How to Link Guitar Chords using Scales

This guitar trick makes you sound like a pro.

I call it Bass Note Chord Links, which adds loads of movement to your playing!

This is one of my favorite guitar tricks to teach advancing beginners, as it can help you sound more interesting. You'll add a couple of notes in when you play so that you link up the bass notes of your chords. Sounds complicated? But it's not - and this guitar lesson got your back! :)

This rhythm trick has a country vibe and sounds awesome on the acoustic guitar, but it works well in all styles. Let's get stuck in and check out those bass note chord links. 

 

Get The Trick: Bass Note Chord Links

Not a big secret here - we're looking for two bass notes that will link from one chord to the next. You'll put these notes on beats 3 & 4! There are no real set rules here, but we should explore some common patterns next. Seriously - they'll make you sound like a real pro! Here are 8 common patterns you should explore:

• C to G

• G to C

• A to D

• D to A

• Am to Dm

• C to A

• G to E

• C to F

 

Check out the video lesson to learn how each one sounds. But the best way to discover and understand what's happening here is by grabbing your guitar and exploring all we're learning!

Let's ensure we understand what's happening with these Bass Notes Chord Links and how you can use this guitar trick in real life! Let's use the chords C and G to learn how to apply this trick! You'll probably recognize this sound. :)

 

Chord Pattern #1 - C to G

This is probably the most common combination to learn. It works both G to C and C to G. If you start on a C chord, the bass note will go from C (within the C chord) to B to A to G (within the G chord). So, you're moving down the C Major Scale - or the G Major Scale, depending on how you'd like to look at it! These notes are in both. 

 

💡 Level this up even more! :) You can play alternating bass chords, just like we've explored when learning Slash Chords in Grade 2. So, for example, here you'd have a C/G, C, then the walk down. It sounds great, eh? Check out the video lesson!

 

This particular chord change is a big trick! You'll hear it in different music styles and tempos, but it doesn't have a bit of a Country, slow vibe. I dig it - don't you? :) 

 

🎸 Changing from the A chord to the D chord is another common pattern all beginners should explore! You'll need a little bit more hand movement, but I promise - it is worthy. Check out the video tutorial to learn more about the most common patterns to apply this rhythm trick! 

 

Exceptions: Chromatic Scales

All we've been doing so far is using the Major Scale to link Major Chords or the Minor Scale to link Minor Chords. But, you'll notice that, sometimes, the chords are too close together, or there's another reason why the scale-wise steps won't work.

You won't have enough notes to apply this trick if you've got a chord change like C to A, either Major or Minor. So, you will have to use a Chromatic Scale, which means you'll introduce a note not originally in the scale you're playing. The big deal here will be to use your ears and decide what sounds good to you. 

 

Did You Get The Trick?

You need to find two notes between the chords that link one chord to another! The Major Scale for linking Major Chords most commonly needs two-tone steps notes, while the Minor Scale for Minor Chords needs a tone, then a semitone. But again - no real rules here, so explore. If it sounds good, it's good. 

 

🚨 When you're going to an F chord, you can use a Chromatic Scale. So, if you're going from the C Chord to the F Chord, you can go G/F# to F. That doesn't work so well for me if going to the C, though - and I'd do it differently! Try to apply this guitar trick to that chord change pattern, and let me know how you sort that out in the Discussion section. :)

 

I'd encourage you to try to make up some of your chord link patterns. Try exploring some of these in songs you know already - usually, a better idea to build on a song you know than try to get it going from scratch!

As with most rhythm things in guitar, your first step should be getting the notes right and accurately. But once you can technically execute the movement, you want to stop thinking about the mechanics of playing. Your goal is to relax and get into that vibe. That will make you sound great, but getting there takes time and effort. And practice makes permanent! 

 

👉 Following my Beginner Guitar Course? Up next is our first lesson on guitar duets!