Hey guys, let me show you this easy classical melody in A minor for Beginners by Mauro Giuliani from le Papillon.
This is a classical melody but it can easily be played on acoustic guitar. Practicing classical piece can be beneficial for your technique and musicality.
Classical music is usually more complex than Pop music and even a simple melody like this one can challenge your technique no matter how long you have been playing guitar for.
Let me show you the number one trick that I use all the time to create beautiful chord progression on guitar.
In this lesson, I am going to show you beautiful chords that are easy to play yet they sound nothing like the same old chords you have been playing for years.
This trick is straightforward. By adding an open string to the chords, we can quickly come up with beautiful extended chords on the guitar.
Extended chords are chords played with notes that extend over the standard three notes of the chord. A standard C major chord is built with three notes, the C, E and G (1 3 5 chord degree).
Every additional note we add to the standard chord is called extensions. The extended notes are the 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th.
The reasons why this trick is powerful is because it allows you to add extensions to the chords by using open strings easily.
This isn’t always possible, and it doesn’t work for all the keys so in this video we are going to have a look at a few keys only.
In this guitar lesson, I am going to show you how to play five simple yet beautiful fingerpicking melodies for beginners. Each melody is played in a different key and with a different scale.
We are going to learn a:
Fingerpicking melody in A major played with the A major pentatonic scale.
Fingerpicking melody in E minor played with the E minor pentatonic scale.
Fingerpicking melody in A minor played with the A minor scale.
Fingerpicking melody in E major played with the E major scale.
Fingerpicking melody in D major played with the D major scale.
The goal for this lesson is to show you how to make solo fingerstyle guitar arrangements of a simple melody. I did my best to keep the arrangements very simple and beautiful.
Learn the melodies, then try to come up with your musical ideas.
Let’s learn more beautiful chord shapes on guitar.
Today I am going to show you an awesome chord progression in B minor and D major played with the fingerpicking guitar technique.
The chords I am about to show you are among the top 10 favorite chord shapes I know. There are different reasons why I love these beautiful chords so much.
These chords can be played in the first position of the guitar neck.
The B minor and the D major key has chords that can be played with the open string bass, such as the A major and D major chord.
Some of the most beautiful guitar chord progressions are written in B minor and D major key.
It’s easy to add extensions to these chords and make them interesting.
I hope you enjoy this beautiful chord progression guys.
Take it step by step and let me know if you like it.
For some reasons, beginners always think that playing a slow tempo melody is boring.
Honestly, I had the same problem when I started. I would refuse to practice chords and melody slowly, and as a result, my guitar playing was sloppy and mediocre.
The thing I didn’t realize at that time was that practicing slowly improve the rhythm and timing fast. As I heard once, “Slow it down, learn it faster”.
Now, timing and rhythmic exercises can be quite frustrating. You should be using a metronome and track every simple beat you add. Even worst, things sound awful when played slowly.
So how do you improve your rhythm and timing? Well, you need to practice something that sounds good played at a slow tempo.
In this fingerpicking lesson, I am going to show you how to play a slow tempo melody on guitar. I was recording the guitar at 45bpm (beats per minute), which is a click every “once in a while. You don’t have to practice with the metronome. I suggest that you only use the metronome once you learn the melody.
Take things step by step and get the tab if you need it.
Which chords should you learn first? How to organize chord progressions? Someone asked me to play aI VI IV V chord progression. What does it mean?
So many questions right!
Let’s start by saying that chords are everywhere. Almost every song has chords, and it’s kind of hard to imagine a song played only with a melody (me singing in the shower for example).
Chords are one of the three elements that make music possible along with scales and rhythm. Every guitar player should learn a good number of chords but how do you know which chord should you learn. Also, once you learn them, how can you use them to play beautiful chord progressions on guitar.
In this lesson, I am going to show you 18 beautiful chord progressions you MUST know perfect for songs and songwriting. You can learn the ones I play in this lesson before writing your ideas.
Take it step-by-step and learn one chord progression at a time.
How can we tell a story with chords? Which chords make the story sad, melancholic, joyful, or calm?
If it’s true that music should always express an emotion, then it’s in our best interest to acquire the tools that would allow us to communicate this feeling.
For guitar players, these tools are harmony (the chords), melody (the scales), and rhythm (the beat). You have to develop a good level of skills to be able to transform these three elements into music.
In this guitar lesson, I am going to show you five emotional chords and how to use them. We are going to explore five different keys, and for each key, you will learn one emotional chord.
In this example, we are going to play a simple E minor chord.
The chord is played in position VIII with the low E string open, the D string fret 9, the G string open and the B string fret 8. Leave the A and top E string out.
This chord shape makes the chord sound extremely sad.
Try to play a basic E minor chord, then switch to this shape to hear the difference.
One thing I noticed is that minor chords sound sadder when you play a chord shape that emphasizes the minor 3rd.
The voicing for this chord is the B string fret 8, the note G, which is indeed the minor 3rd of the E minor chord.
Bulb moment: Make a minor chord even sadder by playing the chord shape that emphasizes the minor 3rd.
The chord progression I am playing along with this chord is Em, Dadd11, C, Dadd11, Em, D6, Cmaj7.
And we are just getting started.
Emotional Chord 2: Dm(add9)
The Dm(add9) is an extended chord. Extended chords are chords that have added notes beyond the 7th such as 9th, 11th, and 13th.
The basic D minor chord is built with these three notes: D, F, and A (Root, minor 3rd and fifth). Every additional note we add to this chord will make it extended.
The additional note we are adding to this chord is the 9th.
The Dm(add9) shape looks like this:
The chord progression I like to play around this chord is Dm(add9), Bb(#11) and Csus4.
Emotional Chord 3: C major
Not all emotional chords have to be played with minor chords.
We can build emotional chord progressions with major chords too. A major chord will convey different emotions such as sweet, love, gentleness and devotion.
The chord I am showing you in this lesson is a simple C major chord played in position X. The root note of the chord, the note C is played on the D string fret 10. I am also playing the note G on the G string fret 12, and the note E on the E string fret 12.
Pluck this chord one time. It sounds sweet right?
The chord progression I am going to play along with this chord is C, G/B, Am, G, F, G, Am, G/B, C.
To make the chord progression even gentler, I avoided the notes on the A and low E string. Chords without deep bass notes tend to sound sweeter.
Bulb moment: Make chords sound sweet by avoiding low bass notes.
Emotional Chord 4: Am(add9)
The Am(add9) is another beautiful extended chord.
This chord sounds very emotional and melancholic, like a person who feels sad thinking about the past.
This chord is played like this:
The chord progression I like to play with this chord goes as follows: Am(add9), Fmaj7(#11), Am(add9) and Gadd11.
Emotional Chord 5: The C#m9
Minor chords can sound positive.
In this example, I am going to show you an emotional chord in C# minor key that sounds positive, dreamy and happy.
The chord is C#m9 played with the root note C# on the A string fret 4, the minor 7th B on the G string fret 4, the major 9th on the B string fret 4 and the minor 3rd played on the top E string open.
Check the diagram below.
The chord progression I like to play around this chord is C#m9, Asus2(#11) and E major chord.
There are hundreds of beautiful fingerpicking patterns that you can play on guitar and today we are going to have a look at 23 epic fingerpicking patterns and how to use them.
But, what’s a fingerpicking pattern? A fingerpicking pattern is a right-hand fingers movement in which the thumb, index, middle, and ring finger pluck the strings to play the notes of a chord or a melody. Each finger is named with a letter. The thumb with the letter “P”, the index “i”, the middle “m”, and the ring finger “a.”
You will learn:
Naming the right-hand fingers
How to pluck the strings
Fingerpicking pattern #1 – Thumb only
Fingerpicking pattern #2 – Thumb and index
Fingerpicking pattern #3 – Thumb, index, and middle
Fingerpicking pattern #4 – P i m together
Fingerpicking pattern #5 – P i m a
Fingerpicking pattern #6 – P i m a m i
Fingerpicking pattern #7 – P i m a m i with Slap&Strum
Fingerpicking pattern #8 – P i m i a i m i – The classical pattern
Fingerpicking pattern #9 – Thumb and ring finger together
Fingerpicking pattern #10 – P i m a plucked together
Fingerpicking pattern #11 – Pluck together with different combinations
Fingerpicking pattern #12 – The rolling
Fingerpicking pattern #13 – Plucking together + additional notes
Fingerpicking pattern #14 – Rhythmic pattern
Fingerpicking pattern #15 – Plucking together plus thumb slap
Fingerpicking pattern #23 – Classical pattern with alternate fingering
There is a musical example for each pattern so that you get inspired. The examples are simple and contain music rather than technical exercises. My goal is to write the most beautiful music with the least amount of effort. If you are on the same page as me, you will enjoy this video.
The number one thing that I want to convey in this lesson is that you don’t need to use intricate fingerpicking patterns to write beautiful chord progressions and melodies.
You should always position the thumb in front of the fingers and pluck downwards. This is the number one position I teach to all of my students.
You might have seen other guitar players positioning the thumb differently. If you are a beginner, I recommend that you start with the approach shown in this lesson.
I pluck the strings with the side of the thumb, and I combine both flesh and fingernails.
This angle gives me the best tone.
Check the thumb position below.
Rule 2 | 45 Degree angle
The second step is learning how to pluck the strings with index, middle and ring finger.
This is, in my opinion, the very best way for fingerpicking beginners to get started with fingerstyle guitar.
Rule 3 | Articulation
It’s time to learn how to articulate the fingers.
With the thumb, only use the big knuckle and keep the small knuckle rigid. With the index, middle and ring finger, the articulation is slightly different. Start the movement with the big knuckle, then, as you are plucking the strings, use the small knuckle to complete the plucking.
Pattern #1 | Thumb Only (P)
In this pattern, play a beautiful and simple melody in A minor with the thumb only. This is one of the very first fingerpicking patterns for beginners.
The chord progression is Am, G, F and E7.
Pattern #2 | Thumb and index finger (P, i)
Playing a chord progression with just two fingers, allows you to simplify the chords down to just two notes.
In this example, I am playing D, A, Bm, and G by plucking just two strings. I am alternating thumb and index.
Pattern #3 | Thumb, index and middle finger (P, i. m)
I played this pattern with thumb, index and middle finger.
Playing with three fingers only make it easy to come up with patterns in three.
The example sounds Spanish, and the chord progression is E and Am chord.
Pattern #4 | P i m Together
This is a simple variation of the Pima pattern played simultaneously.
The chord progression is: Em7 | Cadd9 | G | D | Em7 | Cadd9 | D
Pattern #5 | P i m a
The most famous fingerpicking pattern you can play on guitar. Almost every beginner starts with this pattern.
In this example though, I want to show you how you can still play beautiful chords with such a simple pattern.
Chord progression: Em, Dadd11, Am7, C.
Pattern #6 | P i m a m i
A pattern with six notes.
Chord progression: Am, C, Dm, F, G | Am, C, Dm, F, E.
Pattern #7 | P i m a m i with Slap&Strum
I like to spice up the pattern #6 by adding a percussive technique called Slap&Strum.
In this technique, you will strike the bass note with the thumb while simultaneously strumming the top strings. Perform Slap&Strum on the 4th note.
Keep the same chord progression as Pattern #6
Pattern #8 | P i m i a i m i | The Classical Pattern
Another famous fingerpicking pattern played with eight notes.
This pattern is perfect for building speed and control. I am playing it with a classical chord progression.
Am | E7 | Am | E7(b9) | Am | E7 | Am. Simple but beautiful.
Pattern #9 | Thumb and Ring Together
One of my favorite way to emphasize the voicing of a chord is by plucking the strings with the thumb and ring together.
Chord progression: G | D/F# | Em | Am | G | D/F#.
Pattern #10 | P i m a Plucking Together
You can pluck the strings simultaneously with this simple yet effective pattern.
Chord progression: Am | G/B | C | Dm | Am | G | Am.
Pattern #11 | Pluck Together with Different Combinations
You don’t always have to pluck the strings with the P i m a. You could, for example, decide only to use P i m or simple P i.
In this example, I am using a different combination of patterns.
Chord progression: C | G | Am | F
Pattern #12 | The Rolling
One of my favorite way of plucking the strings together is by quickly rolling the fingers from thumb to ring.
This effect is perfect if you want to make the chords sound more melodic and sweet.
Chord progression: E | Cadd9 | G | G/B
Pattern #13 | Plucking Together + One Additional Note
Same plucking as pattern #12 but with an additional note on the top E string.
This pattern is great if you want to write beautiful rhythmic chord progressions.
Chords: Fmaj7 | Em7 | Dm7 | Cmaj7
Pattern #14 | Rhythmic Pattern
In this example, I am going to show you how to play a rhythmic fingerpicking pattern with rolling and thumb slap technique.
I am playing the same chord progression as Pattern #13.
Pattern #15 | Plucking Together Plus Thumb Slap
Embellish the fingerpicking pattern by adding the thumb slap technique. Strike the bass note with the thumb while playing the chords.
Chord progression: G | G/B | Cadd9 | D | G | G/B | Cadd9 | D | G |
Pattern #16 | Basic Travis Picking
Learn the basic Travis picking technique. Pluck the two or more bass notes with the thumb while the fingers take care of the accompaniment.
Chord progression: C | Am | Em | G7 |
Pattern #17 | Intermediate Travis Picking
Same chord progression as pattern #16 but this time we are going to add the top three strings.
The Travis picking can be quite challenging. Learn one chord at a time and practice slowly.
Pattern #18 | Travis Picking with Different Chords
You can also use the Travis picking technique for any other chord progression.
In this example, I am going to play over a chord progression in G major. I am only plucking two bass notes with the thumb.
Chord progression: G | G/B | Cadd9 | D |
Pattern #19 | Alternate Fingering i, m Over Scales
We usually use alternate fingering for scales.
In this example, I am going to show you a simple C major scale played with index and middle finger.
Pattern #20 | Alternate Fingering Over Chords, i m Pattern
A beautiful chord progression played with index and middle finger.
In this example, I want to show you that you can use alternate fingering not just for scale but also for chords.
Chord progression: C#m9 | E | Asus2 |
Pattern #21 | Reverse Alternate Fingering, m i Pattern
An example in D minor in which I am playing a melody in thirds.
This example shows how we can use the m i pattern for creating beautiful sounding melodies.
Chord progression: Dm | Bb | C |
Pattern #22 | Pattern in Six + Thumb
You can then combine two patterns.
In this example I am playing the pattern P i m a m i with the thumb only pattern.
Chord progression: Am | G | F | E
Pattern #23 | Classical Pattern with Alternate Fingering
In the last example, we are going to combine the classical pattern with the alternate fingering technique.
This is one of my favorite patterns because allows you to combine chords and melody.
What are the top 5 most beautiful chords I know on guitar? Well, I have to say, I have more than just five but I really had to narrow it down.
A chord is just a bunch of notes played together. If the notes you choose are basic, then you will end up playing a basic chord. However, if you choose beautiful notes, there is no doubt that you can come up with beautiful chords that sound epic.
In this lesson, I am going to walk you through the top 5 most beautiful chords I know. Obviously, I am not going to just show you the chord. That would be horrible.
I am actually going to show you a short musical idea for each of the top 5 chords I love the most.
We will cover:
Dadd9 chord played over a “classical type” of chord progression.
A13 chord played over a twelve bar blues.
Dm(add9) chord played over a sad chord progression.
Em9 chord played over the most common chord progression on guitar.
C#m9 chord over a dreamy chord progression.
You can get the tab, check my Patreon page and subscribe to the YouTube channel.
Another great classical piece for the BlitzGuitar Academy Program.
Today I am going to show you how to play a composition by the Italian composer Matteo Carcassi called Pastorale. This is a beautiful piece in E minor key perfect for beginner/intermediate.
In this first part, I am we are learning the main theme of the piece. I wanted to complete the tutorial but today was a crazy day, and I will finish the recording on Saturday.
![5 Emotional Chords and how to actually use them]](https://i0.wp.com/www.blitzguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/5-Emotional-Chords-and-how-to-actually-use-them.png?ssl=1 "5 Emotional Chords and how to actually use them]")
