Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

How To Create Chord Arrangements Using The Major Scale – EP237

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson I’ll show you how to use the major scale to create chord arrangements. If you’ve ever wanted to write your own songs but aren’t sure which chords work together, this is the lesson you need. In addition to chord theory, I’ll also give you a fun rhythm that you can play over a jam track that includes 3 different levels of difficulty.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through Level 3

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Slow Walk-Through Level 2

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Slow Walk-Through Level 1

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  4. Philip B says

    Brian-you have a lot of really good stuff on this website- really good. This is one of your best. Love your versatility – from Fogarty to Cale to Clapton to classic Rock, Souther Rock to R and B to Jazz to Bluegrass and to this cool Jazzy thing- well that’s really hard to do and very hard to do well. I’m in awe.

  6. JoLa says

    Brian,
    It’s like you read my mind . . . I’ve been wanting to learn something smooth and jazzy lately. How did you know?
    You are a never-ending inspiration, I can’t thank you enough!

  7. Christopher S says

    I realise I don’t say “Thank you” often enough but seriously, thank you for these lessons. This is easily my favourite so far, it has really helped things fall into place for me in terms of progressions and chord substitutions.

    More like this would be awesome, especially in a minor key and/ or with a bluesy feel. I use a looper a lot so these lessons are invaluable for helping to learn more about cool progressions. Anyway, thanks again! Chris.

  11. stephen a says

    Well, Brian, that was lesson where the light bulb went on. My fumble fingers may never be able to do all of that stuff, but I know enough to modify the chord shapes and number of strings I try to play and make it work for me. Thanks!

  12. benny l says

    BRIAN THIS IS AN AWESOME LESSON I LOVE IT. I KNOW I WILL BE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THIS CAUSE I LOVE PLAYING RYTHYMN USING A LOT OF MINOR CHORDS!

    THANKS A LOT AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND FAMILY

  14. DJG says

    Brian, i’m confused in the video when you show the 2nd and 3rd barre chords (Bm and C#m) which looks to me like you are only fingering the 5th string. I thought you should finger both the 5th and 6th strings (like an Em shape), am I messed up?
    Doug

      • wrightclick says

        You can play them chords with one finger because although he may hold the the 5th string with the 3rd ring finger he is not playing that string .see lesson EP006 part 3 rhythm the 3rd chord in the progression is the same type of chord but played with two fingers not using the 5th string again . I maybe wrong but omitting the 5th string gives it a more Jazzy colour.
        Also further on in the passage unlike myself Brian does not adjust his Barre finger by dropping it down one string when he switches from an E form (6th string root) Bar chord to an A form (5th string root ) chord . When i play it i drop the bar one string but there really is no need to adjust just don’t play that string . Sometimes it may look like he is playing a E form bar when in fact it’s an A form . Holding the full chord can be easier sometimes even if you are not using it all . Sorry to stick my nose in hope it helps .

  15. Ian C says

    Terrific. Thank you Brian another wonderful sounding and useful lesson.
    I subscribed to Active Melody earlier this year and have learned more in 2017 going through the bespoke music you write, with your patient teaching style, than in many many years of other methods trying to improve on the guitar. I want to thank you for that and wish you a great 2018.

  17. cuvy says

    Brian,

    Thank you for another awesome lesson. Any chance you could create a lesson showing us how you played lead over the A major jam track including things like how to transition between A major scale shapes and add double stop slides to improv? Thank you so much. Wishing you peace, health, and happiness in the New Year.

    Gregoruy

  18. wrightclick says

    1 year ago i would have said ah crap its fingerstyle this week lol . What a Fantastic massive lesson a great follow up on EP221 , i was determined not just to be a pick only player and am glad i made that decision and stayed the course and not chucked it in when things got tough it would have always bugged me taking the lazy way out . Its not been east to say the least but you only get out what you put in and have made massive leaps and my Pick ,Hybrid , fingerstyle and a bit of slide styles are all coming along nicely . Best tuition site on the planet bar none and great value too.

  19. sunjamr says

    Amazing! This was just the lesson I needed this week. I’m trying to help a couple of kids learn to write a song, but I don’t really know what I’m doing. This will be a big help. Many thanks!

  20. scattercreek says

    Brian,

    Fantastic lesson. Everyone else has pretty much said how great it is. I totally agree. Thanks for this one Brian. It ties Theory and fun, easy music together in an easy to play and easy to understand lesson.

    Gene

  27. Ray G says

    Brian,
    Happy New Year!! You’ve taught me so much in the past year. I like the way you throw in music theory and give us a cool tune to practice and learn. Really like this lesson on chord progression and creating music. You’ve inspired me to buy my first electric guitar since 1970 🙂

  31. freddie h says

    This may be my favorite lesson yet. I can’t believe how much you were able to cover and it makes perfect sense. I love the percussive element with these 7th chords. Sounds sooo cool. Can’t wait to whip drop this on my two sons who also play guitar. Thanks a million.

  32. Khoon C says

    I am a relatively new premium user, and have a general question. I would like to import the tablature files I get from from ActiveMelody into guitar pro, so that I can play in other tunings (e.g. from standard to open D). Can anyone tell me the best way of doing that?
    Thanks
    Khoon C

  33. caymandiverjj says

    Excellent fundamental lesson being one reason I returned to the site. Hopefully I am not stealing Brian’s thunder, but I wanted to add something. It is important to know all 12 keys and how to transpose any music to them. The guitar has limitations in comparison to a piano. in A capo is required to avoid playing so many, mostly bar chords. This is more common in flat keys, but can be applied to all. Hotel California is a shining example of blending capo parts for a layered sound. That might be a great theory lesson on the use of a capo. One more. Any major key has a formula for the pentatonic major or minor scales. For a major pentatonic omit the 4th and 7th notes leaving five. The minor key omits the 2nd and 6th of the do rey mi sequence. Brian’s weekly compositions are highly original and a pleasure to learn.

  35. Maraker says

    I little confuse that 7th chord, you play 11-12-11-12 strings 5-4-3-2 , You say “Abdim” chord, but it is not, if I look at that chord. 11-12-13-12 is Abdim. Can you explain that to me ?

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