Uncommon Chords 101 Vibrant Voicings You Won’t Find On A Typical Chord Chart. By Mike Beatham
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Introduction Thank you for downloading Uncommon Chords! As the title states, contained within are 101 chords you won’t find on a typical chord chart. As a result, using any of these chords in your songwriting, as alternatives to the standard barre and open chord forms we learn, will give your progressions an instant spark of originality. Many of these chords make use of open strings (often referred to as open chords). This gives them a particularly vibrant, full sound. However, included are also some lesser known movable chord forms which do not use open strings, and can therefore be positioned at any fret. However you choose to use the chords featured in this book, I hope they inspire more creativity in your songwriting and original interpretations of existing music. This list is by no means exhaustive, although this is likely only the 1 st volume of many! Try the chord forms you learn here in different positions, add and remove fingers/notes and see if you can expand the list further. Enjoy it! Remember to visit fretjam.com for quality free guitar lessons.
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Before We Begin The diagrams show you where to put your fingers. First, number your fingers in the usual way, as shown below:
Some chords involve the use of a barred finger. For example, taking the standard E form major barre chord, our index (1) finger is barred across all six strings. Here’s how the barre would be represented in my diagrams:
The fingerings used in the diagrams are only suggestions. If you find a more comfortable way of playing the chord, by all means use it!
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
If a string is not used in the chord, there’ll be an as follows:
marked on the diagram
That would mean don’t play the A string. Any strings not marked with a fingering or an X should be played as they are – open. Pretty standard stuff! Fret numbers will be marked on diagrams where the chord form is to be played up the neck. If the chord is played down at the first few frets, however, you’ll see a black bar representing the nut (where the guitar neck meets the head) instead of a fret number:
That diagram has a nut, so that tells us we’re looking at the first 4 frets. You'll notice some chords are labelled with a fret number below the diagram and others aren't. If there isn't a fret number, it means the chord shape can be played at any fret (movable), as no open strings are used in the voicing. That’s about it. Now let’s expand our chord vocabulary…
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
The Chords 13th Suspended 4th
Dominant 9th
A7#11
A7sus4
A9
Asus4#5add9
Aadd6
Aadd9
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Aadd9
Aadd9/C#
Abaug7#11
Am9
Am13
Amadd6
Amadd9
Amadd11
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Amaj9
Aadd9#4
B7add11
B7add13
B9sus4
B9sus4/2
Bbadd6
Bbmaj7#11
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Bm11
Bm11b5
Bm11b13
Cadd9
Cadd9#11
Cm9
Cmaj9
C#m7
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
C#m9
C#m9 (Var. 2)
C#m13
D7sus2
D7sus13
D9
D9 (Var. 2)
D9 (Var. 3)
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
D9sus4
Dadd4
Dadd6
Dadd9
Dadd9 (Var. 2)
Dadd6/9
Dm7add11
Dmaj7
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Dmaj7add6
Dmaj9
Dmaj13
Dominant 7th
Dominant 7th (Var. 2)
Dominant 7th (Var. 3)
Dominant 7th (Var. 4)
Dominant 7th (Var. 5)
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
E7sus4
E9
E9sus4
Eadd9
Eadd6
Em7
Em7 (Var. 2)
Em11
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Emadd9
Emadd6/9
Emadd6/9 (Var.2)
Emaj7
Emaj13
Emaj9
EmMaj7
Esus2#4
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Fmaj7#11
FmMaj7
F#7
F#m7add11
G5#11
G7add6
Gadd6
Gadd9
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Gadd9 (Var. 2)
Gm11
Gmadd6
Gmadd9
Gmaj7sus2
Gmaj13
Minor 6th
Minor 11th
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Major 7th
Major 11th
Major 13th
Major Added 6th
Major Added 6th (Var. 2)
Major Added 6th (Var. 3)
Major Added 9th
Major Added 9th (Var. 2)
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Useful Resources Take your playing to advanced level... Jamplay Jamplay offers some of the highest quality guitar lessons on the web and mobile. HD video with multiple camera angles, world class tutors, step by step progress tracker, backing tracks and apps, live lessons, massive song lesson library and a huge community of guitarists. Whether you want to learn essential skills, your favourite songs or study influencial artists, Jamplay can help you reach your playing goals far quicker than any free site or YouTube alone. Learn more about Jamplay and get coupon codes here Recommended fretboard learning application... Guitar Notes Master A lot of guitarists find learning guitar theory a bit... dull. But it's so beneficial to learn, as any serious guitarist will tell you. If you want to be able to improvise confidently on guitar and come up with new ideas at the drop of a hat, you need to know the fretboard like the back of your hand. By using interactive software, learning the fretboard becomes more engaging, productive and fun.
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
Guitar Notes Master is a very effective learning tool for beginners right through to advanced players because it encourages you to explore the fretboard intuitively, using “point and click” exercises and watching real time demonstrations right before your eyes (and ears). By having a complete and deep understanding of the fretboard, chord construction becomes second nature and scales can be mapped out across the entire guitar neck, meaning freer, unrestrained soloing and improvisation. If you want to make serious progress on guitar, I strongly recommend you take time to study the fretboard. Guitar Notes Master makes this a breeze. More information about Guitar Notes Master here
Uncommon Chords © 2013 Mike Beatham & fretjam.com
