Learn Soul Rhythm Guitar

Triads are one of the most useful tools for the Soul guitarist. In this lesson you'll learn how to build triads from the C Major scale. You'll focus on root position triads and the concept of 'timbre' - i.e. how chords can sound muddy on one set of strings and clearer on others. Don't forget to use the attached chord diagrams in the resources section in conjunction with the video lesson so you can see how to play these chords on the neck.

This lesson introduces the concept of 'triad inversions' where the notes in a triad are re-ordered. Learn how triad inversions work and you are much closer to becoming a better rhythm guitarist - you'll have greater control over where you play your chords and you'll be able to avoid the big leaps up the neck that come from only knowing one or two chord shapes.

Minor triads are just as common as Major triads - this lesson explains how to build minor triads and shows you how to play them on the neck. All the chord shapes in this lesson are on the attached lesson sheet in the Resources section below.

Diminished and augmented triads are typically used to create tension - either for an intro to a track, for a bridge or middle 8 or as a device for connecting one chord to another. They aren't as common as Major and minor triads but a Soul rhythm guitarist needs to be confident with using them and you'll encounter diminished triads later in the course.

Learn how to use triads in chord progressions and the importance of concepts like voice leading with triad inversions.

This section is all about turning triads into music on a mid-tempo Soul track. You’ll practise playing triads on the top three strings to stay out of the way of the rest of the band and you’ll use various inversions of each triad. You’ll also learn the importance of the ‘chord stab’ on beats two and four, a mainstay of Soul rhythm guitar. Each example will be played up to speed and then slowly and remember to use the attached lesson resources which include all parts in tab and music notation. This track is in the Key of F Major and uses the V chord (C), followed by the IV chord (Bb) and finally the I chord (F).

Sometimes the top three strings can sound too bright so in this lesson you’ll play the triads from this track on strings 4, 3 and 2. You’ll then play the triads on strings 5, 4 and 3 for a darker, thicker sound. The rhythms have changed too – now you are sustaining the chords throughout the bar instead of playing stabs on beats two and four.

Discover how triads can be embellished to create more interesting parts where the guitar comes to the fore.

In this lesson you’ll play through a longer chord progression with triads – now you are mixing Major and minor chords whilst using the top three strings and the chord stab approach you studied earlier. This track explores more triads in the key of F Major – the chords in this key are: F – Gm – Am – Bb – C – Dm - Edim

This lesson shows how a Soul rhythm guitarist may approach this track in a real-world situation – there are triads on the low strings, barre chords, embellished chords and chord stabs on the top three strings. This one is all about different textures and being able to add plenty of variety to your parts in a track.

In this lesson you'll focus on the sound of Seventh and Ninth chords and their common applications. You'll learn shapes for these chords that will work in most playing situations.

Now you will put seventh chords into practise on a track inspired by the Memphis Soul sound of Steve Cropper, Booker T and The MGs and the Stax Records sound.

Discover how different shapes for seventh chords can be used in this track.

Discover how different shapes for seventh chords can be used in this track.

Now you will use ninth chords in the this track.

This lesson uses another set of voicings for ninth chords in this track.

In this lesson you'll learn how to harmonise the C Major scale as seventh chords.

This lesson shows you how to embellish chords in chord sequences to make your guitar parts more interesting.

This lesson shows you more chord embellishments in chord sequences to make your guitar parts more interesting.

In this lesson you'll learn how to build intervals of 4ths, a common sound in 1970s Soul guitar

This lesson continues the study of 4ths.

In this lesson you'll put 4ths into practise and discover how to get that lush 1970s Philadelphia Soul sound using intervals of 4ths.

This lesson breaks down the second half of this track using 4ths.

In this lesson you'll learn how to build 6ths, an integral part of Soul guitar and especially Steve Cropper's playing.

In this lesson you'll continue your study of building parts using 6ths.

This track shows you how to play on a Soul Blues using triads and chord stabs.

In this lesson you'll explore using alternative triad shapes for creating parts on a Soul Blues.

In this lesson you'll expand on the ideas you can play on a Soul Blues track.

The final Soul Blues lesson shows you how to create more detailed parts on this track using triads, embellishments and licks,