Tag Archives for " Triads "

31

Small Bar Chord Variations

In this video lesson you’ll learn how you can cut your bar chords down to size, and still get a great result.

The cool thing about this is these bar chord variations take a lot less finger strength to make the chord (you’re not actually barring it), and in addition, you’re getting a totally different and unique sound now from the something you already knew!

The basic idea here is that you take the exact same notes you were playing in whatever bar chords you’re using, but now you just hack the chord in half and only play the top 3 or 4 strings on your guitar.

This really gives the chord a higher sound, which can really help cut through the rest of the band, and it can stand out very nicely from another guitar player who is using the same chords, but perhaps is playing them as open chords instead.

Practice these two patterns – the major pattern and the minor pattern, and get used to thinking about the root note being on the first string instead of on the 6th string.

The other pattern in there that I realized I didn’t show too clearly is just an open D form, but moved up. The root note for that one comes off the second string.

If you enjoyed this lesson, checkout my Bar Chords Made Simple course to get a more complete approach to all kinds of bar chords.

Mini Bar Chord Variations

Video Problems? Watch it on YouTube

Related Lessons

27

Having Fun With Triads (Open D and Dm Patterns)

Seriously – if you’re playing along with another guitar player – this lesson will help you find something different to play. Puh-lease don’t play exactly the same thing – unless you’re specifically trying to play in unison!

Triads are cool because once you get the hang of them, you can easily throw them in anywhere to spice up your playing. Additionally, they are in a higher register than the open chords, so they’ll cut through the noise of the band without turning up your volume.

In this particular video the triads I showed are based on the open D and open Dm chord patterns. For example:

6-5-4-3-2-1 (String number)
X-X-0-2-3-2 (D)
And
X-X-0-2-3-1 (Dm)

Where X means you don’t play that string, and numbers indicate the fret position. As I move these chords up the fretboard, I simply stop playing the 4th string as well.

Watch Major Triads on Youtube