Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: C7 and Em7b5

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today is Christmas Eve, so it is quite appropriate that today's chord maps are colored red and green -- the usual Christmas colors.  Today's first chord is the slightly-anticipated C dominant 7th (C7) open chord shape:

The final chord of the 49-day Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge is E minor (minor) 7th flattened 5th, or Em7b5:

Guitarists, this particular voicing uses open low E and high E strings. And there you have it, you've all done well.

Keyboardists, you've all done well, as well.

Merry Christmas tomorrow, and I hope you all are having a fantastic holiday season! If I don't post anything until 2015, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Am7b5 and Edim

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's chords are A minor (minor) 7th flat 5th (Am7b5) and E diminished (Edim):

Guitarists, in this particular voicing, let the open E strings ring!

Final two tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Bbmaj7 and F7

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's chords are B-flat (major) major 7th (Bbmaj7) and F dominant 7th (F7):

 Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Dm7b5 and Adim

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

We would have been done with the Challenge by now, if I hadn't taken a quick hiatus to complete a recording project. In any case, today's chords are D minor (minor) 7th flat 5th (Dm7b5) and A diminished (Adim):

 Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Gm7 and Bb7

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's chords are G minor (minor) 7th (Gm7) and B-flat dominant 7th (Bb7):

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Ddim and Ebmaj7

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)


Today's chords are D diminished (Ddim) and E-flat (major) major 7th (Ebmaj7). To shake things up for guitarists, these voicings are rooted on the D string:

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Gm and Bb

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

We should have gone through with today's chords weeks ago -- G minor (Gm) and B-flat major (Bb):

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Eb7 and Gm7b5

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's first chord is E-flat dominant 7th, or Eb7:

Guitarists, I haven't written about the C7 open chord yet, but this particular Eb7 voicing has the same shape -- just avoid the E strings.

Keyboardists, you can play this chord in the root position (Eb-G-Bb-Db), 1st inversion (G-Bb-Db-Eb), 2nd inversion (Bb-Db-Eb-G), 3rd inversion (Db-Eb-G-Bb), and/or skip some octaves with your hands.

The next chord is G minor (minor) 7th flat 5th, or Gm7b5:

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Abmaj7 and Cm7

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's chords are A-flat (major) major 7th (Abmaj7) and C minor (minor) 7th (Cm7):

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Eb and Gdim

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's first chord is E-flat major, or Eb:

Guitarists, you can play the A-shape barre chord at the 6th fret, or the E-shape barre chord at the 11th fret -- but try this C shape at the 4th fret. Let the open G string ring, and avoid both E strings. When coming up with cool voicings, see if you can use open strings to your advantage.

Keyboardists, there are at least three ways to play a triad:  Root position (i.e., Eb-G-Bb), 1st inversion (G-Bb-Eb), and 2nd inversion (Bb-Eb-G). Use these variations to your advantage.

The next chord is G diminished, or Gdim:

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Cm7b5 and Cm

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's chords are C minor (minor) 7th flat 5th (Cm7b5) and C minor (Cm):

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Fm7 and Ab7

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)


Today's chords are F minor (minor) 7th (Fm7) and A-flat dominant 7th (Ab7):

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Cdim and Dbmaj7

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)


Today's chords are C diminished (Cdim) and D-flat (major) major 7th (Dbmaj7):

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Fm and Ab

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's chords are F minor (Fm) and A-flat major (Ab):

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Db7 and Fm7b5

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's chords are D-flat dominant 7th (Db7) and F minor (minor) 7th flat 5th (Fm7b5):

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Gbmaj7 and Bbm7

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's chords are G-flat (major) major 7th (Gbmaj7) and B-flat minor (minor) 7th (Bbm7):

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: Cbmaj7 and Ebm7

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days. Check out the full list here.

Each chord map will hopefully appeal to guitarists and keyboardists of all skill levels. Simple chord shapes for novice guitarists are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)

Today's chords are C-flat (major) major 7th (Cbmaj7) and E-flat minor (minor) 7th (Ebm7):

Two more tomorrow. Cheers!