Hello everyone! :guitarist:

I'd like to thank all of you for your compliments. I like seeing the passion and excitement from all of you learning how to play Coldplay. Here's another chord progression from the intro to "A Rush of Blood to the Head"

 

A minor (open string) x 1 measure

C major x 1 measure

E minor (b6) x 1 measure

A minor (open string) x 1 measure

repeat three times...

 

Here is the fingering for the E minor (b6) chord

 

e | open string

b | 1-x-x-x-x index finger on the first fret

g | open string

d | x-2-x-x-x middle finger on the second fret

a | x-2-x-x-x ring finger on the second fret

E | open string

 

The index and the middle finger stay anchored throughout the chord progression. The ring finger is the only finger that switches for each chord. You can practice along to this track.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=75BAQC71

or

http://rapidshare.de/files/13334990/AROBTTH.mp3.html

 

I noticed that I wrap my thumb across the top of the guitar neck. I use it to mute the low E string when it is not a part of the chord. See if that helps any.

My next post will be more music theory oriented.

Keep on rockin'

:kiss: :kiss: :kiss: :kiss:

Alright,

this post will concentrate more on music theory. There are two chord shapes you need to memorize. The first one is E major

 

e | open string

b | open string

g | 1-x-x-x-x index finger on the first fret

d | x-2-x-x-x ring finger on the second fret

a | x-2-x-x-x middle finger on the second fret

E | open string

 

and now

E minor

 

e | open string

b | open string

g | open string

d | x-2-x-x-x ring finger on the second fret

a | x-2-x-x-x middle finger on the second fret

E | open string

 

After this comes the barre chords.

Master these two chords an we will go from there.

Keep on rockin'

Wow thank you very much for these Lance* goes off to try*

From the earlier lesson I showed the E major and E minor chords. With these two chord shapes you should now be able to play 24 more chords. These will be barre chords. First I will teach you the notes on the low E-sting of the guitar.

 

E | F- F#- G- G#- A- A#- B- C- C#- D- D#- E

0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

 

Your index finger will be the barre. Take the F major chord for example. The index finger will be barred (fretted) across the entire first fret.

 

e | 1-x-x-x-x barred index on first fret

b | 1-x-x-x-x barred index on first fret

g | x-2-x-x-x middle finger on the second fret

d | x-x-3-x-x pinkie finger on the third fret

a | x-x-3-x-x ring finger on the third fret

E | 1-x-x-x-x barred index on first fret

 

The minor barre chords are similar. All you have to do is lift the middle finger off of the fret. Here's A minor for example.

 

e | 5-x-x-x-x barred index on the fifth fret

b | 5-x-x-x-x barred index on the fifth fret

g | 5-x-x-x-x barred index on the fifth fret

d | x-x-7-x-x pinkie finger on the seventh fret

a | x-x-7-x-x ring finger on the seventh fret

E | 5-x-x-x-x barred index on the fifth fret

 

Whatever note you play on the low E-string names the note.

Coldplay uses variation of the chords in their songs too. They usually wrap thier thumb over the neck and fret the low E-string. This allows them to lift the index finger up to let the top two string to ring open.

 

Here's a practical example from "Coldplay- Proof".

 

The chord progression goes,

E major -C# minor- G#minor- C#minor

 

Play the C# minor like this

e | open string

b | open string

g | 9-x-x-x-x index on the ninth fret

d | x-x-11-x-x pinkie finger on the eleventh fret

a | x-x-11-x-x ring finger on the eleventh fret

E | 9-x-x-x-x thumb on the ninth fret

 

And G# minor like this

e | open string

b | open string

g | 4-x-x-x-x index on the fourth fret

d | x-x-6-x-x pinkie finger on the sixth fret

a | x-x-6-x-x ring finger on the sixth fret

E | 4-x-x-x-x thumb on the fourth fret

 

I'll admit that this fingering is a little tricky. I usually only play the top 5 strings. I mute the low E-sing with either my thumb or ring finger. I'll cover barre chords on the a-string next.

Peace!

^Wow, thanks again Lance!!! :kiss:

 

I've printed out your lessons and they are helping me so much you wouldn't believe it!!! Despite my rediculously small hands I am making slow, but gradual process!

 

*goes to practice some more* :D :kiss: