Chords are the foundation of Western music. Words and melody don't become a song until there's harmony in the mix. That's what makes chordal instruments like guitar or piano such powerful tools for songwriters and composers. A chord progression is when any two or more chords are played in succession. The term often refers to … Continue reading What is a Chord Progression?
Extended harmony takes all the fun of music and ruins it with a bunch of numbers. It's also very important because it reveals the hidden link between chords and scales. But all those numbers don't have to be confusing. Chords are built in thirds (playing every other note in the scale). The most basic chord … Continue reading What Are the Four Chord Extensions?
Modes vs Scales Modes are one of the most misunderstood topics in music theory. That's especially true among guitar players. I know how confusing modes can be. Despite studying music theory in high school and college, it took nearly a decade of personal study to understand the difference between a mode and a scale. But … Continue reading What’s the difference between a mode and a scale?
Almost every guitar player wants to know the secret: Which scales will make my solos sound like my favorite player? Like most guitarists, as a beginner I went through a phase of scouring the Internet for every exotic scale I could find. Despite lacking a solid understanding of the major scale and its modes, I … Continue reading Are Guitar Solos Just Scales?
Music can be beautiful regardless of which chords we use or the notes we select for a melody. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But what if there is a chord progression that stands above the rest in terms of beauty when played on the guitar? I have a strong opinion about this … Continue reading What is the Most Beautiful Chord Progression on Guitar?
Mike Eiman 