In this lesson you will work with hearing the notes in chords. Begin by learning the sound of a root position major chord. Use the indicated strings on the following first position chords, which have the chord tones in root position on adjacent strings:
C – 5th string (C or “1” in the C chord), 4th string (E or “3” in the C chord), 3rd string (G or “5” in the C chord), and 2nd string (C which is “1” or when an octave higher than the starting note, “8”)
A – 3rd string (A or “1”), 2nd string (C♯ or “3”), and 1st string (E or “5”)
G – 6th string (G or “1”), 5th string (B or “3”), 4th string (D or “5”)
E – 4th string (E or “1”), 3rd string (G♯ or “3”), 2nd string (B or “5”), and 1st string (E or “8”)
Sing the arpeggios up and back, using the numbers of the chord tones: “1 – 3 – 5 – 3 – 1.” (It is possible to sing the octave in the case of the first position C and E chords, so if you want to do that, you will sing “1 – 3 – 5 – 8 – 5 – 3 – 1.”) Sing these chords repeatedly and often, until you can easily hear and sing the major chords in root position without using your guitar to keep you on pitch.
When you are consistently singing the arpeggios correctly, try starting on different notes and achieving the same relative sound. In other words, pick any random note and use it as “1” when you sing the major chord arpeggio.
Inversions
After you have gained proficiency in singing root position chords, you will be ready to sing inversions. In order to sing first inversion chords, you will simply start on “3” instead of “1” and will sing the chord as “3 – 5 – 1 (or 8) – 5 – 3.” Practice using different chords, the same way that you did when learning to sing the chord in root position, then use the same approach for learning the second inversion. The second inversion will be sung “5 – 1 (or 8) – 3 – 1 (or 8) – 5.”
Practice hearing the root
The next skill to master is the ability to determine the root of the chord by ear. Strum a chord on your guitar and, without hitting individual strings, sing the note that seems like the root of the chord. Check your answer by playing the root of the chord on your guitar. If you were incorrect, just let your guitar guide you, sing the correct note while playing the chord, and then try again with a new chord. Finish by singing the arpeggio (1 – 3 – 5 – 3 – 1).
Other Chord Qualities
When you feel that you are ready to work with hearing minor, augmented and diminished chords, go through the same learning process that you did with major chords: sing the arpeggios in root position, first inversion and second inversion and practice singing the root of the chord as you play it on the guitar.
