To create a suspended chord we need to replace the ‘3rd‘ in this case with the ‘4th‘.

For more information read the rest at bottom of page.

Open Chord: Dsus4

The box diagram below shows how to hold the Dsus4 if you’re previous chord is a D Major.

The box diagram below shows how to hold the Dsus4 if you’re previous chord is a D Minor.

Piano,

Chord Spelling: D, G, A

More info:

In the case of D major this would be D, F#, A

In the case of D minor this would be D, F, A

1st, 3rd, 5th = 3rd = maj 3rd(Dmajor) or min 3rd(Dminor)

The difference in a sus 4 chord is that the ‘3rd’ is suspended.

This means that it is replaced by the 4th.

The scale of D major: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D

The scale of D minor: D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D

As you can see the ’sus 2 ‘ is created by replacing the ‘3rd‘ with the ‘4th‘

To create a suspended chord we need to replace the ‘3rd‘ in this case with the ‘2nd‘.

For more information read the rest at bottom of page.

Open Chord: Dsus2

Piano,

Chord Spelling: D, E, A

More info:

In the case of D major this would be D, F#, A

In the case of D minor this would be D, F, A

1st, 3rd, 5th = 3rd = maj 3rd(Dmajor) or min 3rd(Dminor)

The difference in a sus 2 chord is that the ‘3rd’ is suspended.

This means that it is replaced by the 2nd.

The scale of D major: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D

The scale of D minor: D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D

As you can see the ’sus 2 ‘ is created by replacing the ‘3rd‘ with the ‘2nd‘

Notes on the ‘D’ string: Highlighted in Red

Sharp notes on the ‘D’ string.

Flat notes on the ‘D’ string.

D# = Eb

F# = Gb

G# = Ab

A# = Bb

C# = Db

:::Related Articles:::

Notes on the bottom ‘E’ string

Notes on the bottom ‘A’ string

Learning Barre Chords

Barre Chord Dictionary

The following is and excellent introduction to the E, A and D strings.

To play and exercise you fingers properly try and play it using the correct fingers.

For this peice use the same number finger as the fret:

1st finger = 1st fret.

2nd finger = 2nd fret.

3rd finger = 3rd fret.

Below is a small peice of ‘Hall of the Mountain King’ written in notation and TAB.

Also there is a button that will play the tune.

To build up speed try and introduce ‘Alternative Picking’

V X V X

V = Down

X = Up

When playing them on guitar they break up the tendency to play scalic patterns.

Also there are techniques involved that can push your playing further.

You can either do alternative picking or sweep picking:

V = Down Stroke

X = Up Stroke

Alternative picking: V X V X V X V X etc

Using the example below – PLAYED FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS – the last note ‘9′th fret played only once.

Sweep picking: V X V V V X V X X X V

The above arpeggio goes D F A D F A

If you know your chord spellings you’ll recognise that these are the notes from the D Minor Chord.

That is how an arpeggio works, it’s basically playing the notes of the chord seperately.

Here’s another version, the notes follow the same sequence as above.

Using the example below – PLAYED FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS – the last note ‘12′th fret played only once.

Sweep picking: V X V V V X V X X X V

The first of these patterns is an alternative to the previous articles ‘E’ string based pattern.

The suggested fingers for this pattern are: 1st, 2nd , 3rd and 4th

‘R’ = root note

Click to enlarge images.

By starting the above Major scale pattern at the 3rd Fret gives us the ‘G Major’ scale.

Tabulature of this would be:

The two other patterns I’m going to show you start on the ‘A’ string.

In the above pattern:

The suggested fingers for this pattern are: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th

In the pattern below:

The suggested fingers for this pattern are: 1st, 2nd , 3rd and 4th

By starting either pattern at the 3rd fret you will be playing the ‘C Major‘ scale.

Try:

Above pattern played at 3rd fret shown below in TAB

Above pattern played at 3rd fret shown below in TAB:

As previously stated in Major Scale Patterns Part 1 these patterns are movable.

By learning the notes of the guitar and being aware of the ‘R’ root note you can learn all your scales easily and without Tabulature or TAB.

:::Related Articles:::

Major Scale Patterns Part 1

Notes on the ‘E’ string

Notes on the ‘A’ string

Learning Barre Chord

It will involve patterns and of course learning the notes on the strings.

These patterns are useful because they are movable in the same way that a barre chord is movable.

If you’ve already looked at TABS of scales you may be aware of common patterns.

Below is a common scale pattern,

1 octave major scale pattern.

By playing the above pattern (starting note = red circle with ‘R‘) on the 5th fret you will be playing the ‘A Major’ scale

Below is the TAB(tabulature) version – they should be exactly the same.

If they’re not then you’ve misunderstood.

1 Octave A Major Scale.

The nice thing about patterns like the one above they make you think more and learn the notes rather than rely on tabs.

Let’s look at playing the scale,

The Red circle with the ‘R‘ is the root note – the red circles are fretted by the 2nd finger.

You should be starting this pattern with the 2nd finger on the 5th fret to achieve the ‘A Major’ scale

The Green circles are your 1st finger.

The Yellow circle is your 3rd finger.

The Blue circle is played by your 4th finger.

::: Expanding Further :::

By playing the pattern above starting at different frets gives us different major scales.

3rd fret = G Major Scale

5th fret = A Major Scale

7th fret = B Major Scale

8th fret = C Major Scale

10th fret = D Major Scale

:::Finally:::

It would be good practice to learn other patterns as well as these and I will cover those in future articles.

Also a good working knowledge of the guitar strings and their notes will be imperative to you taking this further.

:::Related Articles:::

Major Scale Patterns part 2

Notes on the ‘E’ string

Notes on the ‘A’ string

Typically with distortion added they are a staple of rock and punk.

They can be ‘palm muted’, played solely with down strokes or thrashed.

The difference between a Power chord and other chords is the missing 3rd hence the name 5th chords.

The 3rd is the major or minor 3rd that gives the chord it’s distinctive flavour, without this the 5th chord is more about it’s ‘power’ and bass elements.

It’s also a lot of fun to play as it’s mobility as a chord gives the beginner something to get his or her teeth into.

There are two typical powerchords that you will see at the beginning, these being:

In the above pictures there are two chord boxes representing the ‘Power chord’ shapes.

Above each of these pictures is an image of the guitar neck with a string highlighted in red.

In both chords the Red circle indicates both the 1st finger and the ‘Root’ note of the chord.

The ‘Root’ note of the chord is achieved by placing the 1st finger on the relative string and then following the shape placing your fingers in the shape required.

The Green circle indicates the 3rd finger the Blue indicates the 4th (little) finger.

The Blue circle is the ‘octave’ in the chord and is not essential. In some cases it’s not needed and some guitarists simply play the chord without it.

The Green circle is the 5th Note that is referred to previously.

When playing these chords you only strum the strings you are holding down.

If you play everything you will not get the sound you are trying to achieve

So how do we put this together?

Let’s look at out first powerchord shape and it’s related ‘root’ string.

If you play the above shape at the 1st fret you will be playing F5 (F powerchord).

Taking that further:

Play the above shape on the,

3rd fret = G5

5th fret = A5

7th fret = B5

8th fret = C5

10th fret = D5

Using the 2nd powechord shape,

Play the above shape,

2nd fret = B5

3rd fret = C5

5th fret = D5

7th fret = E5

8th fret = F5

10th fret = G5

:::Additinal Info:::

There are two other shapes that must be seen.

These are the alternative ways of playing the A5 and E5 and are very common in rock music.

E5 powerchord:

Red Circle indicates 1st finger Blue Circle indicates 2nd finger.

The Blue is not neccessary but in some instances will be used.

The ‘x’ indicates strings that are not to be played.

The root note of this chord is the open string which in this case is the bottom ‘E’ string.

A5 powerchord:

Red Circle indicates 1st finger Blue Circle indicates 2nd finger.

The Blue is not neccessary but in some instances will be used.

The ‘x’ indicates strings that are not to be played.

The ‘x’ now shows that you should not play the bottom ‘E’

The root note of this chord is the open string which in this case is the ‘A’ string.

:::Imporant Info:::

You will need a good working knowledge of you strings to be able to better understand how these and other movable chords work.

:::Related Articles:::

Notes on the ‘E’ string

Notes on the ‘A’ string

Learning Barre Chords

Notes on the ‘A’ string:

Sharp notes on the ‘A’ string.

Flats on the ‘A’ string.

Understanding that:

A# = Bb

C# = Db

D# = Eb

F# = Gb

G# = Ab

By playing barre chords, powerchords and scale patterns using these notes as your starting point gives your the ‘root’ of whatever you are trying to play.

Example:

The following barre chord played on the 5th fret of the ‘A’ string would give you a ‘D Major’ chord.

If you replace the above shape with the minor version shown below(also played at the 5th fret),

you will have a ‘D Minor’ chord.

If you’d like to read more:

:::Related Articles:::

Notes on the bottom ‘E’ string

Learning Barre Chords

Barre Chord Dictionary