3 chord trick

VimFuego

This is really embarrassing, but does anyone have a link to something that explains the 3 chord trick? i.e. what chords go with each other. I used to know all this, but it's not just physical skill you lose when you stop playing.

Paul_C

http://www.derek-hasted.co.uk/faqs/three-chord-trick/

is that it ?

mike_l

The easy one is the standard Blues progression 1-4-5 chords.

with the root note of the 1 chord on the low E, the root of the 4 chord will be at the same fret on the A string, the root of the 5 chord is 2 frets up from the 4 chord.

 

Sorry if that badly explained.

 

Or to find the chords in a major scale, the formula is

major (root)

minor (up 2 frets)

minor (up 2 frets)

major (up 1 fret)

major (up 2 frets)

minor (up 2 frets)

diminished (up 2 frets)

 

VimFuego

that's it Paul, thanks.

monquixote

I wrote a thing for Easy Ear Training on basic chord sequences which might be of interest. 

http://www.easyeartraining.com/learn/four-chords-and-the-truth/

Phil_aka_Pip

'Tis more than just blues. The I IV V chords can harmonise all the notes in the major scale. Some scale notes appear in more than one chord, eg the Tonic is the Root of the I chord and the 5th of the IV chord.

I often use Blowin' in the wind as a f'rinstance. Dylan's original used C,F,G - I IV and V. Peter Paul & Mary's version used A-, and, IIRC D- as well being the vi and ii chords. There's a way to work the iii chord in as well. While you can "expand" the chord set of a tune that uses I IV V, you could also "simplify" a tune that uses more than I IV V and turn it into a 3-chord trick for those with a restricted chord vocabulary. This is often done in beginner's songbooks.