The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt

The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
The Chord Cookbook Compendium
Reference Library of Chords,
Chord Systems
and Harmony
Matthieu Brandt
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The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
Index 3
Introduction 5
Chords 7
Open Position Chords – Major and Minor Triads 7
Open Position Chords – 4 Note Chords 8
Barre – Chords 10
Sus4 – Chords 12
Sus2 – Chords 13
Sus4 & Sus2 Chords Combinations 14
Add 9 – Chords 16
Add 11 – Chords 17
Min 7 – Chords 18
Maj 7 – Chords 20
MinMaj 7 – Chords 21
Add 6 – Chords 22
m 6 – Chords 23
m 69 – Chords 25
Maj 7 & Add 6 Extended Chords 26
Dom 7 – Chords 28
Dom 7 Extended Chords 30
Altered Dom 7 Chords 32
Diminished & Augmented Triad 34
Half Diminished Chord 35
Diminished 7 th Chord 36
Powerchords 37
Triads on 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd string 38
Triads on 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th string 39
Triads on 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th string 40
Expanded Triads on 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd string: Sus4 & Sus2 41
Expanded Triads on 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th string: Sus4 & Sus2 42
Expanded Triads on 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th string: Sus4 & Sus2 43
Expanded Triads on 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd string: Dom 7 44
Expanded Triads on 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th string: Dom 7 45
Expanded Triads on 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th string: Dom 7 46
Expanded Triads on 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd string: Maj 7 47
Expanded Triads on 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th string: Maj 7 48
Expanded Triads on 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th string: Maj 7 49
Expanded Triads on 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd string: Min 7 50
Expanded Triads on 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th string: Min 7 51
Expanded Triads on 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th string: Min 7 52
Powerchord Based Triads 53
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The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
Chord Systems & Tricks
Chord Harmony
Open Position Chords Moved Up The Neck 55
Bar Chords without A Bar 57
Bar Chords without A Bar (Low E) 59
Chords from Progressions with Pedal Notes 60
Inversions of Triads and 4 – Note Chords 66
Chords with Chimey Close Chord Voicings 69
Complex Slash Chord 71
Chords from Quartal Harmony 72
Introduction 74
Chord Extensions 77
Chord Formulas 79
Formulas for Chord Families 81
Chord Progressions 84
Major Chord replaced by it’s dominant chord 86
Adding chords from the minor key with the same root 87
Alternative Chords in a minor key 92
Replacing the Vm with a V major chord in a Minor key 94
Changing keys (modulation) 97
Modulation to the relative minor or major 98
How to Modulate 99
The V- I Modulation 100
Modulating one whole note up 101
Modulating to the Tonic Minor 101
Other Modulations 101
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Introduction
This chord reference library includes all open position chords, bar chords, all the important extensions a
chord can have and a number of chord tricks and systems to classify chords.
It is the companion to the TrueFire Interactive Video Course with the same name.
Among these chord tricks and systems are
- moving an open position chord up the neck to create new sounds
- using bar chords without a bar
- build chords that have so called close voicings, which is the use of two notes in a chord that are ½ step
or 1 step apart
- the use of pedal notes in a chord progression
- counterpoint, contrary motion and melodic movement within a chord
- an extensive look at inversions, triads, powerchord triads and ways to expand them
- and finally chords that are built with quartal harmony.
You can go through this library much like you can with all the other TrueFire courses; start at the
beginning, go through all the examples, the breakdown of the harmony, all the chord tricks that are
described, the ways they are categorized and at a breakneck speed enlarge your chord knowledge.
But because this subject is so vast and important, you can also use it as an encyclopedia.
You can come back to the videos and powertabs whenever you’re stuck with playing the same old
chords or when you need to find out how to create or extend certain chords.
You can print this reference manual which will give you a systematic rundown of almost all the chords
you’ll ever need, several ways they can be categorized and a set of harmonic and melodic tricks you can
use to extend chords and chord progressions.
It also includes a 30 page rundown of chord harmony theory you’ll need to place the chords into
context.
With every type of chord and approach to playing chords, standard chord progressions and chord tricks
we’ve included a list of hit songs to help you get a solid grip on chord colors and the ways they are used
by the writers of hit records.
I encourage you to check out these songs and listen for the effect these chords and chord tricks have.
It’s easier to remember what they sound like if you have heard a clear and practical example.
You’ll be able to label chords by players or situations or even certain songs, like: the Jimi Hendrix chord,
Andy Summers chord, the Wonderwall trick or the James Bond theme.
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Aside from references to these hit songs, I’ve included about 35 original compositions to illustrate how
chords can be colored, how certain effects can be achieved, which chords will work in which situations
and how to embellish a chord progression.
This reference manual does not include all the chords you can possibly play on guitar and it doesn’t
intend to.
That whole approach is senseless, because there are probably a few million and no one is going to be
able to remember them all and least of all, know how to use all of them.
This reference manual does include 98 percent of all chords you’ll ever need playing pop, rock, blues,
folk, r & b, soul, funk and other modern western music. I’ve stopped short of going into jazz and fusion
but this manual will have given you several systems to build those chords yourself or analyze them with
the extensive harmony section included. I have only included ‘playable’ chords, meaning chords for
which you don’t have to break your fingers or extend them over too many frets. This library is for guitar
players, not for guitar wizards.
This is a load of material, so take your time going through it.
I hope you enjoy this systematic approach and am convinced it will help you extend your chord
knowledge.
It will make you recognize chords and chord progressions quicker and help you find certain chord effects
when you’re composing songs. This manual will give you all the tools you need to analyze tabs and chord
progressions you find on the internet and play the ‘correct’ guitar arrangement.
Matthieu Brandt
for TrueFire
Haarlem (The Original), The Netherlands
June 2008
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The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
us4 & Sus2 Chord Combination
Definition : Combination of sus4 and sus2 chords. Both suspended chords are
often combined to create melodies within a chord.
The major or minor third of the chord is also added in the melody.
Chord Formula : Suspended 2 nd = 1-2-5, Major Triad = 1-3-5 or Minor Triad =1-b3-5 and
suspended 4 th = 1-4-5
Styles of Music : Folk, Country, Pop, Rock, etc.
Examples : Summer of ’69 (Brian Adams), Brass in Pocket (Pretenders), Annie’s
Song
(John Denver), Happy Christmas (John Lennon), The Winner Takes It
All
(Abba), Vincent (Don McLean), The First Cut Is The Deepest (Cat
Stevens).
When to use : To create melodies on top of a major or minor triad
.
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The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
Add 9 Chords
Definition : A Major or Minor Triads that has an added 9 th .
A Minor Seventh Chord with an added 9 th is called a Minor Ninth Chord.
This is the same note as the suspended 2 nd (2x ½ note or 2 frets above
the
root), usually played 7 whole notes or 14 frets above the root.
Chord Formula : Add9 = 1-3-5-9, madd9 = 1-b3-5-9 and m9 = 1-b3-5-b7-9.
Styles of Music : Folk, Country, Pop, Rock, Singer Songwriter, Rock Ballads, Latin, Jazz,
etc.
Examples : add9 Lover You Should’ve Come Over (Jeff Buckley),
Dust in the Wind (Kansas), I Got A Name Jim Croce),
madd9 Fade To Black (Metallica), Every Breath You Take (Police),
m9 Language (Suzanne Vega)
When to use : Gives the minor or major chord a more mellow flavor.
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The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
Add 11 Chords
Definition : A Major or Minor Triads that has an added 11 th .
This is the same note as the suspended 4 th (5x ½ note or 5 frets above
the
root), usually played 8 1/2 whole notes or 17 frets above the root.
Chord Formula : Add11 = 1-3-5-11, madd11 = 1-b3-5-11 and m11 = 1-b3-5-b7-11.
Styles of Music : Folk, Country, Pop, Rock, Singer Songwriter, Rock Ballads, Latin, Jazz,
etc.
Examples : add11 Miss You (Rolling Stones)
m11 Here, There and Everywhere (The Beatles)
m7add11 About A Girl (Nirvana), Back To You (John Mayer)
When to use : Gives the minor or major chord a more mellow flavor, with a suspended
twist.
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m 69 – Chords
Definition : A Minor Triad that has an added major 6 th AND an added 9 th .
Chord Formula : 1-b3-5-6-9
Styles of Music : Jazz, Pop, Singer Songwriter, Latin, etc.
Examples : Forty Thousand Headmen (Traffic), 3x5 (John Mayer),
Theme From the Pink Panther
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Maj 7 and Add 6 Extended Chords
Definition : A Major Triad that has an added major 6 th and/or an added major 7 th
and/or one other extension
Chord Formula : 1-3-5-6-7, 1-3-5-7-13, 1-3-5-7-9, 1-3-5-6-9
Styles of Music : Jazz, Latin, Fusion, etc.
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The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
Powerchords
Definition : A stack of a root with a perfect fifth. Often one of these notes is doubled
(or both). Although technically a powerchord is an interval, because it
only has
two different notes, these intervals are mostly referred to as
powerchords.
Chord Formula : 1-5
Styles of Music : Rock, Heavy Metal, Pop, etc.
Examples : 11 AM (Incubus), Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple), My Generation
(The Who), Knocking on Heavens Door (Guns & Roses Cover),
The Unforgiven (Metallica), Rumble (Link Wray), You Really Got Me
(The Kinks).
When to use : Chord has no major or minor third and can be used as a replacement for
both.
Because it has a limited ‘color’ it’s often used in rough edged songs.
Too thicken up the chord, the fifth of the chord is sometimes doubled
in the bass.
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Triads on 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd string
Definition : Major and Minor Triads on 3 adjacent strings
Chord Formula : 1-3-5 (major) and 1-b3-5 (Minor).
Styles of Music : Funk, Rock, Pop, Singer Songwriter, etc.
When to use : As a second guitar part or part in a band setting with other chord
instruments.
Locate the root on one string and shape the chord around it.
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Triads on 2 nd, 3 rd and 4 th string
Definition : Major and Minor Triads on 3 adjacent strings
Chord Formula : 1-3-5 (major) and 1-b3-5 (Minor).
Styles of Music : Funk, Rock, Pop, Singer Songwriter, etc.
When to use : As a second guitar part or part in a band setting with other chord
instruments.
Locate the root on one string and shape the chord around it.
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Triads on 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th string
Definition : Major and Minor Triads on 3 adjacent strings
Chord Formula : 1-3-5 (major) and 1-b3-5 (Minor).
Styles of Music : Funk, Rock, Pop, Singer Songwriter, etc.
When to use : As a second guitar part or part in a band setting with other chord
instruments.
Locate the root on one string and shape the chord around it.
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The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
Expanded Triads on 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd string: Sus4 and Sus2
Definition : Sus4 and Sus2 Triads on 3 adjacent strings
Chord Formula : 1-4-5 (sus4) and 1-2-5 (sus2).
Styles of Music : Funk, Rock, Pop, Singer Songwriter, etc.
When to use : As a second guitar part or part in a band setting with other chord
instruments.
Locate the root on one string and shape the chord around it.
These can be seen as harmonic variations of the major or minor triads.
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Powerchord Based Triads
Definition : Triads derived from Powerchords on 3 adjacent strings
Chord Formula : several.
Styles of Music : Rock, Heavy Metal, Pop, etc.
When to use : As harmonic variations in a Powerchord groove.
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The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
Open Position Chords Moved Up The Neck
Definition : Open position chord shapes that are moved up the neck and in
which open strings are kept ringing.
Chord Formula : several.
Styles of Music : Rock, Pop, Singer Songwriter, etc.
Examples : Saturday Night (Herman Brood & His Wild Romance), Sweet Bitter
Blues
(Cephas and Wiggins), Homeward Bound and Scarborough Fair (Simon
and Garfunkel), Calling You – Theme from Bagdad Café (Jevetta Steel)
When to use : As harmonic variations on open position chords. The open strings that
keep ringing often give the chord some extra color.
These chords can used to replace ‘regular’ open position chords or
provide
colorful substitutions for barre chords.
In some cases these chords are used on top of a pedal bass, to create
harmonic motion within a certain key. Because of their well known shape
these chords are easy to play.
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The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
Bar Chords Without A Bar
Definition : Chords that are derived from barre chord with the tonic on the 6 th or 5 th
string.
The barre played with the index finger is removed and only the root of the
chord
is played with the index finger.
The rest of the fingers remain on the fretboard and the open strings are
kept
ringing.
Chord Formula : several.
Examples : Daughters (John Mayer), Sacrifice (Anouk), Sail Away (David Gray),
Trouble
(Oasis), This Side (Nickel Creek), Joy (Janis Ian).
Styles of Music : Rock, Pop, Singer Songwriter, etc.
When to use : As harmonic variations on open position chords or barre chords
The open strings that keep ringing often give the chord some extra color.
These chords can used to replace ‘regular’ open position chords or barre
chords.
The top open strings (E and B) create a pedal that can be heard throughout
a progression that uses several of these types of chords.
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The Chord Cookbook Compendium Sample © 2012 Matthieu Brandt
Bar Chords Without A Bar (Open Low E)
Definition : Chords that are derived from barre chord with the tonic on the 6 th or 5 th
string.
The barre played with the index finger is removed and the low E string
rings open, together with the high E and B strings.
The rest of the fingers remain on the fretboard.
Chord Formula : several
Examples : Melissa (Allman Brothers Band)
Styles of Music : Rock, Pop, Singer Songwriter, etc.
When to use : As harmonic variations on open position chords or barre chords
The open strings that keep ringing often give the chord some extra color.
These chords can used to replace ‘regular’ open position chords or
barre
chords or provide.
The top open strings (E and B) create a pedal that can be heard
throughout
a progression that uses several of these types of chords.
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Chords with Chimey Close Voicings
Definition : Chords that have all the chord notes stacked as close together as
possible,
often within the same octave. The voicings referred to here can contain
two
notes that have an interval of ½ note or 1 whole note between them.
The tension between these adjacent notes within the chord voicing
produce
a chimey effect or tension. Often one of these notes is an open string.
Chord Formula : several
Examples : Every Breath You Take & Message In A Bottle (The Police), Night Vision
(Suzanne Vega), Fade To Black (Metallica), Masterplan (Oasis),
Old Man (Neil Young), Scarborough Fair (Simon and Garfunkel version),
Stealing Hubcaps (Larry John McNally)
Styles of Music : Rock, Pop, Country, Folk, Heavy Metal, Singer Songwriter, etc.
When to use : To create a chord that has some tension and/or mesmerizing color /
floating
feel.
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