Desi Serna

Open chords are chords that fall within the first four frets typically using open strings. They sound twangy because they include unfretted strings that are permitted to ring open. This chart represents 24 of the most useful open chords you use to play guitar:

You can use chord patterns to track chord progressions in the open position on the guitar, although doing so takes some extra work and requires that you identify the actual note name of each chord.To play in the key of G using common open chords, visualize the 6th string chord pattern starting on G at the 3rd fret and replace each barre chord with an open chord.

A triad is a set of three notes stacked in 3rds. Playing in 3rds on the guitar means that you start on a scale degree, count it as “1,” and then move to the scale degree that is three away, “3.” For example, the G major scale is G-A-B-C-D-E-F♯.If you start counting from G, then the 3rd is B (G-A-B, 1-2-3). If you start counting from A, then the 3rd is C (A-B-C, 1-2-3).

Blues-based music on the guitar usually applies all three of the scales (that is, the major and minor pentatonic, as well as the full dominant scale) by mixing them up on the fretboard. To begin this mix, combine the major and minor pentatonic scales, as shown here. Credit: Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna You can see an example in Chapter 15, Video Clip 36: Mixing Major and Minor Pentatonic.

You can’t talk about blues on the guitar without mentioning the so-called blues scale, which is really just a pentatonic scale with a chromatic passing tone. This added scale tone is a f5th in the minor pentatonic. When the pattern is applied as major, the same note in the patterns becomes a f3rd. Here is an example that includes A minor pentatonic patterns with added f5ths shown in gray.

On the guitar, because Dorian mode centers on a minor chord, most lead guitar players prefer to approach it with minor pentatonic scale patterns. You can see how to put together A minor pentatonic and G major scale patterns here. Credit: Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna You can think of Dorian mode as being the minor pentatonic with an added 2nd and major 6th.

On the guitar, Ionian mode is the first mode of the major scale. It’s the sound that’s created when the 1st scale degree is functioning as the tonic. It’s better known as the plain major scale. In fact, musicians generally don’t use the name Ionian and don’t consider it a mode. Ionian is the plain major scale.

On the guitar, Mixolydian is the fifth mode of the major scale. It’s the sound you hear when the 5th scale degree is functioning as the tonic. Because it features a major 3rd and centers on a major chord, it’s considered a major mode. And because the 5th scale degree of the major scale is named the dominant, the fifth mode is also called the dominant scale.

Before you dive into the harmonic minor scale on the guitar, you need to understand the concept of dominant function. Basically, dominant function is the tendency of the dominant chord, chord V, to pull to the tonic, chord I, in a key. Similarly, secondary dominants are a way of using the dominant sound to strengthen a progression toward chords other than the tonic.