This lesson starts with the most simple harmonies and will hopefully encourage you to build your own chords.
All you need is a fretboard diagram and a scale e.g. I chose E Major = E F# G# A B C# D#.
Take E and blend it with any other note, and in all positions on the fretboard.
Then choose a third note, and a 4th etc.
Any and all notes from the scale will do - just build the chord by ear and keep track of which notes (name and interval number) you choose.
Remember some chords liked to be picked and some strummed.
Even if you don’t know the orthodox name, you can always describe what you build by its interval formula and figure out what folks call them later (type Naming into the archive search for lessons about this - and read THEORY 1) e.g. if you end up with E A B D# = R 4 5 7 then it will be called E maj7 sus4, but it doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you have built an interesting chord for yourself.
To find formula for common chords use the table in THEORY 2.
Once you have made a bunch of E chords from the scale, try making chords from the scale but making A the root e.g. A C# E is an A major or F# A C# is an F# min. This is how Chord Scales form - if you build chords from each note in the same scale. Type Chord Scales into the archive for more. Join these chords together to form a progression of your own building.
Next you can use a note or two from outside the scale…
By the way, the E maj7 / G# in the video is also a G#m add b13 (this concept is known as Chord Synonyms).
