My Approach to Chords

My Approach to Chords
Hey guys, I've had lots of questions about my chord choices and approach to using them in my music. I just thought I'd shoot a little introduction video to the subject. More to follow soon!
*Feel Free To Read This Lot*
Hey Guys - I'm Rabea
I'm the lead guitarist in Dorje and Toska, where i write music, make songs and have a great time with my mates.
Toska - bit.ly/2bhVMn5
Dorje - apple.co/2bPvowz
I've created a complete online guitar course - Sign up for FREE here: bit.ly/learnfro...
I also have my own line of guitars with Chapman Guitars, and i've designed numerous products with some really cool companies, such as the Victory Amps VX Kraken.
Anyway, i hope you enjoy my videos, thank you for watching!
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Peace & Love

[@sketchstears5242]

This guy right HERE! One of the most underrated guitarist in the world!

[@tammycoates7816]

I'll second that!!!

[@dmwalker24]

There is a magic in the way he writes and plays which I'm not sure he sees as clearly as some of us do. For me it's fresh and imaginative in a world full of stale and repetitive. I hope he keeps at it for a long time.

[@sketchstears5242]

dmwalker24 That's exactly how I feel. His playing totally has a breath of fresh air to it. I'll always follow him regardless of whether he's working on Dorje, Toska or any other project.

[@NO2im0sparticus]

Sickman Comics aye men to that

[@bartomiejfraczyk2590]

why underrated???

[@nickparry4997]

"Theoretically it might be completely wrong, I don't know, it just sounds good..." Important to remember that music came first, theory second; theory only exists to serve music, therefore, if it sounds good, it's 'theoretically right'. IMO anyways

[@Mr.M1STER]

Spot on.

[@sburfordmusic996]

Music theory is just a knowledgebase of mankind's discoveries in the realm of music, you don't really need it if you're not interesting in re-inventing the wheel and pushing new boundaries like Bea is doing (intentionally or not).

[@rickfeith6372]

Even if you don't know theory, your brain does...when you hear music in your head its usually "correct"...if you can succesfully get it out that is.

[@arnyarny77]

that is a very interesting comment, it does make sense

[@kenlee5015]

well said

[@rodrigofernandez5825]

I could watch Bea just jam for hours

[@thebenjyman253]

Rabea, your chords are honestly some of the most beautiful and inventive of all musicians that I listen to. It always makes me want to use drop tunings more. And I'm surprised you don't know theory because it seems like it's just naturally wired into your playing. Theory's a good basis, but rules are meant to be broken! Keep shredding bro!

[@x63]

TheBenjyMan it is naturally wired into his playing, because it's in his ear and mind. He may not be able to speak about theory, but his brain knows how it works, through a lot of trial and error. Jimi Hendrix was the same way. Theory is just that, a theory. Play what sounds good to you.

[@johnnewton1830]

TheBenjyMan "Don't know theory" is a bit vague. It's not a true false question, you know it or you don't, it's a scale. Obviously he knows some theory or he wouldn't even know terms like major, minor, root, etc. You could also know how to apply theory without being able to take an academic test on it. How many guitarists can play a standard blues progression? How many of those would know the chord names? How many of those would understand what 1 4 5 means... Etc...

[@oterovidal2484]

What a great clean tone!

[@stevenolsen3162]

The melodic and ethereal elements of your playing are just stunning.

[@stevenolsen3162]

This is hugely useful... Thanks!

[@mikehulsey4813]

This may be an older video that you uploaded between gigs, but this helped me so much and was the boost I needed to get out of a rut. Thanks man for all the amazing sounds you leave us with!

[@GySgt_USMC_Ret.]

Thanks for sharing the knowledge, Rabea! I often visit your vids to stir the creative juice before my jam practice sessions. Always inspirational. Best to all.

[@dyce3008]

duuude your tone with these chords is pure magic

[@caponi14]

This has to be one of my favorite lessons ever. It opens up a world for you to explore. Dammit Bea, you're one of my favorite guitarists hands down

[@gravelrhoads]

I absolutely love you, man! Even noodling around, your chording nearly brings me to tears. You deserve anything good that comes your way, and more. You and Ola Englund are my favorite guitarists that have elevated my playing.

[@willowmatt6850]

This is an absolute eye opener to creating chord patterns, using intervals as the skeleton for the chord and then putting flavour on with different notes. Absolute genius

[@gibson995]

Awesome lesson. A big problem for me in the past was trying to follow 'Rules', so to speak. When in truth, there are no rules when writing music. I now use an approach very similar to yours and it works for me.

[@MrLegoman9264]

It's awesome to get inside your head because hearing Toska tracks and then having you explain how you come up with these progressions really sheds a lot of light on how you create musically. You obviously have an incredible ear for music, and great confidence in the sound you have created, and the emotions you are trying to evoke. I always enjoy your playing, keep it up.

[@phillalex88]

you have made me a much better guitar player because in order to play toska songs I needed to learn how to be comfortable with chords I'm a bassist but I love toska and your riffs so in a way I started really playing guitar because of you

[@victorteran559]

youre the hendrix of drop tuning my dude. i haven't been this excited to learn something since i learned those "hendrixy" chords that are so easy to embellish.

[@aberkuta]

Great hints and tips for chords. My teacher said I play by ear and went for notes that sounded good but not necessarily "efficient" in positioning and structure. Do you find 1) drop tuning lends itself to more better chord positioning? And 2) does a drop tuning lock you in or restrict you to only improvise in certain keys where you can't find the full chordal tone to flesh out the base chord progressions? Side note: I've stumbled upon Toska and found the song quite refreshing with the complexities, and heat use of discordant chord resolving to tempo and style changes. Please put more music out with Toska!

[@mikemellor1724]

Andrew Berkuta 1) It depends. Drop tuning allows you to play some chords much easier (the chords Rabea showed are an example). The trade off is that some chord shapes become way too difficult (G major for example). Granted, if you know what you're doing, it won't matter whether you're in a drop tuning or not. 2) It shouldn't lock you into certain keys at all, at least no less than a standard tuning should.

[@aberkuta]

Mike - thanks for answering! If you permit me, a slightly different question in the same vein. Are there keys (and their relatives) which you find as better in finger efficiency up and down the frets without drop tuning? (I know there are patterns, but some artists tend to gravitate towards one key vs another and I was curious if that was part of it).

[@mikemellor1724]

Andrew Berkuta it more depends on how you are playing, really. If you're playing a song primarily of power chords and riffing, drop tuning is far more efficient as it allows your fingers to move faster up and down. Whereas a standard (non dropped) tuning lends itself more to if you were doing something like fingerpicking, as it allows you to use the traditional chord shapes. I mainly use Drop C and D Standard tunings, and when in Drop C, Cm and Em are my main keys in that tuning, as well as Ab Major on occasion, since these keys are quite easy to write riffs to, whereas Dm, Gm, F and Bm are the ones I mainly use in D tuning, because these ones lend themselves to open chords easier. Also, dropped tunings lend themselves to other modes such as Phygrian and Locrian much easier, I find. It depends on the player, though, other people may vastly disagree 😊

[@aberkuta]

Thanks for the quick reply!

[@matthoward2179]

Please, more stuff like this. I learn so much from watching you play and it's so interesting to hear how you approach music.

[@GurungyNoHamuster]

In a chord, the fewer notes you play the more options you have. 1 and 5 are ambiguous until you play a minor or major 3rd, for example.

[@rochmainville9981]

Thank you Mr Rabea !! I've watched this video before but this time I spent more time focusing on the lesson itself and the words you employed and it gives me an insight on how to accompany myself while I learn these different shapes and create my own. Anyway, I love your music because you add more soul in what you play and sing than most artists today!! Keep up the good work and God Bless!

[@kevongordon2675]

I just want to say you are truly one of my guitar heros. I love your work and use your music to help improv my writing and making music.

[@IshaanKunwar]

I had been waiting for this since the first time I heard him play. This was actually really helpful and we would love to watch more videos like this like you mentioned at the end, 'in a more concise way and going through some Toska songs' Also, you could let us know how you go about finding the right intervals between the chords. And the different types of rhythms you use(with gain) while using these chords. Loved this video. Thanks Bea!

[@Osphe]

Thank you Bea!!! Extremely helpful. The Dsus2 has been a great starting point for me to understand more chords than just the usual open Am, C, and G chords. Thanks for the tips in 2018.

[@gregparadi]

I am a film composer and also a guitarist, so I have some "modest chords and melodies knowledge"... BUT what Rabea played at "Riff Wars 3 " was so mesmerizing, I kept on listening again and again and again...

[@Soulleecher]

THANK YOU - you made my day you have no idea. I haven't really played in a while for the reason you just unlocked. I watched this vid then immediately took my guitar went drop tuning (never played outside of standard - never occurred to me, hate myself for that right now) and watched the vid again. I'm blown away, i just got instantaneously rid of quite a few stones in my shoe. My main issue has always been the complicated non intuitive finger positioning for some of the chords that just made me loose my cool as no matter how much i trained I couldn't have my thoughts and the physical stuff in synch and spoiled me fun. Then your extra on chords and transitions was the cherry on top. You've kind of set a part of me free. I watched tons of vids, why you? why now? don't know don't care. just THANKS.

[@wubhubgaming]

I've learnt alot of cool chords and rhythmic ideas just watching you play in demos and playing dorje/toska stuff, I love your note choice.

[@sonic7184]

I've been waiting for a video on this for a while! Love your chords Bea!

[@josephromero4989]

Wow! Thank you Mr. Rabea! This video was really eye opening for me. Definitely gave me a new way of thinking when looking for chord choices.

[@jasfiona]

You're so good Rabea. Thanks for sharing. You know, I don't particularly look to try and find fault with anyone on KZbin, even if they appear to be be the sort of character that I may not easily get on with in real life. How one can ascertain anything remotely accurate like that through a screen on a recording though is anybody's guess, but we all judge from time to time. Sometimes I moan to myself, or I even comment, but I've never found anything slightly negative to say about you ever, and I watch a lot of guitar KZbin. Well done so far in your career Rabea, wherever it takes you and many, many blessings for the future man!!

[@anicskif]

Love this,thank you. As someone who's been playing for around 26 years but doesn't have a strong theory side, this is encouraging. Really appreciate what you do. You inspire creativity in me after I thought I'd lost my mojo. Humble thanks,a fan.

[@DirectingSven]

It's a tried and true approach absolutely. I always love playing open octave two note interplay chords. I always try to approach the geometry of shaping chords; muddling around with the intervals. Dissonant, harmonic, whatever. It's all music to my ears, baby. Deconstructing chords is fun, too.

[@patbowser4573]

Ive always wondered how you came up with such interesting chords in your stuff. Just figured you were a theory god or something! Thanks for taking the time to break this down and show us your approach man!

[@Num1YogscastFan]

A very helpful video. I often try messing around with random shapes and this video has informed me of how to do it in perhaps a better way. Thanks Bea

[@IStarkI]

I dig your demo/reviews, but THIS is what it is all about. Thank you Rabea.

[@accada4]

Thanks for the wicked video Bea! Would you mind doing the same video with a baritone guitar (and how this all works, strings you use on a baritone, tunings etc). the next time? :) Would be very interesting to see because playing a baritone is very different! Cheers

[@nathanbotha1199]

Wow! The first chord transitioning to that stunning second chord...really has a lot of emotional pull - amazing sounding stuff!

[@INFIDEL82AA]

Damn... This is exactly what I wanted to see from anyone who is a master guitar player. You just nailed it, for me. This is what's helpful, to me. You know, everyone wants to show me chords and other things to start doing so that I don't pick up any bad habits while learning. It's little sessions like this, that do not impose a classical guitar lesson. I do not KNOW music. I do not KNOW tab, and I barely know notes! A month or so I have been at this, and I just wanted to tell you "Thanks"! Thankyou for your time, while actually being on tour! This is HUGE for me! I really do appreciate this. You are a very special kind of person, Sir. Patient, helpful, laid-back, and just relaxed. But, VERY helpful. Enjoy your tour, Sir!

[@kaizze8777]

wow, 26 years of studying music and found a new way to look at chords, amazing! I'll use that!

[@codysmith2082]

Your chops get exponentially better every video I watch. Holy progress Batman.

[@booyeah304]

Rabea, in all honestly, your playing inspires me to write basically more than anyone else. You are one of the (if not the only) guitarist who plays the kind of music I hope to write. Please make more song writing videos, every time you make a sort of lesson video I take it all to heart and incorporate it in my writing/playing. I think one of the main hardships with instrumental music is that it is more difficult to express emotion, and I think Toska is one of the few bands I know to totally overcome this. Please keep doing what ever it is that your soul draws you towards.

[@JMnyJohns]

Incredibly helpful. Astonishing that you share this hard won knowledge so freely. Thank you Bea!

[@JMC4101994]

Agree 100% with your ethos man. I think that way of thinking leads to more interesting and original compositions, and makes the writing process more natural and fun.

[@RoudraveerGobin007]

thanks man... that changed my whole perception on chords, and now am able to compose on wider themes. AWESOME!!!

[@fourkray4825]

Interesting stuff Rabea, great insight into how you write and also learned a few things for myself along the way.

[@harryvincent]

Was desperate to see Toska in Sheffield tomorrow but already organised a camping trip, a load of my mates are going sure it'll be great, I'll definitely be seeing you next time!!!!

[@EisensteinPrime]

This helps a lot. I generally go through the same process but I forget to explore more finger positions with chords and fall back to the familiar until I eventually remember I need to just experiment and find more.

[@ChrisFohner]

Very informative! Really interesting way to look at chords I never thought about before. Gonna have to start trying this because I was kind of at a writers block with how I wanted to go about voicing chords when writing certain parts. Great video!

[@jordanvictormusic2730]

I saw you last night in Worthing and wow it was the best thing I've ever seen will definitely be seeing you guys again!!

[@maxscardanelli6185]

JVHMUSIC Same here man!!!

[@MisterManuva]

This was very interesting, I absolutely love your chord choices! It would be awesome if you'll ever do a more in depth analysis

[@Kwert]

Thanks for all the great content! It'd be great to see a short vid on how you approach writing heavy riffs. I think your riffing is some of the best I've heard in a long time.

[@mike.semark]

Hey dude, if you have time would you consider making another video on this topic? I found it really interesting and very helpful to see the way you approach improvising/songwriting. I've been practising a lot lately and can improvise pretty comfortably in a key (and moreso if I know the chords), but find it difficult to kind of feel my way through finding what I can hear in my head on the fretboard. Cheers!

[@ironbeard2796]

man I only found you a few months ago and you have became one of my favorite guitarist.

[@lemans191]

More on this subject please Bea. Looking at some Toska songs like you mentioned would be wicked. You're new sig looks epic as well

[@PLively]

Hi Rabea, I know this was a while back, but I love videos that explain how to get there. I'd like to hear more from you on this kind of thing, and more playthroughs in your newer videos as you seem to have moved the emphasis toward gear, which is great, but I'm learning more from this kind of video. Anyway, I love what you do. You're fast becoming one of my favourite musicians.

[@MHSlypher1]

Love this breakdown of your approach to writing/playing etc. More videos with this idea on different aspects of you as a guitarist would be great!!

[@hops2099x]

Dude!? It's so simple but this blew my mind! This gives me so many ideas to try with one of my music partners stuff that writes very simple open chordal music! Thanks for the tip!

[@Coynkydynk]

Massive production values here. I wish every other guitar youtuber would watch, listen and learn from this. Basically seamless transitions between talking and strumming and no weird limiter (loudness compensation) adjustment artifacts. Awesome. Also, (I know, I know - three years late) thanks for sharing, Rabea.

[@Airtrooper719]

Rabea, thanks for sharing your expertise with us, I just wanted to say what a great album you put out, I've been listening to it on repeat for days now, packed full of exciting and captivating riffs!

[@Fuzzywagums]

PLEASE DO MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS!!! But honestly love them all!

[@WittleDwift]

hey bea, as a chord theory nerd, what you do just by playing it by ear is actually pretty sophisticated. i might analyse a toska song one day and show you, it's awesome

[@angryfrenchduck]

You're such a legend Bea! Thank you so much for this video! 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻

[@LukeBass1000]

Had a dream that my band was invited to play a showcase in America and showing up to our Airbnb it turned out Toska where staying in the same building. Totally fangirled when I 'met' you Rabea lol

[@JohnSmith-ry4rg]

Do you two want to be alone?

[@mido3ontheway]

John Smith I do.

[@johnnyfavorite3377]

Great video, Bea. Very interesting. Please could you take us through some of the progressions in the Toska material?

[@Nunez87]

Really good video showing how simple it can be to create chords and chord progressions.

[@musikyle27]

Dude, this is the right subject, absolutely on point! Please do more videos regarding chords and creating that massive sound. :D

[@myksbox]

so cool, your playing and your explanations and expression. Please keep it up. This is the very best kind of stuff

[@ruaidhriolympus5619]

I do it in a very similar way. the drops tuning then the wide open chords, such an amazing ambient

[@Quiet_Viking]

Totally agree on the drop tuning. My guitar is in standard drop D almost exclusively.

[@vincet68]

Great vid, Bea. Congrats on the tour(s)!

[@gravesw7]

This is a great video. Extremely down to earth. Really appreciate your willingness to share and teach without thought of compensation. This type of thing does music a great service.

[@ashamael]

I tried to explain to my parents (who are also musicians) that I don't hear the notes; I hear the intervals. You can play an A, and I don't know it's an A. But if you play an A with a C, I know it's a minor third. Or an A with a C#, major third. Etc. It blew their mind that that's how I learn songs & write. It just came naturally to me, and when I started learning theory, I understood why. Anyway - fascinating video. I always love seeing others' approach to writing. Keep it up.

[@IanNorsworthy]

Thanks for this video man. Is really helpful. I'm sometimes worry about the way I write songs and chords and just feel everyone is more theoretically as well as technically proficient than me and that its holding me back. To hear you describe it in a relaxed, stripped back way in terms of intervals makes me feel a bit more relaxed. Feel I need to experiment with those more anyway (in terms of knowing more of them straight away and by ear haha!) but was certainly great to get a glimpse into how you create in that manner so I'll take a lot from that. Now just to try and brush up my sloppiness and dust myself off and continue learning! haha! Good luck with the rest of the tour!

[@shfnderrock]

Your Tone is to die for Bea!!! Bloody amazing

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Can't believe I only found this post today, very useful thank you.

[@PepinoMichoacan]

I hoped for this videos for years ! Thanks for all you do, it means a lot to me even though it might not be much to you. But anyways, thank you. It is much appreciated

[@johncarden8985]

As with fellow Anderton's guitarist Danish Pete Honore, a very musical player and very generous with knowledge. They are both very modest too. A delight to watch and learn. I bought a guitar from Anderton's on the back of their KZbin videos (a PRS SE 245 Soapbar at an extremely good price).

[@HelloImTurtle]

I wish i had a guitar teacher like you you have the guitar style that i would pour my life into. Great video learned from it and will practice thanks very much youre awesome!!!!!

[@Tubedriver42]

Yes man, been wanting this for ages, you come up with such cool chord work - this is great

[@svartsjokolade]

The chord progression towards the end reminded me of "Face in the snow" by Opeth. Love the intro on that tune. Thanks for the insight!

[@mynx_uk]

love the way you approach chords, more on this please, and have an amazing rest of tour.

[@untappedreality]

Thanks Rabea! You videos are always helpful. Love your ambient tones!

[@GitShiddy]

Cool to hear how you process these chords. As someone who's been ripping off your deconstructed chord voicing, especially the root and 3rd interval, very cool to hear that you just mess around until you stumble into something unique. Which I find the best way to create something memorable.

[@BenFentem]

Super video dude, really helpful and loads of good ideas without being overly technical or overly patronising. Personally I'd love yo see/hear more along these lines from you, its really useful tuition that works across genres and playing styles. Looking forward to sitting down with my guitar and trying some of this stuff out

[@agnosandre]

Great creative approach to writing harmonies bro! Really cool! Also, your videos thumbnails are the best! Always a good photo and design.

[@joeljezequel]

This is exactly the kind of video I want to see, thanks Rabea!

[@SMAAAASHTV]

That movement with the diminished chord gave me goosebumps.

[@Americafirst89]

very helpful! thanks rabea! i have been experimenting in the clean/crunch channel chords to explore for my musical taste,love how you play those ambient melodic chord progressions, its so inspiring,i enjoy it with my coffee. i will review this vid again to learn, i pay drop tuning alot, drop b&A , c sharp mite be something to try. THANKS RABEA!

[@JoseManuelCarmonaRoldan]

Yes!!!! Waiting for this video for ages. Love you Bea!

[@Atticus_Moore]

Great video and pretty helpful too. I always appreciate videos on chords and peoples approaches to them. I really liked your interval approach and I'll probably start incorporating it myself. I typically tend to choose a bass note to start with or I'll focus on a middle note and where the middle note goes i'll make all the other notes just kind of follow it. I like your approach more. I love chords because anyone can make a scale and that's easy, but using chords within key and even out of key fluidly is always really impressive to me.

[@andrewt248]

Right on! I'm absolutely infatuated with playing chords (whenever appropriate and sometimes not) with close intervals- 2nds next to minor or major 3rds, minor and major 3rds next to 4ths, etc.

[@70mcnevin]

Awesome approach to creating music and one I can completely relate to. Thanks for putting it into words that are easily understood.

[@LGZuperPRO]

PLEASE do a video were you explain the making of Illumo and the chords you use, I really love that song!

[@osvaldolopez2112]

Man you’re super awesome that’s a sweet tone I like it! You’re definitely one of the most underrated guitarists I’ve learned so many things I didn’t know how to approach thanks 🤘🏼

[@MartyEct]

Such a great lesson! It's very kind from you to do such kind of lesson. Thank you so much.

[@joshobrien4960]

This was awesome! All I can say is more! Several videos like this would be awesome

[@Jorduan100]

Thanks for this video - this really resonates with me personally; I've always loved the ideas you can get through simply experimentation!

[@beyondlimitsproductions1468]

Very cool for this guy to sit down and really share his approach on chords. He really captures the emotion with his style and it sort of reminds me of how would come up with them 😎👌

[@coppulor6500]

you want to know what we think of your video? how about awesome and brilliant? i could never keep my brain focused long enough to learn much theory. your explanation and approach was really helpful and motivating. thank you!

[@hectorcamberos1689]

Amazing video really instructive! Your approach to scales next perhaps? Huge fan! Regards from Mexico City

[@sanassee]

such inspirational videos, i saw you on many many Anderton's videos without having the clue to "stalk" you. So much time wasted haha! Now i'm dealing with a Kraken V4 pedal ! Thanks to you @Rabea Massaad