Root Note Chords
The following chord diagrams show you how to play familiar chords, strummed from the root note. The chords you have learned for G, G7, Em and E7 are unchanged because they are already strummed from the root note.
D7
C
Dm
Am
F
Try the following variations and make up your own. All these suggested variations are in * time but the same principle can be applied to ^ time. Also note that in all these rhythms your right hand moves up and down in a continuous motion. These rhythm patterns sound "off the beat". This is called syncopation.
The following song, Sloop John B, is a well known American folk song. Bar 13 uses a tie within the bar connecting an eighth note with a quarter note. This gives the melody a "syncopated" feel. This song is in * time and is in the key of G major.
Flat Signs
This is a flat sign. A flat sign written before a note on the staff means that you play the note that is one fret lower than the note written. For example, the note written on the following staff is called B flat (Bb), and is played on the third fret of the 3rd string. When a flat sign is written on the staff, it is always written before a note.
The B Flat Note (Bb)
This B flat note is on the third fret of the 3rd string.
The C Seventh Chord
C7
To play the C7 chord, use the four fingers of your left hand as shown in the diagram, and strum five strings. The C7 chord is a C chord with a Bb note added.
Fingering Symbol
This is the symbol for fingering. It appears beneath the staff or tablature and indicates the most practical finger to use for playing each note.
The following Blues progression contains a Bb note and a C7 chord.
Know Your Guitars…
Gibson Les Paul
Along with the Fender Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul is one of the most famous of all electric guitars. It is great for heavy Rock sounds as well as being versatile enough for Blues and Jazz. This guitar was made specially for Les Paul - a great Jazz player who also invented multi-track recording. This technique is essential for recording and is now used by everyone from top recording studios to musicians using computers at home.
