Chord shortcuts. This will come in handy if you need to play extensions of big chords. You can say that this concept is a simple permutation of intervals.
Check out the matrix below:
22 32 42 52 62 72
23 33 43 53 63 73
24 34 44 54 64 74
25 35 45 55 65 75
26 36 46 56 66 76
27 37 47 57 67 77
This is your chord palette. Each one of these numbers represents a relationship between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd note in the chord. For example, Let's pick the number 35.
-Select a Key: In this example, I will choose the key 'C Major'.
-Select either the G string or D string.
-The number '3' in 35 indicates that you should play the 3rd of the root that you have selected from the scale. The number '5' indicates that you have to play a Fifth of a third of the root.
The notes in the C major scale are:
C D E F G A B
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Step1:
The Third of C = E
A Fifth of The third in this case will be The fifth of E, which is B.
NOTE: DO NOT GET CONFUSED WITH TENSIONS LIKE 3, b3, #4, b5 AND SO ON. YOU WILL DISCOVER THIS AFTER YOU FORM THE TRIAD.
C D E F G A B
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
X X X
I have marked the notes to be played as X.
Next, we move on to D, which is the second note of the ะก major scale.
C D E F G A B
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
X X X
The 3rd of D in C Major Scale will be F (Happens to be a minor 3rd) and C, which is the Fifth of F.
EXAMPLE 2: Let's jump Ahead to F and Change our number to 44.
C D E F G A B
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
X X X
The 4th of F in C Major Scale will be B (Happens to be a tritone), and the 4th of B is E (Happens to be a perfect 4th)
35 of C in C Major will be C - E - B. This is in the form R- 3 - 7. It is a C-maj7 (no 5th).
35 of D in C Major will be D - F- C. This is in the form R- b3 -b7. It is a D- min7 (no 5th).
44 of F in C Major will be F - B- E. This is in the form R- #4 - 7 OR R-#11-13.
It doesn't have qualified as such, but if you happen to come across a Lydian chord which has all the notes in a C major scale, all you need to play is 44 of F in C major. This way, you can outline the characteristic note of the chord using the #11.
Step 2:
- Let's do some math. You will get seven shapes using a number in the palette. To each of these seven shapes, Add the notes of the scale individually to each chord shape. This will give you 49 different chord shapes. Try to name and remember them.
- There are 66 numbers in the palette. So 66x49 =3,234 Chord shapes!!!
NOTE: Some of the chords will repeat in the process of naming them. They are just inversions of each other.
HOW TO PLAY:
Form the triad on the D, G and B string OR G, B and E string. Use your extra finger to root. Traverse through the roots modally (HINT).
Feel free to ask any doubts. Enjoy!