Lesson 18 In this lesson we will look at the key of G major / E minor, the inversions of a G triad and a popular chord progression. Tune Guitar Progressions A chord progression is a series of chords played in a specific order. There is almost an endless number of progressions that could be made however there are a handful of very popular ones we hear all the time. Let us look at the I vi iv V progression in the key of G major. First we will build a G major scale: Next we build the triads and name them: Our I vi iv V progression would then consist of a G, Em, C and D chord. G Scale 2nd position G major scale This should look familiar to you. This is the same fingering as your 7th position C scale from last lesson. One half step below G (F#) is available but not shown on the freboard. One whole step above the high G (A) is also available but not shown. Note: index finger looks after all notes on 2nd fret, middle finger the 3rd, ring finger the 4th and little finger the 5th. Inversions We learned that the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of a major scale give us a major triad or chord with the same name. The 1st, 3rd and 5th degree of a G scale gave us the notes G B and D. These 3 notes played together sound a G chord. The order does not matter. As long as we hear a G, B and D, we hear a G chord. Learning your inversions of triads and chords is a great way to get to know the fretboard, strengthen your ears and do something other than strum open chords. 2nd Inv. B - open G - open D - open Root D - 1st finger B - 2nd finger G - 3rd finger 1st Inv. G - 2nd finger D - 1st finger B - 3rd finger 2nd Inv. bar with 1st, 2nd or 3rd The exercise below is a fun way to practice the inversions while working on your sweep picking. We will start with down picking our 3 open strings (2nd inversion) and then up pick your root position in 3rd position. Proceed to down pick the 3 open strings again and then to 7th position to up pick the 1st inversion triad. Listen Slow Listen Fast A slight variation. I encourage you to make up your own exercises. Listen Slow Listen Medium Listen Fast The video below is another variation on the above exercise. This one has us downpicking the fretted notes and then up picking the open strings.

Improvising

We will look to solo over the I vi IV V chord progression from above. Unlike the chord progression we looked at in Lesson 5 this progression must be the key of G major. We know this because of the C and D major chords. The only 2 major chords in any key are the IV and V.

Solo using your 2nd position G scale from above.