Changing Chords

Lesson 9
Author : Chris Colby van Scyoc
Last Updated : April, 2024

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LEARN


CHANGING CHORDS
Written Materials for This Lesson
Fretting Hand - Changing Chords. Take note of the chord shapes.
Strumming Hand - Strum all strings for E and E7, It's ok if you strum all six strings for the Am and Am7 chords for now - we will refine our movements with practice, Downstroke

Changing chords brings the lift to music - the journey. Sequences of chords are even called "chord changes" or "chord progressions". In many songs, these chord changes repeat over and over. Notice the chord forms and the finger positions on your fretting hand. The shapes remain the same, we simply transfer from one set of strings to another. These changes are very common in music - across many genres! Hopefully, your strumming is steady and confident. Perhaps your strumming is becoming more automatic. We don't want to have to think about our strumming because we are going to turn our attention to our fretting hand and changing chords. Again: It's OK if you strum all six strings on the Am and Am7 chords for now.


Note: this is the same shape/chord form as the E major chord but moved to the next set of adjacent strings.

  • E (6th) string (Low) = open ok / do not strum or muted preferred / x
  • A (5th) string = open
  • D (4th) string = second (2nd) finger, second (2nd) fret
  • G (3rd) string = open
  • B (2nd) string = first (1st) finger, first (1st) fret
  • E (1st) string (High) = open

Am7 Chord

Note: this is the same shape/chord form as the E7, but moved to the next set of adjacent strings.

  • E (6th) string (Low) = open ok / do not strum or muted preferred / x
  • A (5th) string = open
  • D (4th) string = second (2nd) finger, second (2nd) fret
  • G (3rd) string = third (3rd) finger, second (2nd) fret
  • B (2nd) string = first (1st) finger, first (1st) fret
  • E (1st) string (High) = open

E7 Chord

  • E (6th) string (Low) = open
  • A (5th) string = second (2nd) finger, second (2nd) fret
  • D (4th) string = open
  • G (3rd) string = first (1st) finger, second (2nd) fret
  • B (2nd) string = open
  • E (1st) string (High) = open


PLAY

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JAM!

JAM #1

Color Outside the Lines





Review: What We Know!

  • NEW:
  • ~ From This Lesson ~
  • Am7 Chord
  • Changing Chords - E7 and Am7

  • PREVIOUS:
  • E7 Chord
  • E Chord
  • Em Chord
  • Em7 Chord
  • Tuning and Tuners
  • Your first open chord - Em11
  • Quarter Notes
  • Half Notes
  • Whole Notes
  • Downstroke
  • Counting bars (measures) of four. Also known as 4/4 ("four, four time")
  • Muting all the strings with the fretting hand
  • Playing on beat one of every measure (the first beat of each measure)
  • Playing in time
  • Let's build upon this! Fantastic!

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