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GUITAR LESSON ONE: Using your guitar as a songwriting tool by Billboard top rated instructor Scott Morris of You Can Play Guitar © September, 2002 Scott Morris. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission. During this lesson, we will discuss the possibilities of using your guitar as a songwriting tool. However, some songs may consist of a wide range of musical content, and complex elements, such as scales, and modes, relative minor scales, harmonies and scale names you may never have heard of (like, Inoian, Dorian, Phrygian, ect...) A good song can also be composed by simply using a few basic chords, and some easy to play pentatonic or blues scales. For example, the group AC/DC has many major hit songs - most of which were written using basic major chords, or power chords, and easy box scales. Artists like Ozzy, or Joe Satriani use every available chord and scale that is properly related in theory. Learning and knowing the basic fundamentals that we'll be learning in this lesson could lead you to writing songs of your own, which, with proper copyright protection and promotion, could possibly land you a hit song of your very own.
First lets look at some basic chords. For this lesson, we'll focus on learning powerchords for the initial rhythm segments. We'll then look at some easy scales you can add for soloing, as well as a basic format for composing, meaning, which order many easy to play hit songs are constucted and written within.
Powerchords
Powerchords are the salvation of the rhythm guitarist. They are also, without question, the most common and popular chords among rock and heavy metal and even the new country players have adapted it.
Construction of a Powerchord
It takes 3 notes to make a chord, major or minor. A Powerchord, consist of only 2 notes, the first and fifth intervals of a major scale. A power chord is not major or minor. It's a substitue chord, which can be used to replace nearly any chord. As it consist of the first and fifth intervals of a major scale, it's actual name is a 5th, or fifth chord. It got the name Powerchord from the rock and metal players who plugged into a huge stack, and cranked up the distortion. Below I have shown the major diatonic scale in the key of A. There are 8 notes (intervals) in the major diatonic scale. To build the powerchord, we will use the first, and fifth intervals.A major diatonic scale Intervals A Powerchord
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :------------------4--6--7-----------------------------
A :-----------4--5-7----------------7-------7------------
E :-------5-7--------------------5----------5------------
Notes A B C# D E F# G# A A E
Intervals 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 5
Fingerings
The best fingerings to use are index finger on the roote note (the first note played that gives the chord it's letter name, for example above, A note=A powerchord) and then use the ring finger on the fifth interval. If you're a beginner and having a hard time stretching, it's ok to use the index finger on the fifth fret, and the pinky on the 7th fret. Now that we have learned what a powerchord is and how its formula is built, the next thing to realize and learn is that it's moveable - meaning, that you don't have to change fingerings to play a different chord. You simply move the same shape up and down the neck, or to different strings. Powerchords can be played on the Large E, A and D strings.
Next we'll learn the names of the powerchords. I am only showing the natural named chords, keeping in mind that the chords in between are sharps, and flats. The first chord is an open E. To play the open chords, leave the top string open, and use your index finger on the string below. Then when beginning on the first fret, return to the fingerings explained above.Powerchords on the 6th sting, large E.
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :------------------------------------------------------
A :-2--3--5--7--9--10-12--14-----------------------------
E :-0--1--3--5--7--8--10--12-----------------------------
E F G A B C D E
Powerchords on the A string
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :-2--4--5--7--9--10-12--14-----------------------------
A :-0--2--3--5--7--8--10--12-----------------------------
E :------------------------------------------------------
A B C D E F G A
Powerchords on the D string
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :-2--4--5--7--9--11-12--14-----------------------------
D :-0--2--3--5--7--9--10--12-----------------------------
A :------------------------------------------------------
E :------------------------------------------------------
D E F G A B C D
Now that you've learned the powerchords, next, lets try some fundamental chord exercises using some very popular songs.
For the remainder of this lesson visit our latest page You Can Play Guitar @ http://www.guitardiscounthero.com/.
Until next time, buy yourself a new guitar, you deserve it!
