Guitar Chord Harmony Secrets Part 1

Welcome to the fascinating world of guitar chords and harmony! While this report is not meant to replace any of the fine harmony / theory books available that elaborate in greater detail, I think you will find it contains information that you can quickly and easily use to enhance and expand your own guitar playing regardless of what style of music you play. So let's get right into it!

A two octave C major scale would contain the following notes going from low to high: C1 - D2 - E3 - F4 - G5 - A6 - B7 - C8 - D9 - E10 - F11 - G12 - A13 - B14 - C15. Notice that there is a number following each of the notes. These are the scale degrees that will be used to explain the "spelling" of the various chords.

A C major chord would consist of the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of the major scale or C, E and G. Instead of just playing a C major chord you could "embellish" the song by using any of the following chords which will sound richer and fuller: C major 6th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th degrees or C, E, G and A C major 7th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th degrees or C, E, G and B C major 6/9 - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th degrees or C, E, G, A, and D C major 9th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th degrees or C, E, G, B and D C major 13th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 13th degrees or C, E, G, B,D and A

A C minor chord would consist of the 1st, b3rd and 5th degrees of the major scale or C, Eb, and G. Instead of just playing a C minor chord you could "embellish" the song by using any of the following chords which will sound richer and fuller: C minor 6th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th and 6th degrees or C, Eb, G and A. C minor 7th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, and b7th degreesor C, Eb, G and Bb C minor 6/9 - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th degrees or C, Eb, G, A and D C minor 9th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, b7th and 9th degrees or C, Eb, G, Bb, and D C minor 11th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th and 11th degrees or C, Eb, G, Bb, D and F C minor 13th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th and 13th degrees or C, Eb, G, Bb, D and A

A C 7th chord would consist of the 1st, 3rd, 5th and b7th degrees of the major scale or C, E, G and Bb. Instead of just playing a C7th chord you could "embellish" the song by using any of the following chords which will sound richer and fuller: C 9th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, b7th, and 9th degrees or C, E, G, Bb, and D C 13th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th and 13th degrees or C, E, G, Bb, D and A

A C 7th sus4, C9th sus4 and C13th sus4 are merely the above C7th, C9th, and C13th chords with the 4th degree of the major scale or F added to them. By the way, a C9th sus4 and a C11th chord are really the same chord since they contain the same notes.

Hopefully, this report has helped clarify some of the confusion and mystery surrounding chords and harmony in general!

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