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 nameyourownprice 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