Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Chord Embellishments – How to make basic chords sound better – EP367

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to take a simple chord progression with 3 chords, and make it sound more interesting by learning several must-know embellishments around those chord shapes. You can use these embellishments when jamming with others, or for when playing by yourself.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough - Key of E

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Slow Walkthrough - Key of G

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  1. JohnStrat says

    Brian Playing a guitar is why we are all here and anything like this that lifts basic skill will help so many folk up in their playing a great idea for a lesson that will benefit many.

    • jimbostrat says

      John!! Our good English buddy!! Even though I was home paying attention to Brian’s ActiveMelody.com site eagerly awaiting his latest course offering…………you still beat me to the punch even when Brian posts his lessons earlier than usual …………..I do believe he’s out of state!! Concurring that boring basic repetitive guitar chords and strumming and adding great embellishments is really where it’s all at on guitar!! Brian’s been on fire lately especially sitting behind his newest now fav guitar………his near ancient Martin 000-21!! Great stuff!! Jim C.

    • Shaun M says

      I agree John! We can gather all the experts like Marty and Justin, to name a few, who are truly impressive. Yet, what sets a teacher apart is their commitment to emphasising the origin, which Brian constantly does. Utilising the effective spiral learning approach. Whether Brian recognises his teaching style or not, it’s what, in my opinion, elevates him above the others. I have spent 100s on teaching DVDs of the “gurus” over the years and learnt more from Brian in 2 months . ✨

  2. Brent C says

    Brian, I sat behind a drum kit for many years & luv’d it. Started playing guitar a few years ago. Learning to experience music with a guitar now is like a magical discovery! Your lessons & teaching style have helped me SO MUCH and EP367, aside from being a beautiful piece, just hits home & is one I’ll enjoy playing for a long time. Can’t thank you enough for the effort you put forth every week to create these amazing lessons.

  4. Michael Allen says

    Great idea to keep things interesting! 6/20 marked 8 years that I’ve been a premium member although I’ve been following you since it was a $5.00 fee to get access to your instructional videos. It seems like yesterday and it’s amazing how I learn so much from you every week. For lack of a better way to express it – thank you so much Brian.

      • M R says

        I’ve been a follower and member for a number of years. Am a functional guitarist that skips around the lessons.
        Can you you suggest a combination or other of lessons that could be put together- as in a course
        might lead to (as you refer)the lightbulb course!

      • Michael Allen says

        When I first paid the $5 fee for access to your site I thought, this is too good to be true! Shortly after, I bought the blues course and I was hooked. When you started the Premium Memberships, I recalled what an old friend used to say to me. Jimmy Glickman owned New Orleans Music Exchange which was my favorite place to hang out. When Jimmy saw that I interested in one of the guitars he had he would say “You might as well get it. You’ll feel better about yourself”. I probably bought sold and traded 30 guitars there. I heard Jimmy’s voice giving me the same advice when your Premium Memberships became available and I’ve been feeling better about myself every year when I renew. Jimmy has passed away but your tutorials and playing the guitar every day makes me feel better about myself. Sorry for the filibuster but thank you for everything that you do.

  5. parsonblue says

    I work hard at finger style guitar, but I’m an acoustic flat picker at heart. Love this lesson!
    Don’t know if this is the appropriate place to make a request, but the tune “Shenandoah’ is in the public realm.
    Sure would be nice to hear and learn your arrangement of that classic. I’m still playing your “Amazing Grace” and “St. James Infirmary”.

    Best wishes to you and yours,

  9. Allan says

    H i Brian those chord embellishments will really help me when doing my own songs im always looking for ways to sound better when playing chords and now this lesson pops up excellent as always thankyou.

  13. Peter says

    I never get through each lesson but take a little from each week and its paying off big-time. Each little thing is adding to the bigger picture. This week is no exception. Great lesson. Lifted the mood on a rainy English Saturday afternoon. Just what I needed. Cheers Brian.

  20. Rob B says

    Really appreciate the detailed explanations and how you relate everything back to chord shapes. I’ve only been following you for a short while and I’ve already learned so much. You do a great job!

  25. Stephen McConnell says

    I’m working on this but right at the start when you use the 6ths interval, you have the B string tabbed in there, but I do not hear it on the demo or the practice section. Are you muting the B string? That’s what I am doing and it sounds better. I’ve also practiced the sliding 6ths using hybrid picking (and just straight finger picking – I’m normally a finger style guitarist). Can’t have too many tools otherwise everything looks like a nail.

  27. Brad F. says

    Great chord embellishments Brian. Chords were all I knew for the longest time and were great for accompaniment for a singer(when I could sing) but now just too boring. I want the guitar to do the singing now and tunes like this are just what the doctor ordered. A member for only a few short weeks I’ve already learned a great deal, Blues, Rock, Rhythm Licks and Fills, Country. A huge library of stuff. Glad I came across AM and will stay as long as I am able.

  29. helmut says

    To Brian and the whole guitar community,
    I will pause for a while to cure my serious joint injury. It was a pleasure to be part of Active Melody.
    I will definitely come back because I really appreciate Brian’s way of teaching.
    Best regards helmut

  31. San Luis Rey says

    These are some sweet embellishments Brian! Had to force myself to play the E chord in the C shape and am starting to finger it better. Plugged the acoustic in today and couldn’t stop playing this. Thanks for keeping us moving forward!

  39. Jim C says

    For me Brian, your caged system lesson has been as you always say a”light bulb”. After a lot of years finally starting to understand the fretboard and man what a light bulb!

  40. Chris O says

    I think what I find confusing, being new to all this, is that when Brian refers to the strings in the videos he classify the bottom E string (the string nearest the knee for right handed players) as string 1. In the videos he then explains playing strings 3 and 2 (time mark at approx 10:05). However, the tablature shows what he refers to as strings 3 and 2 as strings 4 and 5. Confusing. With that being said, I am starting to see the connection with the cage system which is very helpful.

  42. Gary T says

    Thanks Brian ,
    First time I watched this lesson , kind off skipped over my head , but this time defiantly had some light bulb moments , starting to join the dots .
    Thanks for the rerun , and your patients in explaining things in detail, really does help ,
    Cheers Gaz.

  43. David S says

    Brian I really enjoyed this lesson,I have been a vocalist for a long time from Elvis to Ray Price,I have always wanted to get to a point where I could play fills and melody of the song,Iam arriving at that point.Your lessons give me a lot of ideas to use, I find that I by playing around the positions I come up with my own stuff but it is you that has helped me a lot and Iam very grateful. Dave S

  44. Mark D says

    This is a good lesson. I know you’re in the market for ideas–one that I was unawares of forever was muting neighboring strings. E.g., I’d play the first two chords fingering the one and three string, invariably striking the four for that bum-note sound. Now I always push against the four, muting it and saving me from my imprecise right hand.

  45. Rodney W says

    Yup truly a great lesson and a good example of how to embellish the chords in your composition. The only thing is I have great difficulty in imagining what it would sound like if the chord sequence was changed and the rhythm and perhaps the beat as well. Oh well, I will have to just make the effort to learn what is provided well and then see what I can come up with trying to apply it and create a different sound!

    Rod (in Ottawa)

  49. Chris H says

    Brian, that was stupid cool! A really awesome set of ideas that got the old coconut spinning … and just a plain fun little ditty to play with. You da man! BTW, did I see the white hand of Saruman?

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