Mike’s Music Dojo
Sign in
Cover of Inversion Guitar Chord Method

By Mike James

Inversion Guitar Chord Method

A method for learning how to build guitar chords.

25 lessons42 songs4 parts

Start at the beginning Get the printed book

Before you begin Getting started

Why this method, how to hold the pick, how to strum, and what a chord really is.

  1. A Need for a Method About the author and why chords can be built instead of memorized. p. ii
  2. The Role of Guitar in Music Lead and rhythm guitar, and how the play-along tracks work. p. 1
  3. Holding the Pick Tip or shoulder, and choosing a pick. p. 2
  4. Strumming Technique Angle, position and the motion of a strum. p. 3
  5. Strumming Diagrams Twelve strumming patterns, A through L. p. 4
  6. The Inversion Method Chords come from scales; inversions re-arrange the chord tones. p. 5

Part 1 2nd Inversion Chords

Three shapes — E, A and D — and five alterations that turn them into 28 chords.

  1. 2nd Inversion Chords Your first three chords: E, A and D. p. 6
  2. Amazing Grace p. 7
  3. This Old Man p. 7
  4. Auld Lang Syne p. 8
  5. Fretted Note Assignments Low, Middle and High: naming the notes you move. p. 9
  6. 2nd Inversion Minor Chords Move the high note one fret left. p. 10
  7. Snake Charmer p. 11
  8. Volga Boatman p. 11
  9. Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho p. 11
  10. 2nd Inversion 7 Chords Move the middle note two frets left. p. 12
  11. Good Morning Blues p. 13
  12. Saint James Infirmary p. 13
  13. 2nd Inversion Suspended4 Chords Move the high note one fret right. p. 14
  14. This Train p. 15
  15. Corinna, Corinna p. 15
  16. What a Friend We Have in Jesus p. 16
  17. 2nd Inversion Major7 Chords Move the middle note one fret left. p. 17
  18. Aura Lee p. 18
  19. Waltzing Matilda p. 18
  20. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen p. 19
  21. Drunken Sailor p. 19
  22. 2nd Inversion add9, add2, sus2 and 2 Chords Move the high note two frets left. p. 20
  23. Happy Birthday p. 21
  24. Danny Boy p. 21
  25. All Five 2nd Inversion Alterations The complete system: 28 chords from three shapes. p. 22
  26. Advanced Strumming Diagrams Split-range and muted strumming, patterns M through X. p. 23

Part 2 Root Position Chords

G, C and F, and how each takes the same five alterations.

  1. The Inversion Method (Review) The G chord in root position. p. 24
  2. Root Position Chord Shapes Two G chords, C and F. p. 25
  3. I Gave My Love a Cherry p. 26
  4. Tom Dooley p. 26
  5. Will the Circle Be Unbroken p. 27
  6. Alberta, Let Your Hair Hang Low p. 27
  7. Root Position Suspended4 Chords One string higher than the lowest fretted note. p. 28
  8. Joyful, Joyful p. 29
  9. Come, Missa Tallyman p. 29
  10. Root Position 7 Chords One string higher than the sus4 note. p. 30
  11. Ja-Da p. 31
  12. Backwater Blues p. 31
  13. Root Position 6 Chords One fret to the left of the 7. p. 32
  14. Oh My Darling, Clementine p. 33
  15. Oh! Susanna p. 33
  16. Root Position add9 Chords The next string below the 7 and 6. p. 34
  17. Jingle Bells p. 35
  18. Down in the Valley p. 36
  19. Salsa Time 2nd Inversion Chord Review p. 37
  20. Nostalgia 2nd Inversion Chord Review p. 37
  21. Lost and Found 2nd Inversion Chord Review p. 37
  22. Dramatic Fairytale 2nd Inversion Chord Review p. 37
  23. Root Position Major7 Chords The highest fretted string. p. 38
  24. Beautiful Dreamer p. 39
  25. Matilda p. 40
  26. Chord Reference Every 2nd-inversion and root-position chord: 46 in all. p. 41–42

Part 3 Slash Chords

Choose the bass note yourself.

  1. Slash Chords A chord over a different bass note. p. 43
  2. Aura Lee (slash chords) p. 44
  3. Pachelbel's Canon p. 44
  4. Example Chord Progressions Walking bass lines with slash chords. p. 44

Part 4 Bar Chords

Move the E and A shapes anywhere on the neck: 216 more chords.

  1. Transposable Chords Notes on the 6th and 5th strings, sharps and flats. p. 45
  2. Transposable 2nd Inversion [E] Chords The E shape as a bar chord: 96 chords. p. 46
  3. [E] Bar Chord Application Every chord with the E bar shape, then common progressions. p. 47
  4. In the Hall of the Mountain King p. 48
  5. 'Deed I Do p. 49
  6. Transposable 2nd Inversion [A] Chords The A shape as a bar chord: 120 chords. p. 50
  7. [A] Bar Chord Application Every chord with the A bar shape, then advanced progressions. p. 51
  8. Old Fashioned Love in My Heart p. 52
  9. Sweet Georgia Brown p. 53
  10. Indiana p. 54
  11. All Chord Methods 262 chord voicings, not counting slash chords. p. 55