Progession A open

Up Progression A Progession A open

This progression does not use the bar chords but uses the open position chords. The chords used will be the open position A chord, D chord and the E chord.

This is the open position A chord. It is played on the second fret and you use the index finger. Hold down the D G and B strings. Don't let your finger hit the High E string, curl the finger up over the high E string. Then strum from the open A string down to the High E string.

This is the open position D chord. The index is on the G string second fret, the middle finger is on the high E string second fret and the ring finger is on the B String 3rd fret. Strum the strings starting from the open D string.

This is the open position E chord. The index is on the G string 1st fret, the middle is on the A string 2nd fret and the ring is on the D string 2nd fret. Strum from the open Low E string through the rest of the strings.

Count slowly and evenly from 1 to 4 playing the indicated chord on the indicated count.

Drum Track

Even though these are major chords, you can play lead using A minor pentatonic, Dm pentatonic and Em pentatonic. It will give you a different sound that I personally like.

You can also play lead using A major pentatonic or the A major scale. It really depends on the sound your looking for. You need to experiment. 
Use the blues type progression in Gm to come up with some ideas.
Practice this progression a few hundred times and we'll see you in the next lesson. Just a quick tip, eventually you will want to lay these progressions down on tape so you can improvise over them.
Check out some progressions in the key of A major.

Good luck,

From The Jam Room