If you wanna become a better player, but can't take 2 minutes to read
the intros to my free workshops, may I humbly suggest you take up bowling!
You don't gotta read nuthin' to be a good bowler! Up to you!



MOVEABLE CHORDS!

Let's take some things you already know how to play,
and turn them into something REALLY COOL!
If you're a beginner, you'll LOVE THIS!
If you're a seasoned player, um . . . you'll LOVE THIS!!
wayne reed

Been playing a LONG TIME but still not where you wanna be? Are you a fairly new player and not happy with your progress? Important note: This workshop is for those who know, and are comfortable playing the basic open chords. Mainly A, Am, C, D and E. If you're just starting your journey playing guitar, here's the good news! Click here! This is a workshop especially for you! Same premise. Movinng chords to make some really cool music! But this one will be at a slower pace! And will get you comfortable with moving basic chords up the neck. If you have limited or now present skills sliding chords up the fretboard, go to Moving Chords Intro before pro0ceding with this one! IS THIS YOU NOW? SURE THING! This workshop isn't a short one! But it's 100% fun! And you'll learn some really cool sounding stuff that's easy to learn! And really sounds cool! AND . . . it's all totally usable! As in, it can replace some of the BLAH stuff you've been playing. Make the songs you play now sound really cool! You're gonna learn 3 chord progressions you can just strum, and people will think you're a pro who's played a LONG Time! Example: Here's a simple melody played with open Am, Bm, C chords. Followed by the same melody played using a moving Am! You can go to THIS . . . SURE THING! Each exercise, each chord progression below BUILDS to something really cool! Kinda like a FINALE! It all builds up, into a few progressions that sound, well, like I said . . . REALLY COOL! REALLY COOL PICTURE
There's very little reading in this workshop. Mostly graphics & audio work & jam tracks. This workshop deals with the WHAT, not the HOW or WHY! That being said, after the actual workshop below, there is a section where I break down the chords used. When you move a chord up the neck, it's name changes. For those who want to understand what those chord names mean, or why they are named what they are, you can study that part! For example, move a simple open Am up 2 frets, it's not just a Bm. It's a Bm11/A. (B minor eleven over A) Am Bm C chord This is the only chord breakdown I'll do in the main workshop. I just want you to see where chord names come from. See more at the end! Bm11/A chord And THAT being said . . . The chord names can sound and look pretty scarry if you're a new player! Chords like . . . "Bsus4(add9)/A"! So, click HERE for this same exact workshop, except I use shorter, simpler chord names. (Bsus4(add9)/A is named Bsus, with a graphic.) Same workshop, shorter chord names! chord names So let's get right to it! Get ready to move the chords you already know and make some really cool music!


The practice tracks get progressively faster as you repeat the progressions! E ' ' ' means strum and count 1 2 3 4. % means repeat. Slash chords: /E is pronounced "over E". G/E. Lowest note in the chord is E. E ansd G chords Play open E, then move it up 3 frets. Then back down. Strum all strings. E ' ' ' G6/E ' ' ' E ' ' ' G6/E ' ' ' E ' ' ' G6/E ' ' ' E ' ' ' G6/E ' ' ' E hold % % % It's a G barre chord without the barre! The open E strings give it a cool vibe! (the 6th) It's also an Em7. Depends on the context. (How it's used!)
We're going to make the above even cooler! We're adding the sus4 chord! Suspended 4th You're simply going to add 1 finger! Don't remove 1st finger! SUS4 Chords! When you see "sus" after a chord, it's the same as sus4. Gsus = Gsus4 There is also a sus2. Gsus2, etc. Example: [A ' Asus2 '] [A ' Asus4 '] [A2 ' ' '] [A ' ' '] The timing is just strum E E Esus4 E. 1 2 3 4. Same for the G6/E. The timing looks like this . . . Esus4 ansd Gsus chords And it sounds like this . . . Don't let the chord names scare you! Just play it! Esus4 ansd Gsus chords [E ' Esus4 E] [G6/E ' G6(sus4)/E G6/E] % % % E TIP: Add one finger, change E to Esus4. Add the same to the G6/E. Leave your 1st finger in place when adding the note with 4th finger!
Now it gets cooler! Play the same thing, but we'll move it up more! Play E up 3 to G6/E, back to E. Then start on the G6/E on the 4th fret and move up 2 frets to A(add9)/E and back down. Then start on A(add9)/E and move it up 3 frets to Cmaj7/E and back down. Then start on Cmaj7/E and go DOWN 1 fret to B(add11) and back UP. End on E ' ' '. [E ' G '] [E ' ' '] [G ' A '] [G ' ' '] [A ' C '] [A ' ' '] [C ' B '] [C ' ' '] [E ' ' '] % % %
IT'S ABOUT TO GET EVEN COOLER! this is cool picture OK, here are 3 short tracks. Each one is part of the 4th track that is simply the 3 short tracks played together. This is a TIMING exercise that finishes off with a REALLY COOL progression! Work on the 3 short progressions until you get the rhythm of each. Then WORK the long track! I shouldn't have to say this, but I will. This workshop is about moving chords, right? So below, play the G, A and C moving up the E as above! And strum the open E strings! All chords count 1 2 3 4 1 E ' ' ' G ' ' ' A ' ' ' C ' ' ' % % E hold Each chord gets 2 counts 2 [E ' Esus4 '] [G ' Gsus '] [A ' Asus4 '] [C ' Csus4 '] % % ENDING: [E ' ' '] [Esus ' E '] [E ' ' '] E hold The count on this one is just a little tricky! Think of the whole phrase like: [Da aa Da Da] [E ' Esus4 E]. Same for each chord set. End phrase E: [Da aa aa aa] [Da aa Da aa] [Da aa aa aa] - [E 234] [Esus4 2 E 2] [E 234] E hold 3 [E ' Esus E] [G ' Gsus G] [A ' Asus A] [C ' Csus C] % % ENDING: [E ' ' '] [Esus ' E '] [E ' ' '] E hold jam time Now play them together in one progression! [E ' ' '] [G ' ' '] [A ' ' '] [C ' ' '] [E ' Esus4 '] [G ' Gsus '] [A ' Asus4 '] [C ' Csus4 '] [E ' Esus E] [G ' Gsus G] [A ' Asus A] [C ' Csus C] ENDING: [E ' ' '] [Esus ' E '] [E ' ' '] E hold % % % % jam timejam time
JAM TRACK TIME! Yup, here's another "this is cool!". You're gonna learn 2 new, very cool chords! E(add#9)/B, and the sus! But when you add the sus this time, the name changes! Wanna know why? Read the tutorial part at the bottom! Adding the sus to this chord changes the name to Em(add11)/B. A sus chord uses the 4th note in the major scale in the chord instead of the 3rd. An 11th is the same note, an octave higher. But keeps the 3rd. Just absorb. It'll make more sense in time! And it's SO easy! This is why some of my students are playing in bands 6 months after getting their first guitar! It's how I teach. Now you're playing chords you already knew, but all over the fretboard! And as a result, now know about a dozen new chords! Play the A(add9)/E on the 6th fret. Add the sus. Now lower all your fingers one string. This is the same motion as going from open Am to open E, except a string lower, and on the 6th fret! Then add the sus! Just shifting/moving a chord you know, plus adding a finger to get 2 new chords! sus chords [A(add9)/E ' Asus(add9)/E A(add9)/E] [A(add9)/E ' Asus(add9)/E A(add9)/E] [E(add#9)/B ' Em(add11)/B E(add#9)/B] [E(add#9)/B ' Em(add11)/B E(add#9)/B] (If it's easier for now, just think of them as A and E chords, and their sus's.) [A ' Asus A] [A ' Asus A] [E ' Esus E] [E ' Esus E] % % % A hold We'll be using that new chords in the following jam track! Jam Track: Play the progression ONE time, followed by a short bridge. Then repeat the whole thing. The 2 new chords are in the bridge. [E ' ' '] [G ' ' '] [A ' ' '] [C ' ' '] [E ' Esus4 '] [G ' Gsus '] [A ' Asus4 '] [C ' Csus4 '] [E ' Esus E] [G ' Gsus G] [A ' Asus A] [C ' Csus C] ENDING: [E ' ' '] [Esus ' E '] [E ' ' '] E hold Bridge [A(add9)/E ' Asus4 A(add9)/E] [A(add9)/E ' Asus A(add9)/E] [E(add9)/B ' Esus4 E(add9)/B] [E(add9)/B ' Esus E(add9)/B] [A ' Asus4 A] [A ' Asus A] [C ' Csus4 C] [B ' Bsus B] [B ' Bsus B] B hold E Jam Track jam timejam time
OK, that part took some work. This part's a SNAP! Just play open E, move it up 5 (A(add9)/E) then move it up 2, to B/E. It's even got a simple name! Add the sus, it's a Bsus4/E! B/E chord [E] [A] [B] [A] [E ' Esus '] [A ' Asus '] [B ' Bsus '] [A ' Asus '] [E ' Esus E] [A ' Asus A] [B ' Bsus B] [A ' Asus A] [E Esus E Esus] [A Asus A Asus] [B Bsus B Bsus] [A Asus A Asus] E hold ~ E A B Jam Track: Play the above progression 1X, then play the bridge. Repeat [E] [A] [B] [A] [E ' Esus '] [A ' Asus '] [B ' Bsus '] [A ' Asus '] [E ' Esus E] [A ' Asus A] [B ' Bsus B] [A ' Asus A] [E Esus E Esus] [A Asus A Asus] [B Bsus B Bsus] [A Asus A Asus] E hold Bridge [A ' B '] [E] [B A] [E] [A B] [E] [B] [A B] jam timejam time
Am chord prpgression This one's fun, and EAZY! Play open Am. Slide it up 2 frets. Bm11/A Now slide it up one more fret, and drop your 4th finger down! C/A! Leave your 1st finger down. No need to lift it. Just play them for a bit. It's fun and sounds great! Am Bm11/A C/A Bm11/A % % % Am hold The Bridge Dm chord prpgression Going from Dm(add9)/A to E/A is the same motion as Bm11/A to C/A. Slide up, drop your 4th finger. Keep your 1st finger down. Bridge Dm(add9)/A Am Dm(add9)/A E/A Bm11/A C/A Bm11/A Am Am hold ' Bm C Am hold % % % The Jam! Am Bm11/A C/A Bm11/A % % % Am hold Dm(add9)/A Am Dm(add9)/A E/A Bm11/A C/A Bm11/A Am Am ' Bm C % jam timejam time
OK, now for a really easy one! One chord shape. Move it around! C7 and Cmaj7 chord Open C7. Move it up 2, D7. Up 2 more, E7. Up 1 more, F7. Up 2 more, G7 MC [C7] [D7] [E7] [F7] [G7] [F7] [E7] [D7] [C7 D7] [E7 F7] [G7 F7] [E7 D7] [Cmaj7] Cmaj7 hold ~ Open C open F open G G D Chord Shape C6/A D, 5th fret: F6/A D, 7th fret: G/D Top 3trings: F shape, 8th fret: C D, 5th fret: F D, 7th fret: G 4 strings F shape 8th fret: C C F G Jam Track' % jam timejam time ~ Fmaj7 Gmaj7 Amaj7 Bbmaj7 Cmaj7 %
A C % ~ A C SUS % ~ ACA-CDC-DFD-FEF-A % ~ ACDF-ACDF SUS % ~ A Jam Track Rhythm % jam timejam time ~ A Jam Track Solo % jam timejam time ~ D E F G A C % A Jam Track Solo % D E F G A C Jam jam timejam time
The Finale! I promise to only say "Cool" one more time after this next one. THIS is REALLY COOL! Finale Jam Track Solo % jam timejam time


If you enjoy the whole thing, spread the word! Got a question? Got an idea for a workshop or tutorial? Let me know! Email me, PM me on Facebook, or join my learning forum, I Just Wanna Play The Darn Thing! Have at it! Wayne Hope you find this interesting. If you do, please feel welcome to drop me a line. Email me, or drop me a PM on Facebook! Email me any time! ~/~ Wayne on Facebook * Back to the main Tutorials & Workshops Index Page * My Band Website Check out my Musician's & Performer's Learning Support Group Visit my Support Group, I Just Wanna Play The Darn Thing! My main Backing Tracks Support Website with over 45,100 free bacing tracks! SoundFont, MIDI editors and players and more! 270+ PAGES! All distributed for free! midi files website
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