Hi there.

I've been playing guitar for about ten years now - and I'm about to sit grade five classical on guitar and I'm also learning flamenco technique. In my spare time I also write for myself.

I'm starting to do well in memorising sharps and flats for each key and my chord knowledge is starting to broaden substantially- however I'm finding it hard to memorise major and minor chords for each key.

Is there any system like the mnemonics for sharp and flat keys (F,C,G,D,A,E,B,F# / F,B,E,A,D,G,C) to help me remember major and minor chords for each key - ESPECIALLY FOR KEY CHANGING ON THE FLY!

Let's say I'm in the middle of writing a song in A, and I want to move to let's say E Major or the other way say G Major - I have to stop the flow, put everything down and try to remember major and minor chords in the new key.

I want to be able to keep the guitar on my lap, change to a close key, and just know what Major and Minor chords to play, especially ones that are large intervals apart, rather than the obvious major or minor second which is all I can do unaided at present - these changes are incredibly linear and show no contrast.

Anyone out there who writes/composes will know how frustrating it is - It seems important to deviate from a key to create contrast and the unexpected, but this constant stop/start process is not an enjoyable one for me.

Is there anyone out there that can help?

Regards,

Daniel.

Hi there. Thanks for the response.

Sorry for not being clear.

I have the sharp/flats memorized already - I was refering to the major and minor chords for each key.

I know the order: Major, Minor, Minor, Major, Major, Minor, Diminished - but in the context of playing/ writing I still can't seem to remember them!

I.E.

In the key of G Major

G maj, A min, B min, C maj, D maj, E min, F# dim

Then to key change to D Major lets say

D maj, E min, F# min, G maj, A maj, B min, C# dim

Then to key change to A Major

A maj, B min, C# min, D maj, E maj, F#min, G dim

There seems to be some kind of system here - when you change thru the Circle of fifths to a new key (D Maj), the fifth note of the new key becomes major (whereas it was the minor second of the previous key) - these are highlighted in red.

Also the dimished chord of the first key (Key of G Maj) changes to a minor to create the third note of the new key - these are highlighted in red.

This process is repeated each time.

As it happens I've somehow stumbled upon it just from reacting to your response!

Does anybody see what I mean with the above example.

Has anyone including yourself studied music theory?? There seems to be some sort of pattern here.

Regards,

Daniel

The fifth (dominant) chord is always going to be a major chord.
In your example the A chord in G in minor .. the notes are A, C E.
When you get to D major you now have a C# so the A chord is A C# E which is major.

Does that help?

It seems to me that the answer to your original question is simply that you need to keep trying and practising. Eventually you will remember all these chords automatically. Thinking of patterns like the circle of fifths etc is very helpful. Maybe you could make a chart of all the chords you would like to use and keep that in front of you for reference as you play/compose.

Thankyou all - I guess it's just down to practice - and that's that!!!

Do mean the pattern of major, minor and diminished chords in a scale?

Because, using only the notes in the key, you get: for example, in C and F major

i - Major - C - F
ii - Minor - D - G
iii - Minor - E - A
iv - Major - F - Bb
v - Major - G - C
vi - Minor - A - D
vii - Diminished - B - E

I think h_c has it - that pattern is the same for each major key, so if you know that and the scale you *should* be able to work it out easily, then with practice it'll be automatic The equivalent for minor is:

i - minor
ii - diminished
iii - major
iv - minor
v - minor
vi - major
vii - major

Daniel, there are plenty of books that would help you understand this stuff. Try searching Amazon for books by Rikky Rooksby, for example.

If the chords are based on the notes of the harmonic minor scale (the above is based on the natural minor), the order would be:

i - minor
ii - diminished
iii - augmented
iv - minor
v - major
vi - major
vii - diminished

I just happened to be doing these with my group tonight!

I was watching a lovely Youtube video of a guitar lesson with the amazing gypsy guitarist Stochelo Rosenberg tonight and marvelling at his minor harmonies - have a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sycNGSXhclY...feature=related

Note the bit starting at 0.54 where he's demonstrating how to play these lovely minor chords!

Lovely - thanks for posting that !