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Memorizing Chords and Scales on Guitar

There are many guitarists out there that are deeply concerned with the notion that memorizing chords and scales on the guitar is a huge feat, and it is but, to learn all of them that exist is simply ridiculous. Guitarists tend to obtain an abundant wealth of knowledge of chords and scales and yet seem to have trouble connecting everything together. All the information seems to be floating around in one’s head with no logical way of connecting these dots. However, there are some different approaches one can take to achieve a significant understanding of how these dots can be connected. This article is written with the assumption that you already have a basic understanding of harmony.

Before embarking on a journey to systematically understand your arsenal of chords and scales, you must perceive music in general as a tree. A tree that has its roots in the ground, various branches and then leaves. By organizing scales and chords with a branch system one can start recognizing patterns and store the information in one’s mind like a filing cabinet. Arguably, the importance of the chords you learn first (the roots, the fundamentals) varies based on genre.

Step One In Memorizing Chords

Memorize all the basic open chords (A, Am, C, D, Dm, E, Em and G). Part of this step would be to learn all the note names within those chords – the notes that build the specific chord in question. Learn all the inversions and the fingerings of the inversions. Note that this step deals with chords that only contain three notes (triads). There are four types of chords that are triads namely Major, Minor, Diminished and Augmented (Root of the tree).

Step Two Memorizing Chords

After you have memorized and internalized all the triads it is time to move on to quartads which are chords with 4 notes in them, These are the first of the extended chords. The first four basic chords we will learn in this section are diatonic seventh chords. Theses are also known as polychords: Major 7th,Minor 7th, Dominant 7th and Diminished (Bottom stem of the tree).

Step Three Memorizing Chords

As now you have a clear understanding of polychords, the next step would be to identify the suspended and add chords. The difference between a suspended and add chord is that a suspended chord has no 3rd in the formula.

Example 1: A Csus2 chord (formula – 1 2 5, notes C, D, G) – notice the usual 3rd has been replaced by the 2nd (D).

Example 2:In an add chord, add9 (formula – 1 3 5 9), it is exactly the same except the 2nd has not taken the place of the 3rd. Instead it has just jumped up an octave to cater for the 3rd still being in place. These can be subdivided in 5 categories. Namely – sus9, add9, sus4, add4, and 6 chords (Top stem of the tree).

Step Four Memorizing Chords

Now comes time for the more advanced harmonic minor chords such as Minor/Maj7, Major 7#5, and Diminished 7th chords.

Step Five Memorizing Chords

Now we move onto all the dominant 7th chords, 9, 11 and 13th chords.

Step Six Memorizing Chords

Progress to all the Major 7th chords, Major 9th, Major 11th, Major 13th.

Step Seven Memorizing Chords

Learn the family of Minor 7th chords, Min9th, min11, min13.

Finally (the leaves on the tree and the cherry on the cake) learn all the altered 7th chords: dom7b5, dom7#5, dom7b9, dom7#9, dom7b13 and dom7#11

Please note that this is not a complete list, however, it is a great start. Once you start your journey memorizing all these chords you notice that remembering the formula and the notes that comprise the chord is of more importance that parroting shapes.

Do not learn any new chords until you are comfortable with the chords you know, this will just leave you chasing your own tail!

Here is the list of the scales that should be internalized in order of importance (according to most musicians)

Scales List

  • Major and minor pentatonic scales
  • Major and minor blues scales
  • Major and minor scales and modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian)
  • Harmonic minor scale and modes
  • Melodic minor scale and modes
  • Hybrid blues scales
  • Diminished scales (half/whole and whole/half)
  • Augmented/whole tone scales
  • Chromatic scale
  • Hungarian and Gypsy minor scales and modes
  • Other pentatonic, hexatonic, exotic, altered, symmetrical, and synthetic scales

When learning scales it is always important to listen to what you are playing. Learn to feel the sound it creates and the mood and scene it sets. Perhaps even sing along whilst you play the scale. This method has proven to improves one’s ear.

Lastly, don’t be overwhelmed by the abundance of information that needs to be obtained. Break each step down into smaller steps and eat the elephant one bite at a time. It takes time and patience and devotion. After some time and understanding of how all the scales and chords fit together, memorizing chords and scales on the guitar will become second nature.

Author Bio: * Can circle headbang, play guitar and walk up a flight of stairs at the same time * Has written jingles for established brands *Does simply not comprehend guitar hero * Air guitars whilst asleep * Has a Higher Diploma in Guitar from The Academy of Contemporary Music in London * Does not solo, but “SOUL-O” * Played in one of the top three extreme lifestyle bands in South Africa * Has mastered the art of NOT losing plectrums * Online Instructor

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