Chord Based Licks - Second Position
This lesson introduces Rock fingerpicking licks that are based solely around a chord shape. A chord based lick is when the left hand frets a chord shape and maintains that chord shape for the duration of the chord.
The most common chord based licks are played using the right hand second position, i.e., chords played using the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings only. Licks are created by altering the chord shape with the addition of other notes based around the chord. Most chord shapes are based upon common movable bar chords.
Root Six Major Bar Chord
The first chord based licks you will learn are based upon the root six major bar chord, shown in the following three chord diagrams. The first diagram is the standard root six major bar chord. The root note of the chord being on the sixth string.
The second diagram highlights three notes within the chord that will be the basis of a Rock fingerpicking lick. It is important to note with this shape that the key note of this chord shape is on the fourth string. The third diagram highlights some extra notes which can incorporated into the lick.
Root Six Major Bar Chord
Root Four Major Chord Shape
Extra Notes Added to Play Licks
Picking Three Notes Together
Another right hand technique you will need to develop is the picking of three notes together. This is when the right hand fingers pick two strings at the same time as the thumb picks a lower string.
In the following example the p, i and m fingers pick the notes that make up the previous root four major chord shape at the same time. It is important to pick all strings as evenly as possible so each string has the same volume and tone. The two chords featured are the A chord (root note - 7th fret) and the G chord (root note - 5th fret).
The next exercise is similar to the previous example, this time the extra notes that can be added to the chord shape are incorporated into the lick.
Root Five Major Bar Chord
The root five major bar chord can also be used for Rock fingerpicking licks. Shown as follows are three chord diagrams. The first diagram is the standard root five major bar chord. The root note of the chord being on the fifth string.
The second diagram highlights three notes within the chord that will be the basis of a Rock fingerpicking lick. This time the key note of the chord shape is on the third string. The third diagram highlights some extra notes which can incorporated into the lick.
Root Five Major Bar Chord
Root Three Major Chord Shape
Extra Notes Added to Play Licks
The root three major chord shape shown previously is used in the following example. The D chord is played on the 7th fret as the root note D is found on the 7th fret, 3rd string. The other chords in this example, A and G, are played using the root four major chord shape as introduced in the earlier examples.
Root Five Major Bar Chord - Variation
A variation of the root five major bar chord, derived from the basic C chord, is introduced in the following three chord diagrams. This time the key note of the new chord shape is on the second string.
Root Five Major Bar Chord
Root Two Major Chord Shape
Extra Notes Added to Play Licks
The root two major chord shape shown previously is used in the following exercise. The F chord in the second bar is played on the 5th fret as the root note F is found on the 6th fret, 2nd string.
The next lick uses a combination of the chord shapes introduced in this lesson.
Minor Chord Shapes
Minor chord shapes are also frequently used in Rock fingerpicking. Three common minor chord shapes are shown as follows in the root four, root three and root two positions. The basis of the original movable bar chord is also highlighted.
Root Four Minor Chord Shape
Root Three Minor Chord Shape
Root Two Minor Chord Shape
The previous chord shapes are used in the following example. C minor is played as a root four shape (key note C on the 10th fret). G minor is played as a root two shape (key note G on the 8th fret). D minor is played as a root three shape (key note D on the 7th fret).
Both minor and major chords are used in the next example.
