pop chords

whats the best way to learn chords? i have a weakness for mushy pop songs and would like to incorporate some elements of it in heavy rock.

The summer I first started I had the old mans complete Beatles piano book that had the chord diagrams ontop of the notation. I'd recommend something of the like.

I recommend learning Jewel songs to all beginners.

somewhere along the lines of el debarge and prince.

learn how chords are made and how to define, ive never studied "shapes" of chords, i recently just learned how to make them so when i need a chord and i think of the sound, it kinda just musically adds the notes and equals it out to my fingers, good stuff. Chord orbits are fun to.


But to beginners, i reccomend picking up i think someone said earlier, a jewel book, jewels guitarist's are good "strummers" theyve got nothing on some of the guitarists on guitartricks.com but they know their chords. and i'll give them credit... in the meantime good luck and i hope you enjoy your newly found expression of feeling and art...

A lot of styles of music including pop,use common chord proggresions...meaning the same chords in every song but changing the tempo and melody. if you learn the basic chord structure and the common chord progressions, there will be no song you cant play!

Ya, most pop songs focus on beats or singing, so usually the guitar would be the 1,4,5 of the key. Usually G,C,D, and most also use an Em.

Originally posted by roastem98
if you learn the basic chord structure and the common chord progressions, there will be no song you cant play!

Except for, you know, "Black Star" or "Rising Force" or something like that.

awww c'mon, u know that's another story...

something like 2 become 1 by paul gilbert, there are certain progressions that really send chills down my spine. or something by stone temple pilots. is there a practice routine that i can do or do i just have to learn songs? im getting tired with the same old minor major thing.

well yeah there are some more complicated songs out there. then again there is nothing that is a better for a musician to be naturally equipped with than a good ear.to some people it just comes natural...but you can practice and train your ear better. one thing i used to do is put in a CD with the song i wanted to learn,got my acoustic, and put on some headphones and turned it down just enough were i could hear myself and the music. but i would start out just finding the bassline of the song with the bass strings.once u figure out the basic bass line, you can go up from there and figure the chords.....but i wouldnt go trying to learn Yngwie Malmsteen just yet!

[Edited by roastem98 on 12-28-2003 at 10:03 AM]