[Doug]

Hi All,
There's a lot of power in the simple I IV V progressions but sometimes it's hard to make them sound fresh. Here's some tips on a simple G C G D C G progression. I play these chords all in the open first position on the neck - no barres, but I change the flavour of the chords slightly. So for example I play the G like this...(which I think is a Gadd2 but it's still some version of a G)


----------------------------
------------3--------------
---2---0h2--2-----------------
---0---0--------------------
----------------------------
---3---3----3---------------


and then I play the C as a Cmaj7 and add the high B and C by using the 4th and 5th frets on the G string. Why do that when they're easily found on the B string? Because I find the G string has a nicer sound - it has a different timbre (pronounced tamber - go figger) and also you can have the open B string interplay with the C played on the G string. Major 7s sound cool when the chord arrangement places the 7 and the root close together like this.

----------------------------
-------0-------------------
---0---5--4--0--------------
---2---2--2--2--------------
---3---3--3--3--------------
----------------------------


and for the D, I play D/F# or the F# in the bass of the D like this...


----------------------------
-------3--0----------------
---2---2--2-----------------
---0------------------------
----------------------------
---2---2--2-----------------



The tabs I'm putting down are not accurate for the posted sound clip but they are the basis of the sound clip. I've done lots with hammer ons, pull offs etc. Some of the stretches are hard at first - they're good exercise for sure. The examples prolly don't work so well strummed because you'll get lots of non-chord tones mixed up. So these tabs are for finger style.

I hope this helps some people freshen up the sound of G C and D and also get people exploring different fingerings and flavours of chords.