The Chord Progression Codex is NOW AVAILABLE! https://shorturl.at/bouLV
FREE Printable Chord Theory Cheat Sheet: https://shorturl.at/ezVY9
This is a lesson I WISH someone had taught me when I was younger! It's a pattern I stumbled across while writing my new book. I'm certainly not the first to realize it but I hope that this lesson will be a unique and effective way to teach the concept. I also don't know why this "works", because I don't know the history of chord names, and I question if anyone truly knows the whole story. All I know is that it works!

SUSPENDED VARIATIONS:
You can lower the 2nd in a suspended chord, or raise the 4th, to create chords like Gsus#4 or Gsusb2. If you really wanted to, you could also use the (b5) or (#5) symbols in conjunction with "sus" to create chords like Gsus2(#5), Gsus2(b5), or Gsus4(b5). However, sus4(#5) just creates an inverted minor triad, so it's appearance would be largely theoretical.

ILLEGAL COMBINATIONS:
Some symbols just shouldn't be combined. "sus" with "min" for example - these two labels defy one another, since "sus" means "remove the third", but "min" means "lower the third". Some other bad combos:
"aug" with "dim"
"aug" with "min" - This just creates an inverted major triad, and would be easier parsed as such
"m" with "dim"
"maj" with "dim"

For all of these examples: Remember that "aug" is also written as "+" or (#5).

MY COURSES:

I have a name-your-own-price Rhythm Theory course that is perfect for guitarists of all levels. https://shorturl.at/nzGIM

Here's a link to my Theory and Songwriting course. It's very light on chord theory so it's a perfect companion to the Chord Progression Codex. https://shorturl.at/evKMX

Lastly, my Patreon, if you'd like to support my free lessons (like this one!) In exchange, you'll get access to monthly live Q+A's and more lessons I've made.
  / signalsmusicstudio  


00:00 Intro
01:02 WHERE ALL CHORDS ARE BORN
04:29 What "maj" does
05:10 What "min" does
05:41 Combining "min" and "maj"
06:20 "aug" or "+" or (#5)
07:08 Combining "maj" and (#5)
07:39 (b5), and combining it with "min" or "maj"
08:43 "dim"
09:33 Popular Alterations
10:42 "add" chords
11:54 Suspended Chords
12:54 "Jazz" 6th chords
14:26 "Classical" sixth chords
15:14 Slash Chords
15:40 7alt
16:26 Outro