GUITAR: A2Z
[ OPEN CHORD VOICINGS, PART 1 | Roger Zimish ]
In my last article, I made a few suggestions: primarily on acoustic guitar, but also play well with the root on the “A” string, leave the high E
putting down your electric guitar and stepping on the electric. string open and letting it ring. When not fretting
away from your pedalboards and to try rotating
the B string let it ring out as well. You will hear
to the acoustic guitar spot once in a while on the The basis of most of these chord voicings are this open chord concept in songs from Hillsong
worship team to help find a balance in your gifts triads, with the high E and B strings left open United and other top Worship groups.
and deeper Worship. If you lead worship on the to ring out. In some of the chords the low E acoustic guitar or have the role of the acoustic and A strings will be left open, along with the EX. 3
guitarist on the team, you have a great spot in open high E and or B strings. I’m keeping the Here is a set of three note chords known as
the body of the Worship team, and these Open chords in simple root position names so as to Major triads, (Root, Third, Fifth). The root of
Chord Voicings apply to you as well. not complicate things here. each chord is found on the “D” string and uses
Now, many modern Praise and Worship bands EX. 1 some flavor, leave the high E string and the A
have at least 2 guitarists, one acoustic and at This chord progression is a familiar ascending string open as a type of drone as you move up
least one electric guitarist. This gives an overall line. The chord shapes we are using are open the neck.
balance to the sound and structure for the style E Major shapes and a minor shape. As the your band is playing. The modern Worship chords move up the neck, leave the high E and Open chord voicings play well and can be
electric guitarist is using an array of effects to B strings open along with the low E so they heard in all types of modern music. Let these
create sonic landscapes along with powerful ring out as you play each chord, starting with a chords reverberate under your fingers and in
distortion for their parts, while the acoustic down stroke followed with all up strokes back your ears to create some beautiful noise. Keep
guitarist is covering everything from full out across 4 strings. a lookout for part two. We will be adding some
a simple fingering, low to high “3 2 1”. To add
open chorded rhythm to light fingerstyle parts.
moving bass lines and a few Major 7th into
In the lesson I have put together we will look EX. 2
at some open chord voicings that will work In this chord progression the chord forms run
E
the mix. <><
A/E
F#m7/E
Exp.1
Ex.
1
⁄
0
0
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
2
4
4
0
0
1
2
0
2
4
C#m
7fr
0
0
9
9
7
0
0
0
9
9
7
0
0
5
6
6
4
0
5
6
6
4
44
0
6
7
7fr
0
0
9
9
7
0
0
0
8
9
0
0
9
9
Bsus2
Asus2
C#m
4fr
0
5
6
6
4
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
4
4
2
0
7
8
9
0
0
0
4
4
2
0
5
6
6
4
November 2017
0
10
11
12
0
0
5
6
6
4
12fr
321
321
0
7
8
9
0
0
5
6
6
4
E
10fr
321
0
5
6
7
0
0
0
4
4
2
D
7fr
5fr
321
⁄
0
0
8
9
9
0
0
B
A
0
5
6
7
0
E
8fr
4fr
0
0
9
9
7
0
Exp.3
Ex.
3
0
0
6
7
7
0
0
E
Ex.
2
Exp.2
⁄
B/E
6fr
0
10
11
12
0
0
12
13
14
0
WorshipMusician.com
0
12
13
14
0
™
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