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?
The circle of fifths is a divisive subject for guitar players, particularly those who haven’t studied jazz or classical music. Depending on who you ask, it's either an indispensable tool for learning music or complete waste of time. I first learned about the circle of fifths when I took a music theory class in high … Continue reading How Do You Practice Guitar With the Circle of Fifths?
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?
We've all been there. Using the same chord progressions over and over. I mean, you can only write a song with G, C, and D so many times before people start to notice. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with the tried-and-true progressions. Actually, there is a good reason why they're tried and true: … Continue reading How Do You Invent Chord Progressions?
In a lot of ways, it's easier to learn guitar now than it ever has been. The Internet has leveled the playing field for anyone without access to a good teacher or the financial means to pay for regular lessons. The guitar is really a marvel of engineering. It's configured so anyone with a little … Continue reading Can You Teach Yourself to Play Guitar?
Mike Eiman 