As I explained in my last post, “Key Shapes 1”, the easiest
way to find out what chords are in a key is visually, by
the pattern they follow on the fret board. To do this, you
must understand both type 1 and 2 bar chords and chord
degree names. Both of these were explained in the previous
post and more completely in my theory book “Take Control:
for guitar”. If the previous explanation doesn’t make
sense, either get the book or stop reading! In the
post I demonstrated the chords in the key of G major,
along with the corresponding degree names below them.
(It is almost impossible to get the tabs lined up 100% in
WordPress! You will have to compare the fret numbers
on the tab to your knowledge of the of the fretboard,ie. an
A min chord type I is on the 5th fret, even if the cheesy
tab is a little off). For this post I will compare the chords
in G major to the chords in A major. I will also try
using a table instead of tab. Just follow the fret number
on the left, notice any degree name to the right, and
play the chord listed in the type 1(6th string root), or
type 2(5th string root) column.
Key of G Major
fret# degree type 1 chord degree type 2 chord
0
1
2 vii* F# dim.
3 I G major I V C major
4
5 ii A minor V D major
In the example below I will take the same degree
pattern and move it 2 frets higher, to the I chord on
fret 5. Notice the degree numbers follow the same
sequence and are the same distance apart. The only
thing that changes are the new chords you have to
make to match the degree names 2 frets higher.
Since the I chord is on the 5th fret we are now in..
The key of A Major
fret# degree type 1 chord degree type 2 chord
0
1
2
3
4 vii* G# dim.
5 I A major IV D major
6
7 ii B minor V E major
8
9 iii C# minor vi F# minor
You can move this degree pattern to any fret on the neck
(starting on the type 1 chord) and find the chords in any key!
Memorizing this degree pattern is much easier than learning
the chords in all 12 keys. In the next post I will use this idea
to find the chords in a blues key.
