5 Reasons to Ditch the Dictionary
At some time, most guitar players will buy a book filled with hundreds or even thousands of chords. These books are usually referred to as either a chord dictionary or chord encyclopedia.
Such an extensive reference book might seem invaluable. But how useful is it really? Consider this partial list of chord dictionary drawbacks:
- There’s a slim chance you’ll remember the chords you learn. Without understanding the chord spelling and voicing, you’re just trying to commit a shape to memory. Unless you use that shape frequently and in different songs, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to recall.
- You’ll be choosing from a number of different chord shapes, so it could take a lot of experimenting to find one that sounds right in the song you’re learning.
- Most of the chords in 1st position will use open strings, so they’re not movable. For example, if you learn an F diminished chord that includes an open string, you won’t be able to easily use it to play a G diminished chord. You’ll get a lot more out of learning chord shapes that you can use for all of the same type of chord, the way you can barre chords.
- A lot of the chords listed are hard to finger. You’re more likely to enjoy and use chords that you can get to easily and play clearly.
- If you depend on a chord dictionary, you have to lug a book around that you need only rarely. For those times you really need to find a new chord or a new way to play an old chord, you can access chord finders for free online.
What’s Better?
It’s important to be able to learn songs online or in books and it’s great to have variety in your chord playing. Fortunately, there’s a logical and effective way to make that happen!
First, be sure you’re fluent in the chords that you’ll use most often. Regardless of the kind of music you play, learn all of the first position chords really well—and be sure you know the names of them! (If you have Getting Started, you can find all of the first position chords diagrammed and clearly organized in the back of the book.)
Once you’re confident using all of the first position chords, move on to barre chords. Again, learn them deeply, focusing on chords with the root on the 6th string (E shapes) and with the root on the 5th string (A shapes). You can get instruction in this and find exercises to help you find and hear them in Moving On and in the Virtual Studio.
It will probably take some time to be comfortable with finding and playing barre chords, so be patient with yourself. Once you’ve achieved some confidence with them, learn how to construct altered and extended chords and understand how they function within a key. This article will explain how to do that in a few simple steps.
You’ll also benefit from learning 3-string chords. By the time you’ve mastered barre chords and started to understand how chords are made, you can easily learn how to move around the fretboard easily, using 3- and 4-string chords.
You’re You Own Dictionary!
As you gain proficiency in chord creation, you’ll find that you can create your own chords anywhere on the fretboard! As a bonus, you’ll realize that along the way, you’ve deepened you understanding of music and learned the fretboard better than you may have thought possible!
Become a master of chord creation with A Guitar Player’s Guide to Music Theory! Topics include: the staff, time signatures, key signatures, scales, chord construction, the circle of fifths, transposing and more. Worksheets and answer sheets provided.
