Really Learn Guitar - Survival Chords Tutorial

Tutorial - Survival Chords

Every guitar player experiences times when they get into trouble while improvising or jamming. Maybe the song is becoming too complicated, or maybe it's simply moving too quickly. No matter the circumstance, you must have 'safe zones' in your playing.

These safe zones are chords, licks, and techniques you are fully comfortable with that you can find refuge in should you get lost or get in over your head while you are playing. That's why it's important for you to have a handful of 'survival chords'.

The survival chords referred to in this section's title are illustrated in the following diagram. These fingerings apply regardless of the key you are playing in. Just make sure you know where the ROOT is.

Remember, learn the Major Scales and their associated scale degrees instead of memorizing the fingering charts. This will make you a much better player. If you learn these 5th and 6th string root chord forms, you'll have some of those safe zones you need at your disposal!

It will be to your benefit to review these chord forms in conjunction with the Major Scales and the Chord Formulas tutorials.

You should also make sure you learn the 2 sets of 7th chord voicings covered in the 7th Chords Phase I and Phase II tutorials.