Chord – Bm7#5
Here it is! The last of our connected chords, Bm7#5. This can be used as a substitute for a Bm chord. The finger positions for this chord are very similar to the Em7 and A7sus4 chords.
Take a listen to the Bm7#5 chord….
This is what it looks like. The fourth finger on the top E string gives us the G note which changes the Bm7 into a Bm7#5. You can also choose to mute this by touching the string with your fourth finger rather than fretting it.
Theory – Intervals
Learning to recognise intervals will help you play music by ear. The idea is to associate each interval with a reference song that you know. For example, the song Happy Birthday begins with a major 2nd interval. So when you hear an interval that sounds like the beginning of Happy Birthday, you can immediately identify it as a major 2nd.
Take a look at the chart below for example songs:
semitones | interval | reference |
0 | unison | |
1 | minor 2nd | Jaws |
2 | major 2nd | Happy Birthday |
3 | minor 3rd | Smoke on the Water |
4 | major 3rd | While Shepherds Watched |
5 | perfect 4th | Summer Nights |
6 | tritone | The Simpsons |
7 | perfect 5th | Can’t Help Falling in Love |
8 | minor 6th | The Entertainer |
9 | major 6th | My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean |
10 | minor 7th | We Are Young |
11 | major 7th | Star Wars |
12 | octave | Somewhere Over The Rainbow |
Take a listen to how these sound…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gear – Guitar Cases
A guitar case provides protection when storing or travelling with your guitar. Generally speaking, there are two basic types; soft shell and hard shell. The hard cases have a rigid body made from plywood. Most hard cases offer adequate protection for air travel The soft cases are lighter and cheaper but provide less protection.
The Gator Pro-Go Series Gig Bag is a semi-rigid case offering a good balance between price and protection.
Some more strumming patterns
We now look at some more strumming patterns using the sixteenths.
Right-hand technique
Here is a steady pattern for strumming sixteenths to help build the habit of continually moving the wrist whilst intentionally not strumming some of the time.
The next pattern has the same rhythm as clapping which is often heard on football terraces.
Practice Track
Let’s now use these strumming patterns. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
| Cadd9 G | Em7 Dsus4 | Cadd9 G | Em7 Dsus4 |