ACORDES
ACORDES
Introduction v
Major Chords 1
Minor Chords 9
Dominant 7th Chords 14
Minor 7th Chords 21
Simple Diminished Chords 26
Barre Chords 27
Introduction to Color Chords 36
Chords with Shared Treble Notes 37
Major 7th Chords 38
Chord Dictionary 39
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Introduction
The purpose of this handbook is to provide you visual resources as you are learning
guitar chords. Chords are sequenced in a fashion that takes into account a few factors,
including ease of play, commonality of play, type of chord, and other groupings (such as
barre chords). The book provides both standard chord visuals and pictures. Both of
these visual resource types are described below.
Chord Visuals
v
Numbers for Fingers on Chording Hand
Our chording hand is the hand with which we make
chords. Since most people play a “right handed” guitar,
the chording hand is most often the left hand.
We then end up with a chord visual like below, showing the complete information for the
chord. We need to keep in mind the following:
" What fingers are being used
" Where those fingers are placed on the fretboard (what frets and strings)
" What open strings are being played (O’s)
" What strings are NOT being played (X’s)
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Major Chords
1
E Major Chord
2
A Major Chord
3
G Major Chord
D Major Chord
4
Fingerings for D Major
5
C Major Chord
6
F Major Chord
7
Bb Major Chord
8
Minor Chords
9
E minor (Em)
The following fingering is useful to prepare for minor barre chords on the 6th string
10
A minor (Am)
11
D minor (Dm)
12
B minor (Bm)
13
Dominant Seventh Chords
14
E Dominant 7 Chord (E7)
The below fingering is useful for setting up dominant 7th barre chords on the 6th string.
15
A Dominant 7 (A7) Chord
Fingerings for A7
16
D Dominant 7 Chord (D7)
17
G Dominant 7 Chord (G7)
18
C Dominant 7 Chord (C7)
19
B Dominant 7 Chord (B7)
Fingerings for B7
20
Minor Seventh Chords
21
E Minor 7 Chord (Em7)
The following can be useful to prepping minor 7th barre chords on the 6th string.
22
A minor 7 (Am7)
The following fingering is useful to set up minor 7 barre chords on the fifth string
23
B Minor 7 (Bm7)
24
D Minor 7 (Dm7)
25
Simple Diminished Chords
The following visuals provide examples for a simple way to play diminished chords.
While this approach does not provide the individual root for each chord, it does provide
the harmonic support required. You can search for more particular and advanced
diminished chord shapes online.
26
Barre Chords
27
F Major Barre Chord (template for 6th string Major Barre Chords)
Examples of other 6th string major barre chords based on same shape:
F# Major Barre: Move the above shape up one fret.
G Major Barre: shape with barre finger on third fret
Ab Major Barre: move to fourth fret
28
B Major Barre Chord (template for 5th string Major Barre Chords)
Examples of other 5th string major barre chords based on same shape:
Bb Major Barre: Move shape back one fret, so barre finger is on first fret
C Major Barre: Move the above shape up one fret (to third fret).
Db Major Barre: move to fourth fret
29
F minor Barre Chord: (Template for 6th String Minor Barre Chords)
Examples of other 6th string minor barre chords based on same shape:
F# Minor Barre: Move the above shape up one fret.
G Minor Barre: shape with barre finger on third fret
Ab Minor Barre: move to fourth fret
30
Bb minor Barre Chord: Template for 5th String Minor Barre Chords
Examples of other 5th string minor barre chords based on same shape:
B Minor Barre: Move shape up one fret, so barre finger is on second fret
C Minor Barre: Move the above shape up two frets (to third fret).
31
F7 Barre Chord: Template for 6th String Dominant 7th Barre Chords
Examples of other 6th string 7th barre chords based on same shape:
F#7 Barre: Move the above shape up one fret.
G7 Barre: shape with barre finger on third fret
Ab7 Barre: move to fourth fret
32
Bb7 minor Barre: Template for 5th String Dominant 7th Chords
Examples of other 5th string 7th barre chords based on same shape:
B7 Barre: Move shape up one fret, so barre finger is on second fret
C7 Barre: Move the above shape up two frets (to third fret).
33
Fm7 Barre Chord: Template for Minor 7th Barre Chords, 6th String
Examples of other 6th string minor 7th barre chords based on same shape:
F#m7 Barre: Move the above shape up one fret.
Gm7 Barre: shape with barre finger on third fret
Abm7 Barre: move to fourth fret
34
Bbm7 Barre Chord: Template for Minor 7th Barre Chords, 5th String
35
Introduction to Color Chords
36
Chords with Shared Treble Voices
The below chords share notes in the upper register that make them appealing to use in
songs. They offer a continuous treble line. One might hear these used in contemporary
acoustic church bands, as well as in some popular music where the acoustic guitar is
highlighted. They are commonly used in chord progressions in the key of G. With the
below chords, the I, IV, V, and vi chords are presented.
37
Major 7th Chords: Common Examples
38
General Chord Reference Page
Major Chords
Minor Chords
39
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x The Guitar Chord Handbook (http://hdl.handle.net/1808/29433) provides
visuals for common open chords, as well as some barre and color chords.
x Videos for Strumming Patterns: Each strumming pattern has been video
recorded as a resource for you. These videos can be located at:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCZYIvXCKglMZHkCvJ9wqgd8cpC0eZHYd
Bill Matney, Ph.D., MT-BC is a professor in the music therapy program at the University
of Kansas. He has taught classes focusing on musicianship – primarily percussion and
guitar for music therapy and music education students – since 2006. He has authored
books, book chapters, and journal articles on the use of percussion in music therapy,
and brings a unique perspective on building skills on percussion, guitar, and piano. In
this set of visual and audio resources, Bill brings a perspective on teaching guitar that
focuses on practical skill building, seeking to develop each student's capacity for playing
in different styles and responding to different chord progressions.
Brenna Niemuth is an undergraduate music therapy major and guitar primary at the
University of Kansas. She demonstrates strong interest in developing guitar resources
for music therapy students and professionals.
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