Chord progressions

Chord Progression Lesson

Okay, so what we're going to do next is actually look at putting these chords together into some sort of sequence to make a chord progression.

Purpose of Chord Progressions

• This is where they start becoming useful, and we can start actually playing something that sounds like a song.
• In the PDF, we've got five sample progressions that I've given you, which incorporate all those nine chords we've covered so far.

Focus on the Left Hand

We want to focus on our left hand, so we'll keep our right hand super simple.

• Right Hand: For every single chord, we will use four downstrokes on that chord.
• This approach helps us concentrate on getting smooth-sounding changes with our left hand.

First Progression: C Major to A Minor

The first progression we're going to do is between a C major chord and an A minor chord.

• Important Tip: It's not always necessary to take all your fingers off the guitar and put them all back on again to fret the new chord.
• For example, to get from C major to A minor, I only need to move one finger, my third finger, underneath my second finger.
• The other two fingers will remain pressed against the string and continue ringing, producing a smooth transition.

Practice

• Let's set the tempo nice and slow, doing four downstrokes with the right hand on each chord.
• Repeat this a bunch of times to develop consistency in the chord change.
• Tip: A metronome can be helpful for maintaining a steady tempo.

Second Progression: E Major to A Major

Moving on to the next chord progression:

• We have a slightly longer one: E major, D major, and then two bars of A major.
• With these chords, we will need to change all our fingers for each chord change.

Helpful Practice Technique

• Fret the chords in your left hand and slowly move your fingers into the next position.
• Doing this can help mentally prepare you for the changes before you start playing the progression.

Third Progression: G Major to A Minor

Next, we're going to start with our G major chord.

• We'll move to C add nine and then to D major.
• For both of these changes, we can keep one or more fingers on the guitar during the chord change.
• Finally, we will finish with an A minor chord.

Enhanced Practice

• With a slightly more funky right hand, soon we could be playing something that resembles music you enjoy.

Fourth Progression: D Minor to G Major

Now onto chord progression number four:

• Start with D minor, then move to A minor, followed by C major (just our third finger moves here), and finish with G major.

Preparation

• If needed, fret these chords with your left hand to get comfortable before jumping in.

Fifth Progression: G Major to A Major

Lastly, for pattern number five:

• We'll use G major, D major, and then A major.

Key Takeaway

• The idea is to take those nine chords and play them in any combination to achieve smooth left-hand changes.

Right Hand Focus:

• Until you feel confident, keep the right hand really simple with all downstrokes.
• Concentrate on getting smooth changes, placing your fingers correctly, and getting clean chords.

Strumming Technique

When strumming:

• The movement should come from your wrist, not your elbow.
• Ensure your arm remains relaxed and free.

Final Thoughts

• Take your time, build up in stages, and you'll get there.
• We will move on to some strum patterns in the next lesson.