Electric Guitar For Beginners

How to Play Unique and Unusual

Chords
Frederick Johnson

A&M Books
Copyright © 2020 Frederick Johnson
All rights reserved.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS:
..

1. Introduction………………………………….……….….…….…….….…1

2. Electric Guitar Chords 101……………………….…….…..…….….….…3

3. Electric Guitar: Chord Progressions……………………….…….……..….7

4. Chord Chart………………………………………………………………12

5. Unique and Unusual Chords…………………………..…..….……..……13

• The ‘Jazzy’ Chord……………………………….………..………….……14

• The ‘Sunset’ Chord…………………………………………..……………16
• The ‘Radiohead’ Chord………………………….…………….……….…19
• The ‘Rainy Day’ Chord…………………………………….….………..…21
• The ‘Gloomy’ Chord…………………………………………..………..…24
• The ‘Illusion’ Chord………………………………………………………27
• The ‘Sunrise’ Chord………………………………………………………30
• The ‘Reminiscent’ Chord………………………………………….…..…..32

6. Conclusion……………..……………………………………….….……..37
ELECTRIC GUITAR FOR
BEGINNERS
How To Play Unique and Unusual
Chords
..
 Introduction
Welcome to the book of unique and unusual chords - the only electric guitar
book of its kind that guides you through playing chords that you have never
heard of before and that no teacher or instructor would think to teach you.
The chords that you’ll find in this essential gem of a book are so delicious
and tasty, you’ll wow everybody you play for! The great thing about the
chords in this book is that you can incorporate them in your playing - no
matter what style of guitar that you play. Whether you’re a rock musician, a
jazz guitarist, a blues player, a pop guitarist or whatever else your flavour of
guitar may be, this guide will aid you in incorporating the chords into your
everyday playing.

Before we get started though, I’d like to say a big thank you for choosing
this book and it’s my sincere hope that you find this book to be an invaluable
tool for your electric guitar journey.

How To Use This Book

This book is designed for all guitarists, beginner to advanced, who want to
learn unique chords which will spice up their playing. The unusual and often
eccentric chords that you will find in this book are easy and sound absolutely
awesome! You can replace them with regular open chords when writing your
own songs, composing or just playing standard chords.

I must say that this book is unique in and of itself. So often, there is
emphasis to ‘follow the rules’ (so to speak) when first learning how to play
guitar - in essence, instructors put heavy stress on beginner guitarists to play
usual and standard open chords. While there is nothing wrong with said
chords, they’re not exciting and everyone is playing them.
So, why not stand out from the crowd and learn something out of the
ordinary and completely special? That’s where this book comes in. It teaches
you chords which are irregular but sound incredible and much more emotive
than the ones you’d learn elsewhere. The chords you will find in this guide
are what I like to call ‘moods’. By this I mean that each chord has a mood
associated with it - it’s more than just a mere chord but rather, an experience.
Personally, I’ve been playing these chords for years and you’ll soon see
exactly why I swear by them.

Another quick note about the chords is that while they sound best when
played on an electric guitar (I’ll go into this in more depth in the following
chapter), you can absolutely play them on an acoustic or a classical guitar, as
well.

Before we get started though, let’s get in tune! It’s so important to be in tune
when playing. This is especially true with regards to the chords that you’ll be
learning in this book. A well tuned guitar does wonders for your overall
sound. Every chord in this book is in standard tuning. This is also known as
E standard and looks as follows.

E standard tuning:

E-A-D-G-B-E
In order to get an accurate and precise tuning, I always recommend that you
tune your guitar twice, going over each string two times to ensure that you’re
all set for playing some cool unique and unusual chords. These days, you
don’t need a traditional tuner and it’s far easier to download a free tuning
app from your smartphone/tablet’s respective app store. Another option is to
hop onto Youtube where there are thousands of tuning videos.

Electric Guitar Chords 101

Before we get going with the chords themselves, in this initial chapter, we’re
going to be talking about chords on the electric guitar in general. There are
many misconceptions about guitar chords that not many beginner guitarists
are taught when they start out. The first and biggest one is that you can strum
and play the same chords on an acoustic that you can on an electric. This is
not entirely true! Let me explain.

While you can obviously play the same chord shapes on both types on
guitar, that doesn’t mean the way that you play them is the same. The way
that electric and acoustic guitars are designed is completely different. The
acoustic is, by nature, a much more ‘strum’ friendly instrument in that you
can be more flexible with how powerfully you strum it - since it is hollow
bodied. I’ve seen a lot of beginners (who started on an acoustic and then
moved onto an electric) strum chords the same way on both! This is wrong!
Electric guitars are far more delicate and when you strum them as
powerfully as you would an acoustic guitar, you get a distorted and muddy
sound that doesn’t hit the ear right.

What I am getting at is the fact that electric guitars are to be strummed more
lightly. As a result, open chords (standard chords) don’t sound as good on
them. The solution, in my opinion, and that I’ve found, is changing how you
play chords. That is, by changing the fingering of the chord to match the
tone and delicacy of an electric guitar. That is where the unusual and unique
chord shapes that you’ll learn in this book come in handy - they’re
absolutely electric guitar friendly by design.

The first step to learning electric guitar chords is to understand that you
down ‘powerhouse’ your strumming in an aggressive way, like you would
on an acoustic. Of course there are many exceptions - particularly for certain
kinds of metal, djent, punk rock and so on.

So…prior to teaching you the chord shapes, let’s look at some examples and
work on a few exercises to prepare you for playing electric guitar chords that
are unusual and unique.

[If you want to skip to the unique and unusual chords right away, go to
page 13]

Exercise

The first exercise we are going to do involves a C major chord. We’re going
to transform the standard C major chord into a variation of itself which is
more electric guitar friendly and works well as an electric substitute for the
normal C major which we would expect to find when playing the acoustic
guitar. Let us first see what a standard C major chord looks like:

This is the C major chord, as most beginners learn it. However, as you may
have noticed, it sounds more melodic and appropriate when played on the
acoustic guitar. On electric guitar, this chord just doesn’t sound like it’s at
home So let’s jazz it up and make it more suitable for electric guitarists like
you and me.

The chord we now have, which is shown in the diagram at the bottom of the
previous page, is a simplified C major which is far more appropriate for the
electric guitar. To play it, follow these steps:

Step 1: Place your index finger on the 3rd fret of the A string.

Step 2: Next, place your middle finger on the 5th fret of the D string.

Step 3: Place your ring finger on the 5th fret of the G string.

Step 4: Place your pinky finger on the 5th fret of the B string.

Step 5: Strum the chord, avoiding the low and high string.

The way you turn an acoustic chord into an electric one (as seen in exercise
1) is actually very easy to do and even easier to put into practice - as long as
you follow a few rules.

How to Turn an Acoustic Chord into an Electric Chord

Step 1: Firstly, you have to find to root note of a chord. In the case of the C
major chord, this is the C note, obviously. The C note is the 3rd fret of the A
string (which is seen in both variations we looked at on the previous page).
This is the first note of the chord.

Step 2: Once you find the root, your next note is the fifth. A fifth in music
is a note which is five notes up from the original note (the root note). In the
case of C, the fifth is G. This note is the 5th fret of the D string.

CDEFGABC
1 2 3 4 5
Step 3: The next note that we need is the octave of the root note. An octave
is the note that is 8 notes up from the original root note. This note is always
identical to the root note but played higher up on the guitar. This is the 5th
fret of the G string.

CDEFGABC
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Step 4: Lastly, we need a third note which is the note that is 3 notes up
from the root note which in this case is E. This is the 5th fret of the B string.

And so, we have our new C major chord, perfectly adjusted for electric
guitar:

Why is this relevant?

You might be rightly asking why this is even relevant in a book about
unusual and unique guitar chords. Simply put, the chords that you’ll find in
this book are ALL the result of adjustments to chords in order for them to be
suitable for electric guitarists, and while they do not all follow the principles
of this exercise, the steps you were just taught are vital for you to know
when you want to create your own electric guitar chords. Intonation and how
you choose to play the electric guitar are just as important as the chord
fingerings and shapes themselves.

Chord Progressions

We’re almost at the unusual and unique chords, but before we get going, it’s
important to talk about something called ‘chord progressions’ since they will
come up A LOT in this book.

What is a chord progression?

A chord progression, in guitar terms, is a sequence of two to five chords that

are played in progression. A sequence of chords usually involves chords
which complement each other in terms of sound that make a song what it is.
Chord progressions involve groups of chords that go well together and this is
vital for when we get onto unique chords and where they fit into your
playing.

Progression Nº1

We’ll begin with our first chord progression. It is an easy progression that
involves just two chords and a simple strumming pattern. In the strumming
patterns, ‘D’ signifies down strum and ‘U’ represents an up-strum. I’ll guide
you through the step-by-step process of playing this chord progression but
first, here is the progression in full:

Notes: C - C - D - D - C
Strumming: D - D - D - D - D
If you’re confused, don’t be. Let’s examine what’s going on in this
progression and learn how to play it. The two chords that we’ll be using are
C and D.

Step 1: Get your fingers in place for the C major chord. This is the 3rd fret
of the A string with your ring finger, the 2nd fret of the D string with your
middle finger and the 1st fret of the B string with your index finger.

Step 2: Strum this twice in a downward.

Step 3: Now we play the D chord twice. This is the 2nd fret of the G string
with your index finger, the 3rd fret of the B string with your ring finger and
the 2nd fret of the high E string with your middle finger. Strum it twice.

Step 4: Finish the progression of the C major chord.

Congratulations! You’ve now completed your first chord progression. While

it is a simple one and hopefully you didn’t find it too hard, play it twice so
that you really get the hang of what’s going on in this progression. When
you’re ready, we’ll move on to a more advanced chord progression.

Progression Nº2

In the previous progression, we looked at two chords with one kind of strum
- a down strum. In this progression, we’ll be taking things up a notch and
instead of two chords, we’ll be looking at three. Instead of just a down
strum, we’ll include an up strum.

The progression is as follows:

Notes: D - D - E - E - D - C - D
Strumming: D - D - D - U - D - D - D

I completely appreciate that it might seem as though I’ve thrown you right
into the deep end with this progression but believe me, once I explain it and
you practice it through, it’s a lot easier than it looks and absolutely beginner
friendly.

Step 1: We start with the D chord played twice. This is strummed

downwards.

Step 2: Next, we play the E major chord twice. Once strummed downwards
and the other upwards.

Step 3: Then, strum the D chord again, downwards.

Step 4: Next, strum the C chord, downwards.

Step 5: Finish on the D chord, strummed downwards.

Well done! You’ve completed the second chord progression! As always, I

urge you to practice the progression more than once to learn it by heart and
to get used to the fingering and the strumming pattern. When you feel ready
to proceed, we’ll turn up the difficulty one more notch.

Progression Nº3

If you’re intuitive, you know what’s next don’t you? We’ve looked at 2-
chord progressions and 3-chord progressions so now… it’s time for a 4-
chord progression. While you might initially think that these are very
difficult, they are the most common kind of chord progression.
This progression looks as follows:

Notes: F - F - G - G - A - A - C - C
Strumming: D - D - D - D - D - U - D - D
You should know the drill by now…let’s dive on in!

Step 1: We start with an F chord. This is strummed downwards 2 times.

Step 2: Next, we play the G chord twice, also downwards.

Step 3: Then, we play the A major chord twice, once downwardly strummed
and then once upwardly strummed.

Step 4: We finish by strumming the C chord twice, downwards.

Now that we’ve covered three unique chord progressions which use different
numbers of chords and varying strumming patterns, here are some for you to
try out based on what you’ve learned so far in this book. It’s time to really
put your knowledge to the test. Best of luck with them and remember to not
rush. Practice makes perfect but you also need to slow things right down so
that you can play with accuracy.

Progression Nº4

Notes: E - E - B - B - E - E - A - A
Strumming: D - D - U - U - D - D - U - U

Progression Nº5

Notes: G - G - F - F - C - C - G - G
Strumming: D - D - D - D - D - D - D - D
Progression Nº6

Notes: A - A - D - D - A - A - E - E
Strumming: D - D - U - D - U - D - D - D

Progression Nº7

Notes: F - F - C - C - F - G - C
Strumming: D - D - D - D - D - D - D
Progression Nº8

Notes: B - B - B - C - B - B - B - A
Strumming: D - D - D - D - D - D - D - U

Progression Nº9

Notes: C - G - A - F
Strumming: D - D - U - D

Progression Nº10

Notes: E - B - A - B - E
Strumming: U - D - U - D - D

..
PLEASE REFER TO THE CHORD CHART ON
THE FOLLOWING PAGE FOR HELP.
 Unique and Unusual Chords
Welcome to the core of this guide - how to play unique and unusual guitar
chords. In this chapter, we’ll be looking at 8 chords which are pivotal
components for sounding unique and downright awesome! You really will
stand out from other guitarists if you can nail these down.

The chords that will be covered are as follows:

• AMaj7 - The ‘Jazzy’ Chord

• D/GSus2 - The ‘Sunset’ Chord
• F#/AMaj - The ‘Radiohead’ Chord
• Asus Alternated - The ‘Rainy Day’ Chord
• AmDim - The ‘Gloomy’ Chord
• D6/9 - The ‘Illusion’ Chord
• E/A - The ‘Sunrise’ Chord
• FMaj7sus2 - The ‘Reminiscent’ Chord

With each chord, you’ll be taught how to play it - with detailed steps on the
fingerings. Then, you’ll be taught how to apply the chord to your individual
playing style and where the chord is relevant in music. After this, you’ll be
shown what kind of standard chords go with the ‘unique’ chord and how to
incorporate it within chord progressions. That way, you’re not just being
taught random isolated chords but also their use and how you can practically
utilise them no matter what genre of music you play. With that being said, I
encourage you to memorise each chord and to write them down so that the
next time you are writing music, you have the chords at hand in case you
choose to include them.
Chord #1:
AMaj7

We begin with the A major seventh chord, which I have nicknamed the
‘jazzy’ chord since it is a variation of the A major chord that sounds very
jazz-like. The chord looks like this:

In order to play the chord, follow these steps:

Step 1: Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string.

Step 2: Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the G string.

Step 3: Place your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the B string.

Step 4: Strum every string except for the low E string.

This chord is a pretty easy three-finger chord to play, especially if you know
your A chord well. The difference with this chord though, is that it is a jazz
chord and sounds very mellow when you play it.

How to Apply the Chord

This chord is ideal for all electric guitarists who like a more relaxed ‘vibe’
when playing. The chord can be used any time you have an A major chord in
your song/chord progression. In essence, you can replace any form of A
major with the AMaj7 chord. So, if you have a standard chord progression
where the A major chord features, substitute it for this chord and it will
instantly give your song a completely different feel to it. Time to look at an
example.

Let’s say you have a pretty normal 4 chord progression:

D A Bm G

Now, instead of going from a D chord to an A chord, you go from D to

AMaj7. So it now looks like this:

D AMaj7 Bm G

When you play this for yourself, you immediately see how vastly contrasting
this new chord progression sounds. Try it out for yourself! Another great
chord progression you can switch up with this chord is the following:

E A D A

Just like in the previous example, we replace the A chord with AMaj7 so
now it looks like this:

E AMaj7 D AMaj7

Sounds pretty different, right? Practice these progressions and when you are
ready, turn over for the next chord…
Chord #2:
D/GSus2
Our second chord is a pretty unique one! Even though this chord is quite
peculiar and rather special, it is used a lot in country music. Funnily enough,
it must be a music industry secret or something because in tab books for
popular songs that use this chord, it’s never revealed that this chord is used.
They just say ‘D chord’. But I’m here to burst that bubble and to teach you
this cool chord so that you can also match the iconic sound.

What is the D/GSus2?

To put it in simple terms, this chord is a hybrid of a D chord and a G chord.

It uses components of both and it is also ‘suspended’ - that is what ‘sus’
means. Essentially, a note has been removed from the chord and so the
resulting group of notes is the chord at hand - a suspended D/G chord.

I nickname this chord the ‘sunset’ chord and have been playing it for years
now. I called it as such because it is a serene sounding chord and has always
reminded me of a sunset. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it too. The chord looks like
this:

In order to play the chord, follow these steps:

Step 1: Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string.

Step 2: Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string.

Step 3: Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the B string.
Step 4: Strum the whole guitar.

As a caveat, this chord may look and feel difficult if you’re not used to this
kind of fingering but follow the steps and with perseverance, you’ll soon get
the hang of it and realise that it’s a lot easier than it looks at first glance.

How to Apply the Chord

You might assume that since this chord is a mixture of a D and a G chord
that you can use this chord as a substitute for either a D or a G but this isn’t
the case! While this is a hybrid, the emphasis (sound-wise) when you hear
the chord is on the D major. It’s much more D than it is G and as such, this
chord is a perfect replacement any time you play D major. Let’s look at an
example chord progression where you might want to consider using it.
G G D D

As I stated, the chord serves well as a replacement for D. Another tip I

would give you is to play it in chord progressions that also feature a G
major chord, like the one above. With the new D/GSus2 chord to take the
place of D, the progression is now:

G G D/GSus2 D/GSus2

The beauty of the ‘sunset’ chord is its versatility. You can use it in any music
genre that you play. Whether that’s country, pop, rock or whatever!
Here is another chord progression where our new chord would fit in well:

D A G A
In any ‘normal’ circumstance, this chord progression would have a happy
mood, but now if we replace the D with the D/GSus2, it turns into a relaxing
chord progression with less of an oomph to it.

D/GSus2 A G A

My advice with this chord and with all the chords you’ll learn in this book is
to experiment with your own tastes and preferred genres. All the chord
progressions here are just ideas, examples and starting points. It’s up to you
to transform them into music.

Here is another chord progression to try out:

C D Em D

When we transform it, it looks like this:

C D/GSus2 Em D/GSus2

——————————————————————————————
——————

When you are ready to move on, we’ll look at chord number three.

Chord #3:
F#/AMaj

The third chord you’ll be learning is what I call the ‘Radiohead’ chord
because the British band Radiohead and renown for using it. Most
prominently amongst their discography, you can hear the chord in the song
‘Fake Plastic Trees’ and I do highly suggest that you check it out to hear the
chord being played the right way, in all its glory. This chord is the F sharp/ A
major chord. It’s another hybrid chord which combines elements of two
distinct chords: the F sharp major chord and the A major chord. You’ll be
pleased to know that this chord is remarkably more easy than the last one we
looked at (D/GSus2). The ‘Radiohead’ chord looks like this:

In order to play the chord, follow these steps:

Step 1: Much like the last chord, the middle finger is our leading finger.
Start by placing your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the low E string.

Step 2: Next, place your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the G string.

Step 3: Place your pinky finger on the 2nd fret of the B string.

Step 4: Strum the entire guitar.

I must emphasise that you should take your time with this chord. Don’t rush
it.
So there’s some good news and some bad news about this chord. I’ll start
with the bad news - the chord in itself is somewhat limiting when it comes to
finding uses for it. Unlike the other chords that we’ve looked at so far, we
cannot just say ‘substitute it for another chord’. Instead, we have to learn
exactly where you can use the chord. The good news is that when you learn
how to apply this chord, you’ll soon see why it’s so magical and how great it
can sound with regards to livening up your music.

When can you use the F#/AMaj chord?

The ‘Radiohead’ chord sounds best when played with A major and D major.
Here are two particular chord progressions that I strongly advise using the
chord within.

(1)

A A F#/AMaj F#/AMaj

(2)

F#/AMaj F#/AMaj D D A

You can write your own chord progressions that incorporate the chord so
long as A major and/or D major is present. Play around with it and see what
sounds best to you. What I will state is that while I highly advise using it in
this context, that doesn’t mean that you flat out can’t use it elsewhere! You
can! Just be careful to not make your chord progression sound off key if you
include it in a different progression. That being said, there are no set rules
when it comes to musical expression - so you do you, and be awesome…
Chord #4:
AsusAlternated

In truth, this next chord is called MANY things. I’ve heard it being called
the AMaj7Sus2 chord, the Asus2Maj7 chord, the A7/E chord and so on. The
truth is, while those chords have defined shapes associated with them, this
one doesn’t. Let me explain. This next chord, which I like to call the ‘rainy
day’ chord is an alternated version of an already hybridised chord. It’s a
mashup of a chord and as such, I’ve kept what it’s called to something open
and incorporating.

What is the AsusAlternated chord?

So…what is this chord? Well, it’s a variation of an A major suspended chord

which is alternated. It’s a chord which is played higher up the neck than any
of the chords we’ve looked at so far. If you want to hear an example of this
chord, I would urge you to look up ‘Hours Outside in the Snow’ by an ‘emo
rock’ band called Modern Baseball. In all honesty, I would say that this is
among one of the most beautiful chords I’ve ever heard in my life and I hope
you can also fall in love with its sound. The reason for my nickname for it,
the ‘rainy day’ chord, is simply that it sounds like how I imagine a rainy day
in my mind. It’s calm, composed but also has a glimmer of sadness to it. But
enough chit-chat, here is what it looks like:

This chord is the exact finger shape as a C major chord but played higher up
the fretboard. Here is how you play it:

Step 1: Place your ring finger on the 7th fret of the D string.

Step 2: Place your middle finger on the 6th fret of the G string.

Step 3: Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the B string.
Step 4: Strum all the strings except for the low E string.

Step 5: Revel in the beauty of the sound of the chord (optional).

The great thing about the AsusAlt chord is that it can fit into any genre and
playing style. Like I mentioned earlier, the band Modern Baseball who use
this chord a lot are ‘emo’ but you can also find the chord in classic rock,
jazz, blues, pop-punk, pop, country, folk and pretty much any genre that
dares to sound awesome.

So an appropriate question would be - where do you use it? Well, there is a

lot of flexibility with this chord. It can be used in place of any A major
chord. Here are two chord progressions that I personally recommend:

(1)

ASusAlt D A D

(2)

ASusAlt E D AsusAlt
Now here is some really cool applied knowledge. You can combine this
chord with one of the other unusual and unique chords we’ve already looked
at: the ‘Radiohead’ chord (F#/AMaj).

The chord progression looks like this:

ASusAlt F#/AMaj ASusAlt

F#/AMaj
For this chord progression, I personally recommend 2 strums for each chord.

In tablature form, the progression would look like this:

Chord #5:
AmDim

The fifth chord that we’ll be taking a look at is the A minor diminished
chord. Much like the ‘rainy day’ chord, this chord is played higher up the
fretboard than your ‘traditional’ open chords and as such, it is ideal for being
played on the electric guitar.

The AmDim chord is known in my book as the ‘gloomy’ chord because it is

mysterious, dark and appropriate for those of you who love a little bit of
eeriness in your playing. For this reason, it’s great for soundtrack music. If
you want to hear a prominent example of this chord being used, check out
the song ‘Snuff’ by Slipknot.
What is the AmDim chord?

The ‘gloomy’ chord is an unusual variation of the A minor chord which has
been altered and arranged higher up on the fretboard. It looks like this:

Admittedly, this chord has a weird fingering and is amongst the most odd
and unusual chords you’ll probably ever come across. In order to play it,
here are the steps…

Step 1: Place your ring finger on the 7th fret of the D string.

Step 2: Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the G string.

Step 3: Place your middle finger on the 6th fret of the B string.

Step 4: Strum the entire chord, except for the low E string.

Where Can You Use the AmDim chord?

In spite of its strangeness, this chord is surprisingly versatile. You can use it
instead of any A minor chord - so long as you intend to make your
song/composition sound dark and chilling - which can be a great thing for
horror metal fans!

Since the ‘gloomy’ chord can replace any A minor, there are so many
endless possibilities for the sorts of chord progressions that you might want
to try. I’ll give you a few examples in a moment but here is my number one
personal suggestion for a chord progression that sounds really cool with the
AmDim in it.

AmDim AmDim G G
F

There are a couple of things to note about this chord progression. Firstly, it is
a substitute for a standard Am-Am-G-G-F progression and secondly, this
chord progression is very similar to the one found in the song ‘Snuff’ which
I mentioned earlier - so do go and listen to that song if you’re interested in
hearing the chord in application. Now, here are some more recommended
chord progressions. Each chord is worth 2 strums!

(1)

C G AmDim F

(2)

F F AmDim G

(3)

AmDim C AmDim F

(4)
AmDim Em AmDim Em

..

Chord #6:
D6/9

The next chord we’ll be looking at is called the D six/ninth chord. I call it
the ‘illusion’ chord because it sounds rather psychedelic and very
reminiscent of the late 1970s psych-rock. You’ll be so happy to know that
this chord is simple to play and only involves three fingers.

What is the D6/9 chord?

This chord is a 6/9 chord. A six-nine chord is a chord that has 5 notes in it. It
uses the 3 regular notes we’d find in a triad (a three note chord) as well as
the sixth note above the root and the ninth note above the root. A 5 note
chord like this is called a pentad. Let’s look at how the principles of creating
a 6/9 chord can be applied to the D6/9.

For this chord, we need:

• Triad (3 notes) for the D chord.
• The 6th note above the root.
• The 9th note above the root.

Essentially, we are using a formula of:

1-3-5-6-9

Written out in diagram form, it looks like this:

D E F# G A B C D E
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Let’s see what the chord actually looks like:

This chord is played as follows:

Step 1: Place your ring finger on the 5th fret of the A string.

Step 2: Next, place your middle finger on the 4th fret of the D string.

Step 3: After this, place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string.

Step 4: Strum all the strings apart from the low E string.

Where and When Can You Use the D6/9 chord?

The ‘illusion’ chord is best played anywhere that you would normally play a
D major chord. Here are some chord progression suggestions to try out:

(1)

G D6/9 Em C

(2)

D6/9 A Bm G

(3)

A G D6/9 G

(4)

D6/9 C C Em G

(5)

Am D6/9 C G

..
Chord #7:
E/A

We now move onto the ‘sunrise’ chord - the E/A chord. Another beautifully
unique chord, this one is named the ‘sunrise’ chord because of how fresh and
cheery it sounds. It can brighten your playing and really sounds neat.

What is the D6/9 chord?

This chord is a combination of the E major and A major chords. It’s

probably the easiest one you will ever play and brings a certain uniqueness
to your playing. It only involves 2 fretted notes and looks like this:

Step 1: Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string.
Step 2: Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the G string.

Step 3: Strum the whole guitar, including the top and bottom strings.

Wasn’t that easy? And the best part is the sound that it produces - so rich and
full. So now comes the question of where you can use this chord. While it’s
a hybrid of the E chord and the A chord, it serves well as a substitute for the
E major chord rather than the A chord. Since we are playing the high and
low E strings, the E/A chord certainly leans more in favour of E major.
As such, here are some practice chord progressions that you can try out:

(1)

E/A E/A B
B A

(2)

E/A B Cm
B A

(3)

A A E/A
E/A E

..
Chord #8:
FMaj7sus2

And so, we finally come to our final unique and unusual chord: the
‘reminiscent’ chord. I call this one as such because it is an emotional
sounding chord with a lot of depth to it. Hopefully, you’ll see why I opt for
this chord over any other form of an F chord.

What is the FMaj7sus2 chord?

This chord is quite long and wordy when you say/write it out. But it’s
actually quite easy to play. As for its composition, this chord is an F major
seventh chord with a suspended second. When we break down what this
means, essentially, this chord is an F major chord with an added 7th (a note
which is seven notes up from the root note) and the second note suspended.
The latter means that we’ve removed the second note in the chord. This is
how it looks like:

It only uses 3 fretted notes and this is how you play it…

Step 1: Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the A string.

Step 2: Underneath that, place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the D
string.

Step 3: Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the B string.

Step 4: Strum every string apart from the low E string.

Where Can You Use the FMaj7sus2 Chord?

This chord is best used in place of the F major chord. Here are some
exemplar progressions:

(1)

FMaj7sus2 G Am
G

(2)

C G Am
FMaj7sus2

(3)
 Am Am FMaj7sus2
FMaj7sus2

(4)

Fm FMaj7sus2 Fm
Fm

(5)

G G FMaj7sus2
D G

(6)

A A FMaj7sus2 D
FMaj7sus2

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- PAGE BREAK -
 Conclusion
As we reach the end of this book of unique and unusual guitar chords, I’d
like to say one more time a huge thank you for choosing to buy this little
tool. I’d also like to congratulate you for completing the course! I urge and
encourage you to go back and practice all the chords more than once. I wish
you all the very best going forward with the rest of your electric guitar
journey!

All the best,

Frederick Johnson
A&M Books

..
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