Between the Licks

Using different chord shapes to inject flavor to your blues comping.

Pop-up instructional video to the left.

Sometimes sitting on a simple open chord doesn't cut it. There are a couple easy shapes that can be utilized in almost any position. Not only can you use these shapes as color in the background, you can use them as a foundation to soloing.

We'll start with the patterns and move onto how to use them. Remember, guitar is a transposing instrument, once you know the shapes you simply move the shape elsewhere to match the chord or key.

Four positions

Each of these positions are based on dominant seventh chords. We'll start with an E7 chord. I you can't quite finger each note, that's fine.

The idea is to move between these shapes instead of just sitting on one chord shape.

Each position contains the b7 or dominant seventh in order to get that great bluesly sound. In position one, the b7th is on the D string; position two, the B string; position three, the G string; and position four, the high E string.

Here are the same positions over the A and B chords. Identical shapes but different positions.

Quick example

It should be pretty self explanatory on how to use these shapes (you just use them!). However, here is a great example for kicking off a song or for building under someone else's solo. Play with a shuffle feel and hit those triplets at the end!

That should pretty much sum up how you should utilize these shapes. They are also great for solo acoustic work.

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