Eric Johnson Teaches Chord Technique

[@KD-nb3mp]

I wish everyone would understand how incredibly hard it is to reach this level on an Instrument. Musicians like Eric would be much more praised.

[@FeelingPoyChina]

but if most people aren't this smart.. they dont get why its supposed to be praised evolution isn't about survival of the smartest.. its survival of the fittest.. which means imagine how smarter human beings were millions of years ago we are the survivors... jesus... hh

[@KD-nb3mp]

@@FeelingPoyChina I agree! Youre totally right.

[@DaigoParry]

Eric Johnson should just record a whole album of him playing chords with his clean tones. Record it live, not studio. Really.

[@RubricoA.]

it's like EVH's Eruption. just his random warm up put into the album

[@johnn.1186]

Have you listened to his records?? Lol.

[@TruthSurge]

If I just had that tone, all my chords would sound golden too! he has to have one of the best clean sounds ever.

[@TheFarout69]

Crap tons of reverb and practice. Sounded like hall reverb with a touch of delay. But practice a lot. Experiment with vol and tone guitar knobs for "clean". Try a keyboard amp or a Fender Bassman. Good Luck! :)

[@switchmuso]

Yep, reverb and slight chorus, but the important thing is the balance between the pickups, gives an amazing individual tone to each string, makes the notes jump out. I have a phase reverse switch on my main guitar expressly for that, takes out the subjectiveness, just adjust ''till you have the lowest volume, then they're balanced... also great for Brian May imitations haha

[@KXKVI]

@@TheFarout69 Bassman does the trick. I get the reverb from a Carbon Copy.

[@TheFarout69]

@@KXKVI - Hey! I used one of those for years in my board. Still got it somewhere! BTW- I saw you live in Dallas at a Fourth of July show years ago, with Govment' Mule and The Steve Miller Band! KILLER SHOW!

[@Thelavendel]

yeah! Fuck. If it wasn't for my shitty amp!

[@snerddarplol]

You could take a photo of Eric's finger position in a chord, and frame it as art. This guy didn't learn electric guitar, he BECAME electric guitar.

[@Voxtender]

Totally. He becomes one with the instrument.

[@quickstep2408]

Hugo Jeanne piano is very transferrable to guitar

[@oneeyedmonster9827]

I think that's called inversions basically.

[@andrewptob]

For his first point, yes

[@Chris-cf2kp]

Intervals, essentially.

[@Dcba964]

And then you realize after 20 years of playing you are still a beginner 😂😂😂

[@dainhuston999]

vodoo57 alessio him and Tommy Emmanuel they're not of Earth

[@mrsnakepit]

Hahahahahahaha

[@jazzram_]

Lol

[@BossHossStudios]

Definitely

[@TRIBAL-x7y]

Exactly

[@daisuke4bleach]

For the people that are confused about this, he is talking about inversions. So when you take a basic chord like a C chord that has C E G, you can invert it so that you have an E on the bottom. This would be E G C. This is called a first inversion because the third of the chord is on the bottom. When you do this, the sound completely changes. Lots of musicians do this. A good example is Elton John. A lot of times, people will use the first inversion to lead into the IV chord. So in this case, in C, the IV chord is F. So when you first invert a C chord where E is on the bottom, it gives it a sound where it wants to lead into F because the E on the bottom is the leading tone or half step below F. This is just one of many examples. He went over first inversion, second inversion, this is when the fifth is on the bottom, and third inversion where the extension of the chord is on the bottom. For example, if you have a second inverted C chord, it would be G C E, and then a third inversion of C7 would have the seventh on the bottom, so it would be B flat C E G. There are many ways to experiment and flip things around. If it sounds good to you, work with it.

[@WileECoyotey]

exactly.Once you learn the secret -art of finding the octave of a given note ,inverses become.second nature.

[@richardturk7162]

I love when commenters try to show how smart they think they are.

[@damienthorne861]

Exactly! Well done

[@Kipchoge475]

Thanks so much for this.well expounded,very helpful.

[@GabrielRamos-ko2my]

What do you mean by flat?? I'm an English and guitar student. That's why I didn't get the meaning of the word flat which you used above.

[@MaximeTanti]

If anyone is curious, a regular A chord (A major) is the notes A, C#, E regardless of the order. However, in his first few examples, he does not solely play a regular A chord. He begins at 0:07 with a regular A, then... At 0:11 he plays A7, then returns to A. At 0:22 he plays Aadd9, then back to A, then Aadd9 again at 0:25 and 0:27 At 0:28 he plays Amaj9 So, in addition to putting the 3rd (C#) or the 5th (E) on the bottom of the chord, he is also spicing the chords up with other notes.

[@Saf1ouane]

Thank you, that was helpful

[@JonasTamas]

Magical chords!

[@mr.shredder5430]

There is so much to learn how do many guitarist enjoy their moments

[@S-s-121]

hearing this at 7 am in morning sipping coffee is total bliss

[@pedrobrayner4773]

It's easier to become an engineer. wtf

[@michaelfugate2404]

Right? I was like holy shit, I cant comb my hair as easily as he can use those Jazz Chords!

[@AG-vk5or]

Hahaha love this

[@SillyGoose2024]

Michael Fugate thats cuz your hair sucks

[@backtoshallabal6662]

no way. He has been playing for years..

[@abrarjahinnafi1634]

As an engineer and guitarist, I second to that.

[@digitalsketchguy]

And on top of all that chord wizardry, he can shred on warp drive.

[@irmasil3]

Anybody can learn one-two inversions. To be able to just play ANY inversion of ANY chord at ANY point, you need to be at EJ level of abilities...His fretboard knowledge is simply astonishing...

[@Derbixrace]

so many chords and variants, im blown away. this eric dude is just phenomenal!

[@ukcats82]

But really tho? THATS the profile pic you went with?

[@ryangeronimo8128]

that's sound so magical

[@sairamr6886]

I like how elegantly he fingers those chords, it adds to how beautiful the chords sound

[@quickstep2408]

these chords are great for chord melodies and voice leadings. crucial for guitar technique. always find a melody

[@Nickshreds890]

0_0 WOW Beautiful chord shapes i've never heard before!

[@tonyfondacaro1980]

When you’re so good you accidentally write a beautiful song when trying to teach chord shapes.

[@joefox9765]

it does happen

[@osoiottoi2709]

i ❤ his sound,dynamic,idea and everything

[@anitavassar1]

My favorite fall color on Johnson🌹

[@steelstringsinger5818]

Dat clean tone

[@MyriophyllumTuberculatum]

Best ASMR video so far, great technique, too short though

[@bigelile07]

Even his "Chord Technique" is a guitar solo. He is amazing.

[@wtfsingapore]

Really beautiful chords going on there.

[@Incountry]

The happiest guitar tone...

[@BluesLicks101]

Eric is playing miles beyond what I have ever done but I sure like learning from him.

[@sergeramic]

beautiful chords

[@888Marco]

i lost it at 0:06

[@___717.]

Yeah I'd really like to know why

[@nicolaj9303]

so clean

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

Lmfao

[@markfriedmann1670]

His genius as a rhythm player is outer worldly

[@mikikomurdoch5985]

Great inversions! I always like the sound of his chords. I do similar voicing so I sound different from the other guitarists in the jam.

[@GabrielRamos-ko2my]

He could write a book explaining how he makes chord melodies.

[@cidiZifar]

My good Lord this is really awesome man, this is just out of this world, tks for sharing Mr. Johnson! I really don't care to try to learn this, I'm just enjoy it man, it's enough for me.

[@deekingbee3247]

Musix Majixx there's no end in sight

[@dosage13]

hardly a technique is it.. he just knows the fretboard completely and knows how chords are built

[@MyDemon32]

dosage13 I saw a huge usage of the CAGED system in Eric's playing

[@andym28]

Technique just means a way of doing something.

[@bearwolffish]

You could call the technique inversion, or chord inversion

[@Dcba964]

True... Knowledge is power if you want to make something different than your neighbour...

[@justinchoi9513]

If you learn modes, you should be fine.

[@fandlpetroleum]

EJ is a chord scientist.

[@charles3200]

He's playing inversion chords. Really cool to learn

[@jamesconraadtucker]

Ok, he just made that look easy. How dare he. ; ) Such beautul command of chords.

[@carlosclaptrix]

He is living it...

[@ChristianThoresen]

Awesome. Love EJ chords

[@jobu88]

I always find it interesting how much of the pick some players have sticking out from their fingers. Eric Johnson and Jimmy Page are two players I've noticed who seem to have a lot of pick sticking out which in my mind would make it harder to player fast and precise but he obviously has no problem with it.

[@TheFarout69]

A nice fretboard radius makes these chords comfortable to play and learn. Try on a vintage 7.25 " radius. 9 works too.

[@TheFarout69]

Modern electric guitars avoid the old school tight radius but it's useful and the only way to get that vintage feel and sound. Tell me I'm wrong after you try it.

[@kirkjasoncaro9920]

Heavenly Chords.

[@iansnyder274]

Love it!!...very helpful...thank u!

[@larsolufsen]

EJ does things with 4 fingers on his left hand that I couldn't do with 8. Also ... what a nice clean tone!

[@victor13165]

when he says he puts the 5th in, isn't he putting the 9 instead? Pause at 0:24, the notes he is playing are A,E,B,C#,E,A, that's Root,5th,9th,3rd,5th,root... So he's adding the 9 right? Same for the next chord, he adds a B at the bottom E string... Anyone can help on this?

[@CarmineDOnofrio]

No, at 0.24 he plays E at the bottom, and it's the same for the next chord. Don't be fooled by his left hand, but look at his right hand! He doesn't pick the notes at the bottom E string

[@tomdecuca3627]

Pick up some jazz guitar books or jazz rhythm guitar. Ted Greene or Ron Eschete have many books on this type of playing. Substitution, adding 3rd or 5th in the bass of chords, stretching chords linearly on the fingerboard. Johnny Smith, Tal Farlow, Hank Garland all use similar chord structures.

[@tomdecuca3627]

He must have been a big fan of Ted Greene. Chord melody on guitar is the most beautiful sound there is to my ears.

[@jeanounou]

That tone!!! Help me!

[@amazingme1408]

ok get a 50s feder strat....original not a fake reissue...now get a fender delux reverb or a vibrolux

[@CorinMio]

I understand my comment is 7 years too late but with a strat and an Alesis Quadraverb you can get that tone pretty close.

[@SumailDota]

basically learn your arpeggio shapes

[@kouham420]

I prefer scales than arp. Scales are the essential and important stuff before you go for chords or etc. But since his talking about inversions in this vid. Then you should learn diatonic chord progressions then with that knowledge you know how to invert the chords from root to 1st/2nd/(if you play 7th chords) 3rd inv.

[@quickstep2408]

dont learn ‘shapes’, thats a really bad habit. the only real way youll get to his level is if you put in the time to learn theory. thats just how it goes

[@kouham420]

@@quickstep2408 Arp shapes are best use in improvisation. There's not a single thing in guitar that is a 'bad habit' (except bad techniques). But arp shapes is has nothing to do with the topic of the video because EJ is talking about inversions.

[@quickstep2408]

Koroshizzz yup, but i just responded the original comment on ‘shape.’ its a bad habit to reiterate

[@quickstep2408]

Koroshizzz learning theory is how you master music. just like ppl who can ‘cook’ vs a trained chef. cooking, just like music, is universal, but theyre both arts, and this is why some ppl might get offended by this concept. they are arts for a reason friend - to be mastered.

[@anitavassar1]

Have no idea what your brilliant mind is discussing. with musicians here. Perhaps triads. I just love the sound of your voice in my ears & head.

[@ralphhyland8661]

Im going back to playing drums...

[@oliveraguilar1115]

I have absolutely no idea what he is talking about...but its cool

[@buddyollie180]

Oliver Aguilar it makes me feel smart....

[@Jeff-ir4pu]

Lmfao "buddy ollie"

[@johncruz1811]

Oliver Aguilar 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 C d e f g a b c Your standard major chord consist of intervals 1,3 & 5 the note names for this intervals C E G When EJ says his using a 5th(G) in the bass he’s Voicing G C E. If you want a third in the bass E G C.

[@DaigoParry]

John Cruz When he says 5th, he’s talking about using the 5th as a bass note? What about when he says 9th?

[@johncruz1811]

12x12surface cycle starts over 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 C d e f g a b c d e F G A

[@professorgirafalesgirafale111]

Ele ensinou o que a MPB basicamente faz. Claro que sem os solos sinistros do eric Johnson

[@tylerjarrett981]

That’s the definition of thinking outside the box

[@k-ondoomer]

Learn your triads and inversions folks it will help alot with his style of music

[@wrigleyx]

beautiful science

[@RichardGarcia93]

EJ is a whole library

[@sacitmanav]

inversions and extended chords.

[@onzkicg]

I’m drowning in the theory but his awesome sound rescued me.. I’ll just enjoy listening 😂

[@andym28]

onzkicg You don't have to learn much to make a huge change to your playing buddy. Intervals are very important.

[@admtech69]

What manner of sorcery is this?

[@80sruler]

I’m burning my strat now

[@javiceres]

80sruler Lol

[@AnthonyElsetinow]

He plays based on piano background. The theory is simple, however, the physicality and knowing the fretboard is the difficult part for me, a pianist playing guitar

[@sergiosilva6396]

Excelente!

[@MostlyElectrolytes]

I do a lot of this when I play. I'll flatten a note....it's not supposed to be flat and I didn't want it to be, but I flattened the shit out of it. Play a note a half step or maybe 4 steps sharp...sounded like shit....you know. I think that I played sharp 17th one time (pretty sure I invented it) and it didn't work and everyone hated it and I think that someone threw their baby at me, but you know...it's all art.

[@quickstep2408]

... but it was the wrong note lol. why try to play chords at all if youre just going to turn it into subjective abstract art? smh

[@rogerwilliams2629]

Just do it twice like you meant it and resolve it eventually, you might start something!! Like, lots of babies being thrown! LOL

[@juliendicarlo7310]

I wonder if he is on bridge pickup because it sounds like between middle and bridge position

[@mcfcguvnors]

spent my whole life on van halen page etc then i discovered this bloke ,pound for pound one of the most intelligent clean guitarists ever ,a mastery of chords too

[@DOKITT]

the final step: Allan Holdsworth

[@herbmiller4474]

Did anybody else know there were that many ways to play an "A"???? SHEEEESH!

[@rs-xr3ty]

The maestro

[@labayruben609]

Genius

[@giriraja23246]

every second matters in this video.

[@arichalian108]

its only a 2 min video but it feels like 15 min with all the chords none of us have ever played beforehand

[@cast390]

I wonder if eric got his voicing ideas from ted green,chord chemistry in particular.

[@Shelscast]

He did, I saw him referencing that very book in an interview regarding his chord style.

[@BluesLicks101]

That was a TREMENDOUS book: RIP Ted Greene, one of the greats!

[@ranradd]

Wow! I was thinking the same thing. I still have that book of chords somewhere. (showing my age here)

[@cast390]

To all you guys who responded,yea that was/is a great book Teds book on Jazz modern harmony is great too.Years of study material in there you'll never get tired of it.

[@jonathanspengler8913]

That book is seminal- any guitar player who hasnt opened that book might as well hang it up.

[@serranodavid3247]

Eric Johnson...one bad cat 🐈..!!!

[@geezberry8889]

EJ the jedi master of the guitar

[@MrBryanGatwood]

There was a full video of this. Any idea where I can get it?

[@GuitarInstructor]

See the link in the description above.

[@amazingme1408]

hot licks

[@jacquilinebaby7481]

I wish I could play as good as him

[@quickstep2408]

stop wishing and learn to. im tired of these types of comments lol

[@mudwiser1391]

I could do that, I just don't wanna.

[@Sharppz15]

That's my struggle dude. I don't put in the time.

[@anintatej]

So what exactly is he doing? Catching arpeggios of given chord and choosing thirds fifths and sevenths? What?

[@soofitnsexy]

taking basic to intermediate chords and flipping them around changing the order ...how we hear them on different strings can be incredible for creating original music chord melody playing etc

[@magnusjsvensson]

Any questions ?

[@abelfierro8551]

Tone!

[@taehoon_kang]

What's name this effector?

[@tristanericson7930]

he would still sound mystical even on the cheapest strat

[@wadesharp11]

How can anyone not like this video lol..stick to playing Accordian lol..Chords are where its at yeeesss

[@menicPL]

How He is doing That? :o

[@lzinzin]

is it a special tuning ?

[@orionburton3829]

human kind need to preserve in IA all this man Knowledge base to future generations, and humans have something to give to a alien they arrive.

[@Hydrophish]

Hey Eric, how many chords do you know? "Just one: A"

[@MarceloDurham]

Feels like bossa nova ..

[@777Yoni]

That was depressing.

[@777Yoni]

Do you think the same way? I ask because I've never heard of you before.

[@mikelatimer8439]

'touche.

[@amazingme1408]

those tones tend to invoke that.....but it could be just your day...bless you

[@jdguitar1040]

Just in case anyone here hasn't checked out Eric's solo over Stairway To Heaven yet, you should check it out. Just sayin'...

[@villager5647]

my strat doesn't had sound like that. i'm sending it back.

[@wls64]

Geeez, Thanks Eric, could you please repeat that? This time in greek, please? sheesh

[@dansterwerecool]

what does it mean " I might put a third on the bottom"??? what language is this

[@drishtortion-personal]

It means that he might put the third of the chord as the lowest note in his chord structure.

[@dansterwerecool]

so like if I were playing a basic D power chord what note would be on the bottom?

[@meidutac]

dansterwerecool F#..... D major contains the following notes... 1st is D. 3rd is F#. Fifth is A.

[@gouortenklif6861]

Power chords do not contain any 3rds. They contain just the root (1st) and the 5th. If you do not know what these numbers mean, I suggest you look up how all different intervals are named. It's really simple.

[@philsackett7341]

What language is this? How about the language of music. It's basic harmony and theory, what he's talking about.

[@verlealvey]

The Art of Playing when not playing”

[@TheSilverHatchet]

Listen to all that string noise as he jumps from elaborate chord to elaborate chord. That's true virtuosity. Tones impeccable too... good grief.

[@paulinmt2185]

"Just move your fingers around and make all these bitchen sounding chords. EASY!" (yea right)

[@DEPTHMOTION]

Didnt get it

[@carcarjinks1430]

why does he remind me of gomer pyle?

[@RW4X4X3006]

What's it called when you stumble across these by accident, and they just sound great, but you don't know what it is.