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Cover of Grip Chord Method for Guitar

By Mike James

Grip Chord Method for Guitar

An organized method for moveable chords that are used in jazz and many popular music styles.

14 lessons76 grip chords5 parts

Start at the beginning Get the printed book

Before you begin Getting started

What a grip chord is, the four types, and how to find the one you need.

  1. The Grip Chord Concept Roots on the 5th and 6th strings, and finding a chord by its reference symbol. p. 1

Part 1 E and A Shape Bar Chords

The two bar chord shapes are grip chords too: the root is the lowest note, on the 6th or 5th string.

  1. E Shape Bar Chords (Root 6) Major, m, 7, m7, 7sus and m(ma7). p. 2
  2. A Shape Bar Chords (Root 5) Major, m, ma7, 7, m7, 7sus and m(ma7). p. 3

Part 2 Major 3rd Grip Chords

Major and major7 quality chords, then the color tones and tensions that make them richer.

  1. Root 6 Major 3rd Grip Chords ma7, 6, ma7(♯11), ma13, ma9(13), 6/9 and ma9(6). p. 4
  2. Root 5 Major 3rd Grip Chords Two ma7s, ma9, 6, ma7(♯5), ma7(6), 6/9 and 6/9(♯11). p. 5
  3. Color Tones and Tensions 9, 11 and 13: what they add, and when they become tensions. p. 6

Part 3 Minor 3rd Grip Chords

Every chord with a minor 3rd: minor, minor 6, 7, 9 and 11, half-diminished and diminished.

  1. Root 6 Minor 3rd Grip Chords (1 of 2) m, m(ma7), m7 and m9. p. 7
  2. Root 6 Minor 3rd Grip Chords (2 of 2) m6, m6/9, m7(♭5), m11 and °7. p. 8
  3. Root 5 Minor 3rd Grip Chords (1 of 2) m, m7, m(ma7), m11, m6 and m9. p. 9
  4. Root 5 Minor 3rd Grip Chords (2 of 2) m7(♭5), m6/9 and two °7s. p. 10

Part 4 Dominant 7th Grip Chords

7, 9 and 13 chords, then the altered tensions ♭9, ♯9, ♯11 and ♭13.

  1. Root 6 Dominant 7th Grip Chords (1 of 2) 7, 7sus, two 13s, two 9s and 9(13). p. 11
  2. Root 6 Dominant 7th Grip Chords (2 of 2) 7(♯9), 7(♭9), 7(♯11), 7(♭13), 7(♭9♭13) and 9(♯11). p. 12
  3. Root 5 Dominant 7th Grip Chords (1 of 2) Two 7s, 7sus, 9, 9(13), 9sus, 7(♯9) and 7(♯9♭13). p. 13
  4. Root 5 Dominant 7th Grip Chords (2 of 2) 7(♯11), augmented, 7(♭9), two 9(♯11)s and 7(♭9♯11). p. 14

Part 5 Sample Progressions

Seven progressions to play with the grips, each chord marked with its reference symbol.

  1. Sample Grip Chord Progressions Seven four- and five-bar progressions, with play-along. p. 15