The Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy

August 2022

How To Jam One Chord Progression In Six Fun Ways!

Introduction and Playthrough

In this lesson we are going to take a really simple chord progression and play it in six exciting and very varied ways. This will help you improve your chord clarity, chord changes, and ability to play in various styles and have a tonne of fun. Watch the short intro before you begin…

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Playing The Chords And Tips On Changing Between Them!

Before we begin the six exciting styles of playing the chord progression, let’s discuss a few tips and tricks on playing the chords cleanly and making the changes smoother and faster…

#1 – 50s Style Pop Strumming

Our first example is a fun little one that sounds very upbeat and old school. 

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• This lesson uses the Ultimate Strum pattern which you can find out more about HERE.

#2 – Punk/Pop/Rock Strumming

Let’s rock out a little with this example! Notice how our fretting hand doesn’t need to do anything different. The change in tone and flavour is all in the strumming hand. You might not use this example all the time but it’s fun, especially if you like rock and you play electric as well as acoustic!

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#3 – Ballad Fingerpicking in 6/8

In this example we are playing something many of you are more familiar with. 

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• This video uses a 6/8 fingerpicking pattern called the “Going Up” pattern. Here is a free lesson from the Fingerstyle 101 video course where you can learn this in more detail. Go HERE. 

#4 – The Blues Shuffle!

Now then, let’s play some fun blues. It’s the blues shuffle which is a sound everyone knows (and most people love). Take your time with this. It is not easy at first (but it does get easier). 

• Get the TAB/Notation for this lesson
• For more help with the blues shuffle, head HERE. 

#5 – Slick Strumming

Now then, things are getting more sophisticated and trickier, but this example sounds very cool. It is essentially a two bar pattern on each chord. The first bar uses the Modern Strum pattern and the second bar uses some nice embellishments unique to this example. Go very slowly with this example. 

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• Learn how to play the Modern Strum pattern HERE.

#6 – Embellished Fingerpicking

Our final example is not easy at all. In fact, there is a lot going on, but let’s finish with a bang. Here, we have hammer-ons, pull-offs, various rhythms, triads, and more. It is key you break each bar up into small chunks (as mentioned in the video), and you take your time!

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A Summary Of This Fun Lesson

So there you go. That is the lesson where we take one simple chord progression using the chords of A-D-E and we play some really fun and exciting stuff with them. Of course, don’t try to learn all the examples at once (unless you are very experienced). Instead, take your time, choose one and enjoy!

Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on this lesson. Most of all, enjoy!