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Recap on Finding Chord Tones

Okay, so let's have a little recap on finding chord tones.

C Major Chord

Let's demonstrate one more time how we found the chord tones of the C major chord.

1. C Major Scale:

   • We will start with our C major scale because we're playing a C major chord.
   • We'll play through that scale and count the numbers as we go until we get to the C again.

   Counting the Notes:

   • If we do it right, we should get seven different notes before we reach C.
   • Count with me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
   • And there's our C again.

2. Creating the C Major Chord:

   • To create a C major chord from that group of notes, we need to take:
     • Note number one (C)
     • Note number three (E)
     • Note number five (G)

   Let's walk through that scale again, making a mental note of notes number one, three, and five:

   • 1: C
   • 2:
   • 3: E (that's an E note there)
   • 4:
   • 5: G

   So we've got C, E, and G.

3. Playing the C Major Chord:

   • That is the formula to play any C major chord on the guitar anywhere.

   • Play that combination of notes at the same time, and you're playing a C major chord.

   • A C major chord doesn't have to look like just one shape.

     • I could play C, E, and G here,
     • I could play C, E, and G here,
     • I could play a C and a G up here.

   There are loads of different places to play a C major chord, not just down here.

G Major Chord

Now, let's look at a different example for variety. We'll take a G major chord:

1. Strumming the G Major Chord:

   • We're strumming all six strings again, but that doesn't mean we're playing six different notes.

   • To find the chord tones in our G major chord, we'll play through the G major scale.

   • If you're unfamiliar with the shape of this, check out the technical exercises. There will be an example of a G major scale.

   Counting the Notes:

   • Let's count through our seven different notes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
   • And there's our G again.

2. Creating the G Major Chord:

   • Again, to make our G major chord, we'll take:
     • Note number one (G)
     • Note number three (B)
     • Note number five (D)

   Let's do that now:

   • 1: G (no surprises there)
   • 2:
   • 3: B (this is a B note here)
   • 4:
   • 5: D (and this is a D note here)

   The three notes we need to construct a G major chord are G (number one), B (number three), and D (number five).

3. Playing the G Major Chord:

   • Play those notes at the same time, and you're playing a G major chord.
   • That combination of notes anywhere on the guitar will give you a G major chord.

Changing to Minor Chords

To make either of those chords minor, as we discussed, all you need to do is:

• Take the third note (the middle one) and flatten it by one semitone (one fret).

G Major to G Minor:

• From our G major chord, we had: G, B, and D (1, 3, 5).
• Now, from our G major scale, let's flatten the B by one semitone (move it back one fret).

This gives us G minor. You can hear how the tone of that chord has massively changed:

• G major vs. G minor.

Practice Exercise

Now, go and try that in a few different keys and see how you get on!

• Finding Chord Tones:
  • Go to the scale of that root note on your chord.
  • For example, if you've picked A, find the A major scale, count through the notes of that scale, and make a note of:
    • Note number one
    • Note number three
    • Note number five

These will be your chord tones for that major chord.

• These are the good notes to target to start off your improvisation.

Good luck with that, and let's have a look at the next technique!