Learn these 5 chord types first
Plus, how to actually use music theory
As I’m wrapping up writing this week’s issue, I’m thinking about how quickly 2024 has gone. I have my own goals for Chasing Sound - like being more present on social, keeping this newsletter going strong, focusing on YouTube, and trying more live events. I wanted to know what you were working on. What are your goals to close out the year strong? Let me know by replying to this email, or if you’re on Substack, leave a comment!
Since we hit 500 subscribers last week, it seems the newsletter has made the rounds, and more and more people are sharing it. If you have a friend who’s interested in guitar, please forward an issue to them! I appreciate all the support. Let’s get into this week’s links.
This week’s guitar links!
The 5 ESSENTIAL Chord Types - Chris Sherland is one of my favorite guitar teachers on YouTube. This video is great for all guitarists, because rather than getting overwhelmed by having to learn it all, Chris breaks down the most essential chord types you need to get under your belt. Not only does Chris share the five chord types he thinks are most important, he also lets us know how they can fit into our playing in different styles.
If you want another great chord lesson, check out this new video from master the guitar. This is one of those great concepts which I think every guitarist should continue to hammer home - start with the major chord and go from there.
Mike Dawes Interview - Guitar Summit Live Stream | Andertons Music Co. - Mike Dawes is one of the most mind boggling acoustic guitarists out there. If you haven't checked out his recent album, ‘Galactic Acid', you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. Mike sat down with Andertons at Guitar Summit to talk about his amazing fingerstyle technique, how he writes songs, and how he wears his influences on his sleeve.
How to Use Music Theory - We’ve talked about this a lot over the years - theory can be really fun. It allows you to get into the “detective mindset” of music, not only playing things on guitar, but really trying to understand the why of how they work. Eric Haugen shows us some great starting points for how we can use theory to our advantage. There was also a great video from Paul Davids and Rotem Sivan which covers 5 different musical concepts you might not have tried yet. Check it out here.
Angel Vivaldi feat. Steve Morse - New Country (OFFICIAL 4K) - One thing I didn’t expect this year, was to see Angel Vivaldi join Steve Morse for “New Country”. I always think of Vivaldi as a shredder, but he held his own in this country tune. We also had AMS interviewing Steve Morse this week. There’s some great advice and playing during the interview, which you can check out here.
Ariel Posen Talk & Tones 2024 [New Strat & New Board!] - Any time a guy like Ariel Posen joins That Pedal Show, I always set aside time to watch the video. In Ariel’s return to TPS, he talks about his new custom built Strat, taking guitars on tour and their tunings, how pedals can sometimes spark song ideas, what he has coming up next, and a lot more. It’s always fun to get new gear ideas from these videos, but the guys at TPS always ask such good questions, that you often get a good dose of great guitar/music advice too.
Jared James Nichols: The advantages of a fingers-only pick-hand technique - I always tell the story of seeing John 5 live, with Jared James Nichols opening up - Jared nearly stole the show before John had a chance to take the stage. I've followed his music ever since. Nichols talked to Guitar World about why he ditched the pick a while back. For Jared it really comes down to tone and "feeling right/connecting” more with the instrument.
Six Micro-bend Blues Licks - If you're looking for some smoky blues licks that you can add to your arsenal, you should check out the latest video from My Blues Guitar. He gives us 6 licks that are perfect for getting that micro-bend feel into our playing - think guys like B.B. King and Albert King.
“If the company won't step up, the forums will”: After she was revealed as a potential Pantera guitarist, Kramer offered Kayla Kent a guitar – but when it turned down her ideas, a Kramer fan group built it instead - Not much to say here, other than the internet keeps surprising me, day after day.