I am enjoying Guitar Wisdom very much, especially learning triads on the three high strings. In some of Tomo’s videos, he plays 7th and 9th chords, and I wonder how he learns to follow the different degrees from one chord to the next. For example, in a blues with three note voicing (6th, 4th and 3rd strings), the 3rd and 7th degrees of the I chord change places when you move down a half step to the IV chord. That’s pretty easy to follow. But are you also trying to learn and memorize the way other degrees — say the 9th — is jumping around? I think I can keep track of the 1st, 3rd and 7th degrees. But it looks much harder to follow others at the same time. Do you just progress to the degrees with practice? Feels like an awful lot to keep track of.
hey michael, it definitely comes with practice. there's 3 different levels right there.
tomo's done a few videos on youtube that demonstrate this well: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=3+levels+tomo+fujita
youtube is more like a demonstration video that's easy to jam along to.
you can look further down and check out the backing tracks. tomo does the same thing in each of those, and it's way easier (in my opinion) to follow.
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/videos/tf-lesson-021
sometimes it's just taking what others already play and changing the key around or experimenting with different chords... also a bit of knowing music theory so you know which chords go well with what and why (circle of fifths).
anyway, i don't have the perfect answer since i'm still learning this myself, but i hope it helps
Here is Tomo's comment:
"Thanks so much for subscribing to my Guitar Wisdom. It’s very simple! Start with Major scales and triads. Learn small things, in depth, at a slow pace. Learn the intervals, then try basic 7th chords. Don't quickly memorize shapes! Learn chords slowly, so that you really hear and understand each degree. Then you can add tensions. Like E-7(9) from 5th string root: R, b3, b7, 9th … or G7(13) from 6th string root: R b7 M3 13. Then more … really learning the chord sounds."
Hi Michael
If it helps, I think it’s easier when your first learning this stuff to learn how chords are built - and the individual degrees that make up the chord.( root, 3rd, 5th, 7th etc ).
Start by learning chords from the root note and then learning which intervals stacked on top of this root note make up the chord you’re using.
Later on you can start to think of which degrees in chord “1” are moving to which degrees in chord “2” as the chords progress - this is known as “voice leading” - but to start with just focus on learning how chords are built and learning common chord progressions.
By hearing enough changes you will start to get a feel for the sound of particular chords - major, minor, diminished, augmented and what your ear likes. I love the sound of minor9th chords and minor7#5 , for example !
Great books to learn these sounds are Ted Greenes Chord Chemistry and Modern Chord Progressions - though they are rather diagram heavy! Tomo’s advice to go slow and really train your ears is the best way.
Good luck
For everyone who responded on this thread, thank you. I think what I take from your comments is that it is something I can learn slowly, and I don't have to keep track of it all now. I have been picking out chords by degree, learning the sound of the different intervals, and I can tell that if I keep dong this it will be easier to makes sense of what moves, and when. But I will go check out the resources you've pointed out. Many thanks!