Extended chords are rich and harmonically complex, offering guitarists a broader palette of colors to paint their musical landscapes. Beyond the basics of major and minor chords, exploring extended chords can add sophistication and depth to your playing. Here’s a guide to help you delve into extended chords for guitar:
1. Understand the Basics:
- Familiarize yourself with the fundamental extended chords: seventh chords (major 7th, minor 7th, dominant 7th), ninth chords (major 9th, minor 9th), eleventh chords (major 11th, minor 11th), and thirteenth chords (major 13th, minor 13th).
2. Voicings and Inversions:
- Learn various voicings and inversions of extended chords across the fretboard. Experiment with different fingerings and positions to find the most comfortable and musical voicings.
3. Arpeggios:
- Practice arpeggios of extended chords. Arpeggios help you understand the chord’s structure and can be used for soloing and improvisation.
4. Apply to Different Chord Qualities:
- Understand how extended chords work with different chord qualities. For example, a major 9th chord can have a bright, jazzy sound, while a minor 9th chord can evoke a more melancholic feel.
5. Substitute and Replace:
- Experiment with using extended chords as substitutions or replacements for basic major and minor chords. This can add color and variety to your chord progressions.
6. Learn Common Progressions:
- Study common chord progressions that incorporate extended chords. For example, the ii-V-I progression in jazz often uses minor 7th and dominant 7th chords.
7. Chromatic Approaches:
- Use chromatic approaches to extended chords by adding chromatic passing tones to create smooth voice leading between chords.
8. Explore Jazz Standards:
- Jazz standards frequently feature extended chords. Learn jazz standards and analyze their chord progressions to understand how extended chords are used in context.
9. Use Extended Chords in Solos:
- Incorporate extended chords into your lead guitar playing. Experiment with using arpeggios and chord tones from extended chords to create interesting and expressive solos.
Extended chords can open up a world of musical possibilities for guitarists. As you explore and incorporate these chords into your playing, you’ll discover new dimensions of harmonic richness and expression that can elevate your music to the next level.
