Invite to the most current installment of Chord by Chord, a series designed to construct your understanding of harmony and the fretboard. In previous lessons, I revealed you how to transition from the I to the V in the keys of C, G, and A major. This time, I’ll show you how to do the very same in the key of E.
Example 1 demonstrates how to move from the I (E) to the V (B) using an open E chord, moving to a second-position B major barre chord, and Example 2 shows some three-note voicings on the top three strings. Note that the E chord in Ex. 2 resembles an open D shape, however played 2 stresses higher, and the B voicing is just the top 3 notes of the barre chord in Ex. 1. Also note that the E chord has the 5th (B) instead of the root (E) as the most affordable note.
Example 3 uses two barre chords in seventh position. For the E voicing, you can consist of the open low E string, for a thicker sound. Another option is to go from the E chord in seventh position to the B in second– just move the entire chord shape down, as revealed in Example 4.
Example 5 reveals three-note voicings obtained from the barre chords in Ex. 3. Notice that for the B voicing, the most affordable note is not the root (B) but the 3rd (D #). Moving greater up the neck, It’s not truly useful to play barre chords on acoustic guitar at the 12th fret and beyond. Instead attempt the compact voicings shown in Example 6. For the E chord, the most affordable note is the third (G #) and for the B, it’s the 5th (F#).
You must now know a variety of ways to transition in between E and B chords. One tune that makes usage of that progression is “Do not Hesitate, It’s Alright,” by Bob Dylan. (Dylan originally played the song in C significant, with a capo at the fourth fret causing it to sound in E.) Note the alternate fingerings I used for specific barre chords, using my 3rd finger to worry strings 2– 4. Starting in the next lesson, I’ll reveal you some new small chords.
