TRIADS WITH SUS AND ADD CHORDS
In this month’s exclusive exercise, we’ve used major triads on the top three strings (in each of three possible inversions) to illustrate how you might go about making chord suspensions out of these useful shapes. Hear audio example.


As you may or may not know, triads are simple three-note chords with the most basic elements of a regular chord—the root, third, and fifth. The first triad in this example (an A-major triad) is built with the third (C#) on the bottom. By replacing this note with the one just one fret above (D), you create a sus4 chord. The triad in measure 2 (D major) is built a little differently—it still has the root, third, and fifth of D, but this time, the third (F#) is in the middle. By moving that note down two frets, you’re playing a Dsus2 chord. The G triad in measure 3 is built with the third (B) on top of the chord, so you can move that note up one fret to create Gsus4. For a big finish, I’ve written a four-note chord into the last measure. Since this chord includes all the notes of a regular D-major triad, plus the additional “ninth” note (E), it earns the name Dadd9.

That’s a lot of theory to grapple with, so if you’re confused (or you just want to check out more cool uses of triads or sus and add chords), be sure to check out two new articles on the Acoustic Guitar website: “Sus and Add Chords Lesson” and “Triads Lesson.” Both articles are online now (and include complete audio examples), as well as in the January 2009 issue of Acoustic Guitar.

LESSON FEATURE
EARL KLUGH
Jazz icon Earl Klugh illuminates his unique approach to solo guitar. [More]

LESSON FEATURE
PLAY CLASSICAL GUITAR NOW!
In this lesson, you’ll learn some classical guitar techniques and how they fit within popular classical pieces. With audio and video. [More]

PRIVATE LESSON
GYAN RILEY
The classical guitarist and composer talks about odd time signatures, world music influences, and tone production. With video examples and Lick of the Month. [More]

THE BASICS
SUS AND ADD CHORDS
Create exciting new sounds by making slight alterations to standard major and minor chords. With audio. [More]

WOODSHED
TRIADS LESSON
Explore the fretboard like never before by learning to play three-note major and minor chord shapes. With audio. [More]

HAL LEONARD RELEASES FIVE NEW GUITAR METHOD TITLES
Heavyweight music publisher Hal Leonard has released five new titles in its popular Guitar Method series. The new titles include the genre-specific Flamenco Guitar, R&B Guitar, and Christian Guitar, as well as Jazz Guitar Songs, a collection of jazz standards arranged for everyone’s favorite six-string instrument. For a broader range of topics, there’s also Guitar Techniques, a genre-free exploration of guitar-related topics that includes everything from palm muting to playing with your teeth. Not that we condone that sort of thing. halleonard.com

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