How Guitar Chords Are Made

Welcome to GuitarLessons.com. I’m Nate Savage. In this lesson, we’re going to learn how chords are made in a given key.

So let’s say we’re on the key of G. We’re going to learn on how each chord on that key. One starting on a G, one starting on the A, one starting on the B, C, all the way up the scale.

So, I want you to do this. I want you take a pen and paper and write out G,A,B,C,DE,F#, and G. and label each one of those letters as o1,2,3,4,5,6, and 7. And you can do 8 again for the octave on the G.

What you’re going to do is you’re going to the very first note of the scale of the G. circle that notes, then you’re going to skip the A, to the B, to the third scale degree. Circle that note to the fourth one. Skip it to the fifth one, D circle that note.

So, now you should have the first, the third and the fifth circle on your biogram you have there. That’s how regular major, minor, diminished, augmented chords are made. Take the scale degree starting with the G. the third B and D, the fifth.

Then the given key like starting on the one to be 1, 3, and 5, and those is the notes on the given chords. So Gs, Bs and Ds are in the G chords.

For now we’ll go to the next note of the chord. it’s going to be an A minor chord on such the way it falls naturally on the two chord and then give these keys always on A minor.

You’re going to circle that note, circle an A, skip to B, go to the next one circle to C, go top the next note. Skip hat one, and then go to the next one and circle the E.

Basically, you’ll start on your given note you’re A. and then circle every other note. That’s 1, 3, and 5 for an A minor.

Now, if you know your key signature, which is F#. Which is one strike in the key of G, all of your chords are going to falling in beat just right for that key. Go on every scale degree. Go to the fourth scale degree, circle C, E, and the G.

Go to the fifth scale degree which is the D. Circle D, F#, and A.

Now if you’ll notice, we call this stacking thirds because you’ll notice you start on the G, then go to B, then go to D. all those are stacked to thirds. In other words, 1, 2, 3, it’s on third away 1, 2, 3 then the more you started is B. and then third away from that. In the scale and in the key of G. that’s another third away. It’s a minor third or this time.

So think about that circle all the chords on the key of G for each scale degree, and then you’ll be able to see how chords are made in each key.


Transcription by: Scribe4you Transcription Services