Learn To Play: Diatonic Chord Progressions on Guitar

In this lesson, Joe runs us through a Major Diatonic Chord Progression, and teaches us why Diatonics are important.

[fudgesauce]

This video misses something that is very simple but foundational. He states the sequence is maj, min, min, maj, maj, min, dim, but why? Using his example of the C major scale, ...

Play the 1st, 3rd, and 5th note of the C major scale, C E G, that is a Cmaj chord

Now for each subsequent degree, shift up one note in the scale. Sometimes the step will be a whole step, sometimes a half step for a given note of the chord.

Play the 2nd, 4th, and 6th note of the C major scale: D F A, that is an Dmin

Play the 3rd, 5th, and 7th note of the C major scale: E G B, that is an Emin

Play the 4th, 6th, and 8th note of the C major scale: F A C, that is Fmaj

Play the 5th, 7th, and 9th note of the C major scale: G B D, that is Gmaj

Play the 6th, 8th, and 10th note of the C major scale: A C E, that is an Amin

Play the 7th, 9th, and 11th note of the C major scale, B D F, that is a Bdim

The exact same thing applies to 7th chords: play the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th notes of the C major scale, then walk each note up by one degree of the scale. You'll find Cmaj7, Dmin7, Emin7, Fmaj7, Gdom7, Amin7, Dmin7b5.

[CaseyVan]

3:24 an easy way to remember if a chord should be a Major or Minor is if it's not in the 1, 4, 5 chord progression it's a Minor except for the 7 which is diminished, but you can still get a way with playing a minor.

[ALotOfBottle]

I went through learning this a long time ago. A whole lot of usable and useful information provided in this video. Well Done.

[lilybeejones]

This is a system that more guitarists need to know.  A little bit of theory goes a long way.

[markhall]

Really good thank you. Just one subject explained clearly with no showing off or attempts at “comedy” like many videos. You inspired me to learn more about this and try it out...

[baldeaguirre]

this is the best system to play music!

[servanttofriend]

"Give the drummer a toy to play with for two minutes..." Lol

[kelvingill]

thanks Joe.Excellent how you explained this system.

[julius]

These are wonderfully presented lessons! Thanks so much.

[BewilderedBird]

Perfect refresher that I needed. Great video.

[godkingyt]

tnx for this video...I learned a lot ... God bless

[oktayx]

You're the best head floating in the air that teaches guitar.

[billyhawkins]

Excellent lesson! Thanks....Drummer love rattles

[kogen]

what about chords who are not minor/major/diminished like sus4, add9, 6, 7, split, etc ?

how did you construct the diatonic chord

[aidanearley]

Anyone know if the interactive tabs are available for these lessons?

[sadstatue]

Are Diatonic Chord Progressions different from Chord progressions? Or are they the same thing?

[manohitakesiraju]

great video for starters although 9 drummers disliked it.

[chrisdaviesguitar]

I got lost when you moved everything to the key of G

[ricstormwolf]

You get a like for the drummer joke 😂😂