The Major Chords (cont)

If you are playing in the key of C, you will either play the forms listed above pretty well up the neck, or you could use the following set of chords:

----- --3-- --3--
-3--- --2-- --2--
-2--- --0-- --3--
-0--- --0-- -----
C (I) and G (V) or G7 (V7) – this one is pretty easy because you just move the I chord over a set of strings. By now you should be able to easily reach any I or V chord you need.

What about playing the venerable “Chop” chord? Well, in G (I) you would play:

-3---
-2---
-5---
-7---

And for the D (V), play:

-2---
-5---
-4---
-7---
Notice you stay in one position, but just switch a couple of fingers. You could also play the D (V) like this:

-----
-5---
-4---
-7---
And save a little finger strain. Needless to say move those shapes up the neck for the other keys.

If you’re playing in D, then what I said is reversed. For D (I) play:

-----
-5---
-4---
-7---
Or:
-2---
-5---
-4---
-7---

And for the A (V), play:

-5---
-4---
-7---
-9---
Once again you should have all the bases covered for playing a “Chop” chord form. Notice the relationship between the I and V chords stay the same no matter how far up or down the neck you play them. Next we will cover the IV chord, and how it relates to the I and V.

Mike Perry

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