chords make up the key of G? Why not G, B, and D, like we used to form the chord?
While we use the pattern 1-3-5 to form a chord, we use the l-IV-V-vi-ii-iii pattern to form a family of major and minor chords, called a chord progression, in any specific key.
Note: When referring to the notes of a scale, we use numbers. When referring to chords in a progression, we use roman numerals. Capitalized roman numerals denote the major chords (I-IV-V) and the lowercased roman numerals (vi-ii-iii) identify the minor chords.
Let’s say you found the chords to your favorite song, but it is in the key of A (A, D, E and F-minor chords. Don’t fret, because you can easily convert it to the key of G, so you can play it with the Chord Buddy, or any other key you desire using the l-IV-V-vi pattern.
The following table illustrates the major and minor chords for the keys of G and A. Thus to change from the key of A to the key of G, the A-chord becomes the G, the D-chord becomes the C, the E-chord becomes the D, and the F-minor-chord becomes the E-minor.