Ever feel like your chord playing and lead guitar are two completely separate things? In this week’s free guitar lesson, we’re going to start bringing them together.
Using a familiar chord progression in C major, we’ll explore how to add short melodic phrases between chords, creating a more interesting and musical guitar part. Rather than simply switching between rhythm and lead, you’ll learn how to connect the two so that your playing flows naturally.
The lesson starts with accessible open-position chords before moving into more adventurous ideas for developing players.
To get the most from this lesson, download the accompanying five-page PDF, which includes:
The video explains the ideas, while the PDF gives you the music and exercises to work through at your own pace.
Don’t feel that you need to master all three fretboard positions at once.
Start with the first-position example, concentrating on keeping a steady rhythm as you move between chords and licks. Once you’re comfortable, try creating your own short phrases using notes from the C major / A minor scale.
As your confidence grows, explore the same ideas further up the neck. Experiment with different notes, rhythms and techniques, and listen to how your licks connect with the changing chords.
Ultimately, mixing chords and licks isn’t about playing lots of notes. It’s about making rhythm and lead guitar work together to create one flowing, musical part.
Enjoy the lesson!
Andy Moore
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