Monday, January 31, 2011

G Chord (Piano)


G is the root note, B is the major 3rd, and D is the perfect fifth.

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G Lydian (Guitar)

Notes:  G A B C# D E F# G (compare with the D major scale:  D E F# G A B C# D)

    G Lydian
E |---------------------|-------------------2-|-3--5--7-------------|
B |---------------------|----------2--3--5----|---------------------|
G |---------------------|----2--4-------------|---------------------|
D |----------------2--4-|-5-------------------|---------------------|
A |-------2--4--5-------|---------------------|---------------------|
E |-3--5----------------|---------------------|---------------------|

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Friday, January 28, 2011

C Chord (Piano)


C is the root note, E is the major third, and G is the perfect fifth.

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Cm Chord (Piano)


We are still in the process of creating a pretty handy reference section for chords, scales, modes, etc.

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C Phyrgian (Guitar)

Notes:  C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C

    C Phyrgian
E |------------------------|-------------------------|-8--9--11-----|
B |------------------------|----------------8--9--11-|--------------|
G |------------------------|---------8--10-----------|--------------|
D |----------------------8-|-10--11------------------|--------------|
A |-----------8--10--11----|-------------------------|--------------|
E |-8--9--11---------------|-------------------------|--------------|


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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Jam Session Rewind: 101h

Jam Session 101h (see original show notes) was our first Chord du Jour Podcast.  At the time of production (August or September 2009), we were still trying to figure out the format of the podcast, so we just jammed over the C major chord.



After a few weeks, we finally developed a specific production routine:  (1) Come up with a chord progression and rhythm at the last minute; (2) keep the vocal intro short and describe the current chord progression quickly; (3) shut up (mostly) and play, until the Jam Session is over!

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Inspiration: "Imagine"

How are you with Key of C chord progressions?  Jam along with this John Lennon classic:



Off the top of my head, you'll only need these chords (and some relatively simple chord embellishments, like 7ths and major-7ths and minor 7ths and whatnot) to hammer out a fun cover of the song:



I'm probably missing some chords.  Try to figure out the correct progressions (use your ears!); otherwise, Google can be your friend and tell you which sites have some transcriptions (of varying accuracy).  When it's finally set up, you can look up various chords at our reference section.

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G Minor Pentatonic ("C Dorian" Position, Guitar)

Notes, starting with C (even though the it's really in G minor):  C D F G Bb C D F G

    Cm
E |------------------|--------------------|-8--10--13--15----------|
B |------------------|------------8--11---|------------------------|
G |------------------|-----7--10----------|------------------------|
D |---------------8--|-10-----------------|------------------------|
A |--------8--10-----|--------------------|------------------------|
E |-8--10------------|--------------------|------------------------|

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Monday, January 24, 2011

Inspiration: "Shine a Light"

"Shine a Light" is probably my favorite Rolling Stones song.



If you don't play the piano, I think it's worth it to learn four basic chords in C: C major, G major, A minor, and F major, so you can play this song - albeit just simply pounding on piano chords - to your heart's content.



You're going to have to figure out the exact order and rhythm of these chords, either by listening to the song (over and over!) or by using Google for some official/unofficial sheet music.

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C Locrian (Guitar)

In case you're wondering, we'll only publish podcast-related posts on Wednesdays (new and repeat Jam Sesssions).  This is fortunate for us because today's mode is a diminished one in C, and we'd be hard-pressed to find a previous jam session that contains something appropriate, like an Ab7 or Cdim.

    C Locrian
E |-----------------------|--------------------------|-8--9--11-----|
B |-----------------------|--------------------9--11-|--------------|
G |-----------------------|---------8--10--11--------|--------------|
D |---------------------8-|-10--11-------------------|--------------|
A |-----------8--9--11----|--------------------------|--------------|
E |-8--9--11--------------|--------------------------|--------------|

Chord du Jour is now beyond chord and du jour. Don't miss out on our multiple blogs per day by subscribing (via RSS) today!

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Friday, January 21, 2011

F5 Power Chord (Guitar)


It's in this Jam Session:

204n (Download!)

If this article and jam session were helpful, please support Chord du Jour by purchasing some official Chord du Jour merchandise (http://bit.ly/z9566 ).  Thanks!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

F Aeolian (Guitar)

    F Aeolian
E |---------------------|---------------------|-1--3--4-------------|
B |---------------------|-------------1--2--4-|---------------------|
G |---------------------|-------1--3----------|---------------------|
D |-------------------1-|-3--5----------------|---------------------|
A |----------1--3--4----|---------------------|---------------------|
E |-1--3--4-------------|---------------------|---------------------|

Try different combinations of the above notes. Improvise! Try it with this Jam Session:

112j (Download!)

If this article and jam session were helpful, please support Chord du Jour by purchasing your gear from Amazon.com (http://amzn.to/cPsRzL ).  Thanks!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Jam Session 312

Jam Session 312 is all-new!

Chords:  F Bb C7sus4 C7 (x4); Dm Bb C; Dm Bb A7; Dm Bb C; F Bb F (in 6/8 time)

If this article and jam session were helpful, please support Chord du Jour by buying us a "round of drinks" (http://bit.ly/9eaG1n ).  Thanks!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

G Minor Pentatonic ("F Mixolydian" Position, Guitar)

    F
E |-----------------------|------------------------|-1--3-----------|
B |-----------------------|----------1--3----------|----------------|
G |-----------------------|----0--3----------------|----------------|
D |-------------0---------|-3----------------------|----------------|
A |-------1--3------------|------------------------|----------------|
E |-1--3------------------|------------------------|----------------|

Try different combinations of the above notes. Improvise! Try it with this (early Chord du Jour) Jam Session:

102l (Download!)

If this article and jam session were helpful, please support Chord du Jour by buying us a "round of drinks" (http://bit.ly/9eaG1n ).  Thanks!

Monday, January 17, 2011

F Phrygian (Guitar)

    F Phrygian
E |---------------------|---------------------|-1--2--4-------------|
B |---------------------|-------------1--2--4-|---------------------|
G |---------------------|-------1--3----------|---------------------|
D |-------------------1-|-3--4----------------|---------------------|
A |----------1--3--4----|---------------------|---------------------|
E |-1--2--4-------------|---------------------|---------------------|

Try different combinations of the above notes. Improvise! Try it with this Jam Session (they'll roughly work together!):

112l (Download!)

If this article and jam session were helpful, please support Chord du Jour by purchasing some official Chord du Jour merchandise (http://bit.ly/z9566 ).  Thanks!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Bb5 Power Chord (Guitar)


It's in this Jam Session:

111l (Download!)

If this article and jam session were helpful, please support Chord du Jour by purchasing your gear from Amazon.com (http://amzn.to/cPsRzL ).  Thanks!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Bb Dorian (Guitar)

    Bb Dorian
E |-----------------------|------------------------|-6--8--9--------|
B |-----------------------|--------------6--8--9---|----------------|
G |-----------------------|--------6--8------------|----------------|
D |--------------------6--|-8--10------------------|----------------|
A |----------6--8--10-----|------------------------|----------------|
E |-6--8--9---------------|------------------------|----------------|

Try different combinations of the above notes. Improvise! Try it with this Jam Session (they will sort of work together!):

211o (Download!)

If this article and jam session were helpful, please support Chord du Jour by purchasing your gear from Musician's Friend (http://bit.ly/d3Hw3y ).  Thanks!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Jam Session 311

Jam Session 311 is all-new!

Chords:   Bb5 Db5 Ab5 Eb5; Bb5 Db5 Ab5 Gb5; Bb5 Db5 Ab5 Eb5; Gb5 Ab5

If this article and jam session were helpful, please support Chord du Jour by purchasing some official Chord du Jour merchandise (http://bit.ly/z9566 ).  Thanks!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Bb Major Pentatonic, or G Minor Pentatonic ("Bb Ionian" Position, Guitar)

    Bb
E |---------------------|---------------------|-6--8--10--13--15----|
B |---------------------|----------6--8-------|---------------------|
G |---------------------|----5--7-------------|---------------------|
D |-------------5-------|-8-------------------|---------------------|
A |-------5--8----------|---------------------|---------------------|
E |-6--8----------------|---------------------|---------------------|

Try different combinations of the above notes. Improvise! Try it with this Jam Session:

302p (Download!)

If this article and jam session were helpful, please support Chord du Jour by purchasing your gear from Amazon.com (http://amzn.to/cPsRzL ).  Thanks!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Bb Aeolian (Guitar)

    Bb Aeolian
E |-----------------------|-------------------------|-6--8--9-------|
B |-----------------------|--------------6--7--9----|---------------|
G |-----------------------|--------6--8-------------|---------------|
D |-------------------6---|-8--10-------------------|---------------|
A |----------6--8--9------|-------------------------|---------------|
E |-6--8--9---------------|-------------------------|---------------|

Try different combinations of the above notes. Improvise! Try it with this Jam Session:

111i (Download!)

If this article and jam session were helpful, please support Chord du Jour by buying us a "round of drinks" (http://bit.ly/9eaG1n ).  Thanks!