NOTES ON THE 5TH AND 6TH STRINGS
5
5=A
6=E
B
F
C
G
7
10
E
B
D
A
F
C
G
D
CHORD FORMULAS
CHORD TYPE
MAJOR CHORDS
Major
Sixth
Major seventh
Major nine
Add nine
Six, nine
Suspended
MINOR CHORDS
Minor
Minor six
Minor seventh
Minor nine
Minor six, nine
Minor seven
flat five
Minor eleven
Minor eleven
flat five
Minor, Major seven
SHORTHAND
NOTATION
INTERVALS
6
Maj 7
Maj 9
add 9
6, 9
sus
I III
I III
I III
I III
I III
I III
I IV
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
m
m6
m7
m9
m6, 9
I
I
I
I
I
≤III
≤III
≤III
≤III
≤III
V
V
V
V
V
VI
VII
VII IX
IX
VI IX
VI
≤VII
≤VII IX
VI IX
m7≤5, Þ
m11
I ≤III ≤V ≤VII
I ≤III V ≤VII XI
m11≤5
m, Maj 7
I ≤III ≤V ≤VII XI
I ≤III V VII
2
12
15
B C
A
E F
G
etc.
DOMINANT SEVENTH
Dominant seventh
Seven flat five
Seven plus five
Seven suspended
Seven flat nine
Seven sharp nine
Seven flat nine
plus five
Seven sharp nine
plus five
Nine
Nine plus five
Nine flat five
Eleven
XI
Eleven plus
≥XI
Thirteen
XIII
Thirteen flat nine
XIII
CHORDS
7
7≤5
7+5
7 sus
7≤9
7≥9
I III V ≤VII
I III ≤V ≤VII
I III ≥V ≤VII
I IV V ≤VII
I III V ≤VII ≤IX
I III V ≤VII ≥IX
7≤9+5
I
III ≥V ≤VII ≤IX
7≥9+5
9
9+5
9≤5
11
I
I
I
I
I
III
III
III
III
III
11+
I
III V ≤VII IX
13
I
III V ≤VII IX
13≤9
I
III V ≤VII ≤IX
Augmented Chords
+, aug
I
III ≥V
Diminished Chords
dim, —
I ≤III ≤V ≤≤VII
3
≥V ≤VII ≥IX
V ≤VII IX
≥V ≤VII IX
≤V ≤VII IX
V ≤VII IX
“6TH STRING – ROOT” CHORDS
Major
Major
)
1
6
9
M7
5 1
3
5 1
M7
4
+5
6 9
Minor
Minor
)
11
≤5
6
≤7
M7
≤3 5 1
1
5 1
6
9
≤7
+` ``` `+``` `+```` `+```
))))
^
+
+```` `(
`)
`
`
`
``
`
`
`
`
`)`` )` )``
6
6
+5
Maj 7
add 9
Sus
Maj 9
6, 9
+` ``^`` ``(```` `+`&``` `+`^```
))))
+````% `+``` `+``` ` ```
)` ) ) )
m6
m6
m7
m9
m6, 9
m7≤5
m11
m, Maj 7
^
(
+
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`)`` )`` )
`
` ` )`
+`^`` `+`^``` `+``%`%` `+`^```
`)
` ) )` )
^` ``` `+`%`` ```%` + `` ``+ `%`` ``+ ` % ``+ ` `
`)
` ` ) )`` )`
)` ) )
Dominant 7th
11
9 ≤5
3
)
1
≤7
7≤5
7+5
7sus
7≤9
7≥9
7≤9+5
7≥9+5
9
11
11+
13
13≤9
5 1
3
+5 ≤9
13 9
≥9
9
Dom 7th
9+5
9≤5
4
“5TH STRING – ROOT” CHORDS
Major
Major
)
+5 1
3 6
R
9
M7
5 1 3
+5
6
+5
5
1
4
9
1
Minor
6
R
)
11
≤5
1
Maj 7
add 9
sus
Maj 9
6/9
m6
m6
m7
m9
m7≤5
m11
m11≤5
m, Maj 7
5
≤3
≤7 9
≤5 M7
5 1
6
11 ≤7
m6, 9
`` `^``
```^` ` )
`*```` )
`)`^`` )
^
`)
`
` ``` )
` `` )
`````% )
``^````
+` ``` +` ``` ```&`` ```` ```^`
`)
`%`````` )
) ) )` )`
Dominant 7th
11
R
+5
+` ``` ````%` ``*``` ````
))))
*
^
+
+
`)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`` ` )
`
`
``` )
`
` `` )` )`
Minor
≤3
%` `*` ` `*``
`)````& )
``
` )` ` )``
`)``%` )
`` `` )
`` %```
6
≤9 ≤5
9
+9 +5
13
Dom 7th
)
9+5
7≤5
7+5
7sus
7≤9
7≥9
7≤9+5
7≥9+5
9
11
11+
13
13≤9
3
1
≤7
9≤5
5
5
“4TH STRING – ROOT” CHORDS
Major
R
6
9
≤5
M7
+5
)
6
1
5
4
Minor
R
`)`^`` )```` )````^ )``&``
`)```% )``&`` )``&``
Major
3
1
M7
Maj 7
add 9
Sus
Maj 9
6, 9
`)`^`` )```` )``&`` )``` `
+``^`` ``` ``%` ```` `` `
) )` )` ) )`
Minor
6 9
≤5 ≤7
+5
)
m6
m7
m9
m6, 9
m7≤5
m11
m11≤5
m, Maj 7
m9
1
≤3
5
11
1
`)``` )```` )```` )``^``
&
&
&
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`)`` )` `` )` ` )`` )``` )`` )```
Dominant 7th Dom 7th
3
R
13 9
≤5
+5
7≥9
)
7≤5
7+5
7sus
7≤9
9
9+5
9≤5
11
1
7
5
11
9
3
9+5
6
“Repeating” diminished chords
G—
`)```
G—
``)^```
G—
G—
^
`
`)` ``
Diminished Forms
C— or E≤— or A— or G≤—
)
E≤
C
A
G≤
THE MAJOR SCALE
C scale
5=A
5
7
10
D
E
F
G
A
B C
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII VIII
(with a 5th string root/I chord)
`*````
)
````
)
I
V
Dm7
➄
ii
Gm9
Key of F
15
C
ii – V – I ROOT PATTERN
Key of C
12
➇
ii
ii
(```
``)
`
`+```
)
`)*````
`)`&```
V
I
G7
➂
V
C13
➇
7
Cmaj7
➂
I
F6
➇
ii – V – I ROOT PATTERN
(with a 6th string root/I chord)
V
ii
I
``+```&
)
`)`^```
`)``^``
^
``
```
_
`)
`` ^```
`+```
_
ii
V
I
Dm7
G9
➉
Key of C
ii
V
Gm9
C7≤9
➂
Key of F
➈
C6,9
➆
I
Fmaj7
SCALEWISE PROGRESSION
(with a 5th string root/I chord)
``^``
)
`)*````
`)*````
`` ^``
)
````^
)
I
ii
iii
I/III
IV
Dm7
C
➂
➄
Em7
➆
or C/E
➄
F
➇
Come down: Em7 – Dm7 – C
SCALEWISE PROGRESSION
(with a 6th string root/I chord)
+``` ``+```& ``+&```
`)
))
``` %`
)
ii
I/III
Dm7
Cmaj7
➉
➇
I
Em7
12
iii
➉
Come down: C/E – Dm7 – Cmaj7
8
+```
`)
Fmaj7
or C/E
IV
13
SCALEWISE PROGRESSION
(with diminished chords)
``^``
)
`)```
`)*````
I
I≥—
ii
C≥—
C
➂
➂
Dm7
`)```
^`
``
`)
II≥—
I/III
D≥—
➄
➄
C/E
➄
Come down: D≥— – Dm7 – G7 – C
+```
`)
+` `^``` ``+```& `+`^``` ``+```&
))))
G≥—
Gmaj7
➂
Am7
➂
➄
I≥—
I
Bm7
A≥—
➄
ii
➆
iii
II≥—
Come down: A≥— – Am7 – D9 – G
STANDARD SCALEWISE PROGRESSION
(“Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Makin’ Whoopee,” “Glory of Love,” etc.)
In C:
C C≥— | Dm‡ D≥— | C/E
C/E C≥— | Dm‡ G‡ |C
C‡ | F
C≥— | Dm‡ G‡
In G:
G G≥— | Am‡ A≥— | G/B G‡ | C
G
G≥— | Am‡ D·
Fm |
|G
Cm |
G≥— | Am‡ D·
SCALEWISE TURNAROUND/INTRO.
In C:
| C C≥— | Dm‡ G‡ ||
I
In G:
I≥—
ii
V
| G G≥— | Am‡ D· ||
I
I≥—
ii
9
V
||
||
CIRCLE OF FIFTHS
up a 5th
up a 4th
C
Ì
G
˝
Em
D
F
Am
Dm
Bm
A
B≤ (A≥)
Gm
F≥m
Cm
C≥m
E≤ (D≥)
Fm
E
A≤ (G≥)
G≥m
B≤m
E≤m
B
D≤ (C≥)
G≤ (F≥)
The chords inside the circle are “relative minors,” e.g. Am is the relative minor of C.
vi␣ –␣ ii␣ –␣ V␣ –␣ I (Circle of Fifths) Progression
Zig-Zag (6th str. root I chord)
vi
V
ii
➤
I
Example in G:
+ ```& `````^
`*```` ``)
)
)
Am7
Em7
➆
vi
D9
➄
➃
ii
V
10
+```
`)
Gmaj7
➂
I
➤
Zig-Zag (5th str. root I chord)
ii
vi
I
V
Example in C:
`)*```` `+``^` `````&
) )
+ ```&
``)
Dm7
Am7
➄
G7
➄
➂
ii
vi
C6
➂
V
I
“Dimestore” Progression (vi – ii – V – I)
In C:
``&```
)
+```
`)
+ ```&
``)
`)*````
`)*````
``+&```
)
+``^`
`)
`)````^
I
vi
ii
V
Am7
C6
➂
➄
➂
➂
II
Em7
G
G7
➄
vi
I
In G:
Dm7
V
Am7
➆
D9
➄
➄
iii – VI␣ –␣ ii␣ –␣ V␣ –␣ I (Circle of Fifths) Progression
Zig-Zag (6th str. root I chord)
V
ii
➤
I
VI
iii
Example in G:
+ ```& ```^`` ``+```& ```^`` `+```
``)
) )) )
E9
Bm7
➆
iii
Am7
➅
VI
D9
➄
ii
11
G6
➃
V
➂
I
➤
Zig-Zag (5th str. root I chord)
ii
VI
I
V
`)*```` `+``^`
)
+``^`
`)*```` `)
Example in C:
A7
Em7
➆
Dm7
➄
`)*````
Cmaj7
G7
➄
VI
iii
iii
➂
ii
➂
V
I
“I GOT RHYTHM” CHANGES
In G:
or, repeat 1st 2 bars
*
*
C G Em‡ | Am‡ D· | G/B A≥— | Am‡ D· |
I
vi
*
G
ii
G/B | C
I
I/III
IV
V
I/III
*
Cm | A‡
iv
II
II≥—
ii
V
1.
D·
|G
D·
V
I
V
B
BRIDGE
2.
G
||B‡
I
| B‡
| E‡
III
III
VI
E‡
| A‡
| A‡
| D‡
VI
II
II
V
D·
|
|
||G Em‡ | Am‡ D· | G/B A≥— |
V
Am‡ D· | G G/B | C
Cm | G
I
Bm‡ E· | A‡
D‡
|G
iii
V
I
VI
II
12
Æ
D·
V
|
In C:
C C Am‡ | Dm‡ G‡
| C/E D≥— | Dm‡ G‡
|
1.
C
C/E | F
Fm | D·
G‡
|C
B
G‡
BRIDGE
2.
C
||E·
| E·
| A‡
|
A‡
| D‡
| D‡
| G‡
|
G‡
||C Am‡ | Dm‡ G‡ | C/E D≥— |
Dm‡ G‡ | C C/E
|F
Em‡ A‡ | D·
|C
G‡
Fm | C
G‡
|
Æ
To read the chord solos, like “I Got Rhythm,” below, play the chord indicated by letter-name
(G, Em, etc.), and play the indicated tablature note so that it’s the top note of the chord.
For example:
+ `*``
`_
`
``
)
`
)`
➆
For:
G
Ô
3
Play:
G
Em
Ô
9
3
4
5
3
13
Em
9
9
7
I GOT RHYTHM
+
`_
`
`
)`
G
`)``*`` )
`+``` _
` `^
```
)
➆
Em
3
Ô
➄
Am7
➄
G/B
5
Ô
5
8
9
++ `
`)``
D9
+` `` + `
)` _
```
` ```&` _
)
)
➄
B≤—
Am7
D7
8
5
3
+
+
+
^
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`_
`
`
_
`
`
)` )`` ) )` )
➇
Ô
➆
G
Em
C
Cm6
3
5
8
10
```^` _
` `^
) )
```
➄
Gmaj7
7
1.
D9
7
5
5
Ô
14
Cm6
8
(``` _
`_
`
`
`` )
``
)
G
7
➆
3
D7
2.
+%
`_
``
`
)`
`+`&```
)
➆
Bridge
G
B7
3
7
7
Ô
````% ```^``
) )
➆
7
`
`)
``
➅
B13
E9
9
7
➄
E7
7
7
5
Ô
+``&``
`)
+```%`
`)
_
` `^
```
)
➄
➄
A13
5
5
5
A13
D9
7
5
5
5
Ô
+
+
`
`
`
`_
`
` `^
```
)``` )` _
)`` _
)
➄
Ô
G
Em
Am7
3
5
8
15
D9
5
+` `` + `
)` _
)
```
` ```&` _
)
++ `
`)``
➄
➄
G/B
5
Ô
Ô
B≤—
Am7
D7
8
5
3
+
`_
`
`
)`
+
``_
)``
`+```
)
+` ``^``
)`
G
G13
C
Cm6
3
5
8
10
➇
➆
}
8
`)``^` _
` `^
```
)
```^` ```%``
))
Gmaj7
Bm7≤5
E9+
10
8
➄
➈
D9
7
7
5
7
8
➅
Ô
+ ```%``
`_
`
`
)`` )
+```%`
`)
_
` `^
```
)
➄
A13
7
➈
D9
7
5
7
5
Ô
16
G6
G6,9
3
10
BLUES TURNAROUND
(```
`_
)
``
*
`(
`` ` ` _
`
`
`
_
^
`
)` )``` )``
➂
I
I‡
IV
iv
G
G7
C
Cm
6
5
4
3
Ô
+
(
`
``
`_
`
`
_
_
`
`
`
``
`` )
)` )
G
Ô
3
D7
G
5
4
HONEYSUCKLE ROSE
*`` ``+ ` ``*`` ``+ `
``
)` ` )` )` ` )`
}➆
➄
Em11
Ô
A13
10 8
9
7
7
}➆
➄
Em11
A13
10 8
9
17
7
7
*`` ` ``+ `
``
``` )`
)` ` )
}➆
➄
Em11
Ô
Em9
10 8
9
7
7
➄
A13
7
7
7
5
7
4
7
4
````^ `+^``` ``*``` ``+ ``
) ) ))
➄
➆
D
Ô
7
Bm7
7
Em7
4
`)```^
7
8
7
5
5
➄
D≥—
7
5
Ô
6
`)```
➄
7
2.
A13
7
D
Ô
➄
7
5
1.
➆
`)```^
➄
8
7
+ ` ^ `+^```
`_
`
`
)` )``` )
➄
D
G
7
4
3 5
5
18
➄
D
A7
7
5
D
7
`)``` )
````
`
_
` `^
`)
`` _
)
```
Bridge
➃
➃
D7
D9
D7≥9
D7
3
5
6
7
Ô
+%
`_
`
`
`
)```^
)` _
G
%
`
`
_
`
)`
Am7
3
5
Am7 G
3
5
6
5
3 5 3
3
Ô
^
`
`
`
`
`)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`` ) )` )``
➄
Ô
➅
➅
➅
E7
E9
E7≥9
E7
5
7
8
9
+&````
`)
➄
A7
+`` %
`)
``
+&````
`)
➄
➄
A13
5
7
A13
5
7
Ô
8
7
5
7
Repeat 1st 8 bars
19
HONEYSUCKLE ROSE
C ii
V
| ii
V
| ii
|V
|
| I≥—
B
1.
I
vi
| ii
V
2.
I
|I
BRIDGE
IV
|I
|| I ‡
| I ‡
|
IV
| IV
| II ‡
| II ‡
|
V ‡
| V ‡
||
Repeat 1st 8 bars
More complicated “Honeysuckle Rose” bridge
D‡
C/E | F— D/F≥ | G
Am‡ |A≥— G/B |
E‡ D/F≥ | G— E/G≥ | A
Bm‡ |C— A/C≥ B
SINGLE NOTE SOLOING
Major Scales
&
#
œ œ œ n
œ œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ œ
œ œ
%`
`
`
)`
`
)```
➂
Ô
5
&
➂
F. f.
2 4 5
3 5
B≤ f.
2 3 5
5
2 4 5
3 5 6
3 5
œœœ
œ œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
b œ œ œ œ
œœœœ
`)`^`
^``
`
)`
➄
➄
Barre f.
Ô
579
57
568
D f.
578
578
20
57
5 68
568
ii – V – I Licks
&
#
œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ nœ œ œ bœ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ bœ œ œ
œ œ œ
``` `
)
`)```^`
➄
Ô
7
&
#
➃
Am (ii)
4 5 7
5 7 8
D9 (V)
5 7 765
765
987
7654
œ œ
œ
œ
œ
n
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ œ œ œ
``` `%
)
``
`
)
➂
Ô
5
➄
G (I)
2 4 5
3 5 7
3
Dm (ii)
5 6 8
7
5 7 8
œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
& œ œ œ
œ œ
`
)```
`_&```
➂
G7 (V)
Ô
3 5
2 4 5
3 5 6
C (I)
3 5
5
21
2 4 5
3 5 6
3 5
I GOT RHYTHM – SOLO
G
#
& 44 Ó
D7
œJ ˙~~
œ.
Em
Am
œ œ
F f. major scale
3
Ô
Am
D9
Jœ ˙
5 3
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