A great way to explore chords and at the same time learn to use them is to learn them together in usable guitar progressions like II-V-I. Let’s concentrate on the key of C!
What is a II-V-I progression?
Is is a chord progression with three chords built on the roots of the second, fifth and first note of a key.
The three roman numerals correspond to the digits 2, 5 and 1. In it’s most basic form the numbers indicate the root of a triad. For example, the roman number I in C-major means a triad built from the note C. This triad consists of the notes C, E and G.
The Roman numeral II in the key of C-major indicates that you are to play a triad built from the notes in the C-major scale beginning with the second note. The notes will be D, F and A.
The Roman numeral V indicates a triad built from the fifth step on the C-scale. The fifth note in the C-scale is G so the triad will include the notes G, B and D.
Our first guitar chords will be the most commonly used II-V-I chords in the key of C. The first chord is of course Dm. This is the way it is normally played:
Dm: 0/4 2/3 3/2 1/1
What does this notation mean?
This is a type of guitar tablature notation with numbers showing what fret to press down and on which string. 2/3 for example means, press down the second fret on string three.
The V chord G7 we will play this way:
G7: 3/6 2/5 0/4 0/3 0/2 1/1
The remaining chord in this progression is C-major. It is played this way:
C: 3/5 2/4 3/0 1/2 0/1
If we write this progression with ordinary chord notation it will look like this:
Dm / / / G7 / / / C / / /
I will now take this lesson up one level. We will only use four strings at a time. I suggest that you use your right hand fingers as you pluck the strings.
I also recommend that you play the lowest string in a chord with your thumb and the other notes with your index, middle finger and ring finger. Remember, it is only a suggestion!
We will now spice the guitar chords in the previous progression by first changing Dm to Dm7:
Dm7: 0/4 2/3 1/2 1/1
The G7 chord we will change to G9:
G9: 3/6 2/3 0/2 1/1
Finally we will change the C-major chord to Cmaj7:
Cmaj7: 3/5 0/3 0/2 0/1
The resulting guitar chord progression looks like this:
Dm7 / / / G9 / / / C / / /
As you can see as you play the notes on your guitar the minor changes on the first three strings results in a smooth transition between the chords.
This is one way to make the chords in guitar progressions work well together.
Peter Edvinsson
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/guitar-chords-iivi-progressions-in-the-key-of-c-122269.html
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
How do I become a better musician?
I have taken piano and guitar lessons at various times in my life. I want to get better at either or both the guitar and piano. A lot of the books I have discuss how the fretboard is layed out, how to form chords, how scales are set up, how chord progressions work together and so on. I can read this theory and understand it all, but how does this help me when I play? It seems like I understand it, but don’t internalize it.
So now that I know how a dominant seventh chord is formed, do I just monotonously play a dominant seventh in all 12 key signatures, over and over and over again until I can play such a chord on the spot? I just can’t see that being the best way to familiarize myself with the chords. How can I possibly remember so many chords? The same goes for playing scales considering how many there are.
Then there is putting chords together. My jazz book says the II-V-I progression is important. Do I do a II-V-I progression in every key signature with every type of chord? I guess I’m asking what kind of exercises should I be doing to make this theory stick?
My first piano teacher was such a great musician. He wasn’t just good at playing pieces – he could sight read very well, but also change the music while playing and improvise, putting a jazz twist on it. He could also play by ear with accuracy and speed. That’s the kind of musician I want to become, but I just don’t know how to get there.
It sounds like you have had great training. I wish more musicians did and had your attitude.
My recommendation is to look at the chords possible within the key you are playing and testing out those extra chords, subbing for the II-V-I
See what sound good to you and what makes you different from the other players.
Get together with other players and find out what they are doing. Share.
Look for that spectacular teacher that can take you to the next step.
Best Of Luck
References :
Hi
The best way to memorize your chords and scales is to learn them in one position only.
By this, I mean that all the notes and all the chords on a guitar can be played in-between 5 frets. After that, it is repetitious. I would suggest learning chords, the scales that go with the chords, and the modes.
Ex… I learnt every chords from A to Z and the scales and the modes and the sweeps (arpeggios) on the the 5th fret which is the key of A. Once I mastered that, it was just a matter of going down one tone to G or going up to B or whatever. The FINGERING STAYS THE SAME. This is the advantage of the guitar.
The II – V – I progressionis just an idea of progression and you can substitute any chords which is what makes a solo interesting. Having said this, it would be a waste of time practicing it in every key because the fingering stays once you have learnt the chords and scales in one key across the fingerboard.
References :
Berklee Graduate / Studio Guitarist