I know it isn't everybody's favorite subject, but it is beneficial to learn some basic guitar theory at some point. The easiest place to start is with guitar chord theory. There is a formula behind the way chords are constructed and the intent of this article is to help you better understand guitar chord theory.
To understand the way chords are built we must first look at the major scale. Lets take the C major scale for example. The notes in a C major scale are C D E F G A B. Now that we know the notes of the major scale we can build the chords involved with the key of C by stacking thirds.
Stacking thirds is basically stacking every other note. To get a C major triad all we need is three notes. Starting on C we will go every other note until we get C E G. These are the three primary notes in the C major chord. C is called the root note, E is called the third an G is called the fifth. All of your major and minor chords will be comprised of a root, third and fifth.
Now let's take this lesson in guitar chord theory one step further. We can build all the chords in the key of C major by stacking thirds starting on each different note of the scale. If D is our root note, then F is the third and A is the fifth. Do this for all the remaining notes in the C major scale and you should end up with seven different chords all related to the key of C major.
You can apply this lesson in guitar chord theory to any scale to get the different chords associated with it. There is much more to learn about guitar chord theory, but for know just think about what you have learned and how the chords that you practice are 'stacked up'.
John Hughes has been playing guitar for longer than he can remember. Aside from teaching guitar for the last three years he enjoys writing articles about guitar chord theory and other guitar related topics. If you are serious about mastering the guitar you owe it to yourself to check out Jam-o-rama.info
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