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How to better understand cord progressions? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 month ago by Fiivemacs@lemmy.ca to c/guitars@lemmy.world

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Hi all, I'm in the beginning steps of learning guitar. hands are very broken in, chords sound good, I know a few from 1st to 5th but I wanted a better understand of the progressions.

if it better to follow c, d , e, e# etc.. or c, g, a? or would it depend on the music? I'm focusing heavy on bluegrass. Doc Watson is a big focus for my end style, or Billy strings.

i currently practice/play about 4 hours a day 7 days a week. (a lot I know) my focus is flat picking and finger style mostly rather then traditional strumming.

does any.one have and good guides or books I should read up on for how to do good proper cord progressions? even a simple info graphic that is easily understandable for a beginner?

I'm focusing mostly right now on chord runs. C is memorized and working on getting some others that can meld with the c run.

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[–] acosmichippo@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

if it better to follow c, d , e, e# etc… or c, g, a?

Think of music theory like learning a new language; there is no objectively "better" pattern of words to create a sentence. It depends what you want to say. Of course you need to learn basic rules to start, like IV>V>I or ii>V>I chord progressions, but that won't take you very far. After that there's a near infinite musical vocabulary you can use to make interesting music.

Primarily, keep listening to, learning, and analyzing music you love. That is the most natural and fun way learn, but it also requires a baseline of music theory. For that you may want to supplement with some academic reading such as these:

more guitar oriented:

https://www.amazon.com/GT15-Guitar-Grimoire-Progressions-Improvisation/dp/0825831970

more general which will require some musical notation reading:

https://www.amazon.com/Chord-Progressions-Theory-Practice-Everything/dp/0739070568

[–] Fiivemacs@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago

Primarily, keep listening to, learning, and analyzing music you love.

Can do. I've noticed as I learn, the videos of the guitar players look and sound different to me. I'm picking up on the sounds of techniques, and visually understanding what the left hand is mostly doing whilst associating the sound to the hand shape.

my right hand sucks something fierce but I think that's because I'm going from finger style only, to flat picking and skipping the strumming step?

I have lessons on the 4th, so hoping they can push some theory. we'll see. I'll take a look at those books though esp the 1st one, I haven't read any music in like 20 years so it's a good refresher for sure

thank you