Tag Archives: bar chords

teaching

May Lesson Materials

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In May I focused on two projects. In my Guitar Method Book I wrote Unit 10: More Bar Chords with the Root on the E String. I also put together a separate document called Progressions Using Only Three Chords.

For Unit 10: More Bar Chords with the Root on the E String, I added BbM, BM, CM, and Bm. I had previously added these chords as bar chords played with the root on the A string, but sometimes they are played with the root on the E string, depending on the rest of the chords in the progression. This is my longest unit by far, and it will be my last unit focusing on bar chords. I haven’t covered every single possible bar chord, but I’ve covered the most common ones that will allow students to play progressions in the most common keys, and hopefully at this point they could extrapolate how to play any additional bar chords that they might come across (like F#M, Cm, etc.).

I also had the idea to focus on all of the different progressions (within a four-measure phrase) that could be created using only three chords. Since there are many songs that only use three chords, I thought it might be a good idea to focus on exercises that (1) teach students who want to write their own songs how much variation they can have, even if they are using very little material, (2) show ukulele students that they can play a lot of music with only three chords once they finish Lesson 2, (3) show guitar students that they can play a lot of music with only three chords once they finish Lesson 4, (4) show students how common it is to have progressions using I IV V when they start to recognize that those chords are used in the songs they know, and (5) give advanced students who are learning scales, modes, and riffs more variations to practice over. In the composition/songwriting version (Progressions Using Only Three Chords, found on my Composition/Songwriting page) I only used the Roman Numerals below the staff, so that it is left open for them to choose whichever keys they prefer. For guitar, I focused on the key of G Major, so in addition to the Roman Numerals below the staff, I also added the chord symbols (GM CM DM) above the staff (Progressions Using Only Three Chords for Beginning Guitar, found on my Guitar page). For ukulele, I focused on the key of C Major and also added the chord symbols (CM FM GM) above the staff (Progressions Using Only Three Chords for Beginning Ukulele, found on my Ukulele page).

Please let me know if you use any of these teaching materials with your students, and if you find them helpful, or if you have any questions or comments.

teaching

March and April Lesson Materials

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In March and April, I gave the bar chords lessons in my Guitar Method Book an overhaul. I moved some chords and exercises around, and even added a few more bar chords. All of these materials and more can be found in the “FOR MY STUDENTS” drop-down menu under “GUITAR”.

Here is a detailed description of what I changed and added:

In Unit 6, Lesson 36, I now introduce the high Em bar chord (with the root on the A string) to use in progressions where it is more appropriate/easier than the original low Em chord (starting with a i iv v progression in A minor, but not i iv v in E minor). I also incorporated it into Lesson 38 in 12-Bar Blues in A minor, but again not in E minor. 

In Unit 7, Lesson 43, I now introduce Am as a bar chord (with the root on the E string) to use in progressions where it is more appropriate/easier than the original Am chord (i iv v progressions in D minor and A minor). I also incorporated it into Lesson 44 in i VII VI V and i V VI VII progressions in A minor, as well as in Lesson 45 in 12-Bar Blues in D minor and A minor. 

In Unit 8, I was originally going to add DM and high EM as bar chords (with the root on the A string), but instead I decided to introduce them in their own unit. I went through all of Unit 8 and removed any progressions with DM and EM that would work better with them as bar chords (I IV V progressions using bar chords in G Major, D Major, and A Major etc.). Unit 8 still focuses on introducing BbM, BM, and CM as bar chords (with the root on the A string), using mostly progressions in the keys of F Major, C Major, E Major, E minor, D minor, and A minor.

In Unit 9 I finally introduce DM and high EM as bar chords (with the root on the A string), using mostly progressions in the keys of G Major, D Major, A Major, A minor, G minor, and a few in D minor and E minor. In Lesson 68 I also introduce the high FM bar chord (with the root on the A string) because it made more sense as a VI chord in A minor when using the high EM bar chord as V, and also in the key of D minor as the III chord.

Please let me know if you use any of these teaching materials with your students, and if you find them helpful, or if you have any questions or comments.