Ted Greene's Chord Chemistry: Master Advanced Chords (Part 2) - Dive DEEP & Play like a PRO!

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Welcome to Part 2 of the 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 series! 🎸 In this lesson, we’re diving deeper into the foundational chords and exploring their relationships within different keys. Expect to get hands-on with chord shapes, voicings, and some real practical applications. As always, feel free to follow along with your copy of Chord Chemistry if you have one, but don’t worry if not-you’ll still get plenty out of this. If you're finding the pace just right, or want more explanation on tricky concepts, don’t hesitate to let me know! Check out the poll I posted on the Community Tab to give your feedback on how we can keep improving these lessons for you. 💬 Thanks for tuning in, and happy picking! 🎶

[@thomasnorelli8763]

Thank God, there's wonderful people like you. That will take the time for this great. Great book Ted green's master what he left behind for us. Thank you sir

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Thank you so much, Thomas! 🙏 It’s truly an honor to explore the genius Ted Greene shared with all of us. I’m just happy to help others dive into this amazing work and continue learning together. Your support means a lot-let’s keep growing on this musical journey! 🎶

[@TD-ir4wb]

Still with you! Resolving that chord sequence in the introduction was so encouraging. I couldn't do it first try thru this book. Watching you struggle a bit yourself as we are was, well- assuring in a way. You are a humble man to put that on film. God bless you, its so helpful to work this along w/ you. Fingerings! Ted was a finger genie. He could fret two strings easily with one finger, thus making it seem he had 6 fingers on his left hand. No one will get thru this journey w/o developing a powerfuly adept pinky finger! Alot of players underuse that important finger! Take time w/ us RE fingerings as we get into more complexities. This is awesome- thank you!

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@TD-ir4wb I'm so glad you're still with me on this journey! 🙌 That intro sequence can be a real challenge, and trust me, I've felt the struggle too-so it's good to know it helps seeing the process! Ted really was something else with his fingerings, wasn't he? That pinky gets a serious workout, for sure! 💪 I'll definitely be taking our time with the fingerings as we dive deeper. Thanks so much for the kind words-let's keep pushing through together. God bless, and happy picking! 🎸🙏

[@bluesdog3621]

This is great, I’m 70 and been playing all my life and know a lot of this stuff but I got the book and I’m up for the challenge, thanks

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Thanks so much, @bluesdog3621! That’s incredible to hear. The fact that you’re still pushing yourself to explore new things after a lifetime of playing is inspiring! Ted’s book is a challenge, but such a rewarding one. I’m sure you’ll uncover plenty of new insights along the way. Glad to have you along for the journey - keep me posted on how it’s going! 🎸👍 Happy picking!

[@jacksonanderson2926]

This is such a great series!!

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Thanks so much, Jackson! 🙌 I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the series-plenty more to come, so stay tuned! 🎸

[@Phrygian12]

I remember when I first got this book years ago. The reference chart scared me because I thought we had to play through it all. Some of the voicings are crazy big. But I was so intrigued by the opening pages about how a chord on its own could sound unpleasant or boring, that is until you use it with some context. Learn the basics of theory and then applying it suddenly made me excited to try out the voicings in the reference pages instead of dreading it. I got this book about 11 years ago, have been in that Ted Greene rabbit hole for a while and have my own personal system with chords similar to his V system. But I’ll still open this book and find something new in those reference pages after all these years. Ted Greene called this book “Chord Catastrophe” because he felt he could have written it better and was working on a rewrite/ volume 2. Unfortunately he passed before he could do so. Keep this series going! I wish I had a someone to go through this book with me all those years ago!

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Phrygian12, I can totally relate! That reference chart is like staring into the abyss when you first get into Chord Chemistry, right? But Ted’s approach to giving context to chords was such a game changer-suddenly those “unpleasant” or overwhelming voicings start to make sense, and it becomes exciting to try them out. It’s amazing that you’ve been digging into this book for 11 years and still finding new things! That’s the beauty of Ted’s work-it just keeps revealing layers. And yes, I’ve heard about Ted’s wish to rewrite it. What a gift he left us, though. Thank you for the support and for sharing your journey with this book. I'll definitely keep this series going-Ted’s teachings deserve to be explored in depth with others like you! Happy Picking 🤙🏻

[@matthewlalic708]

Oh yes thank you please keep up these amazing walkthroughs,,,,,,,,, I’ll be following you the whole way thank you. Matty from OZ 😎🤙🇦🇺🎸

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@mathewlalic708 Thanks again, Matty! I’m so glad these walkthroughs are resonating with you. Your support and commitment to following along from start to finish really means a lot. I’ll keep these lessons coming-let’s make it through Ted’s incredible work together! Cheers to more guitar discoveries from Oz to here! 😎🤙🇦🇺🎸

[@matthewlalic708]

@ you’re welcome Jason many thanks for the reply and great work you’re doing 🙂

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Certainly appreciate the support, Matthew.

[@stilltrying.1]

Loved it . Need more videos on Ted Green ❤

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Glad to hear it! I hope you join us throughout this entire series we’re about ready to go off the deep end lol

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@stilltrying.1 Thank you so much! 😊 I'm really glad you're enjoying the series. Ted Greene's work is such a deep well of knowledge, and there's definitely more to explore. I'll be working on more videos that dive deeper into Ted's teachings and techniques, so stay tuned - there's plenty more to come! Your support means a lot. ❤

[@JawnCoffee]

Wow... I wasn't expecting Ted's book to start out with basics like this. However this is basic stuff, nobody taught me that. It took a long time to figure that stuff out naturally.. fundamental principles are often overlooked. Sometimes teachers forget that people don't even know what they don't know. This gives me hope that I will learn something from this series

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@JawnCoffee I completely understand your surprise! It's amazing how fundamental principles can often be overlooked, and it’s great to hear you’re finding hope in this series. We all have different paths in learning, and sometimes revisiting the basics opens up new understanding. I'm glad you’re here, and I'm excited to explore these concepts together. Remember, every step you take in learning is valuable. If you have any specific questions or topics you want to dive into, feel free to share! Your curiosity will guide our journey. 😊

[@ShivaanshSharma-x9z]

This series is a boon for us.

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Thank you so much, Shivaansh! I’m really glad this series is making an impact for you. Ted Greene’s material can feel like a hidden treasure, and it’s a real pleasure breaking it down to make it more accessible for all of us who want to grow as guitarists. Stay tuned because there’s so much more to come, and I’m excited to keep exploring these concepts together! Feel free to drop any questions or insights along the way-let’s keep learning and sharing! Happy Picking! 🎸

[@sankha-ch]

Appreciate what you have started! Shall journey with you and hope to come out the other side with better understanding of the subject! P.s. acronym: Every Assiduous Dummy Gets Better Eventually.

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@sankha-ch Love the acronym! 😄 Every Assiduous Dummy Gets Better Eventually-that's perfect! Thanks for joining the journey, and I'm excited to see you come out on the other side with a deeper understanding. Let's keep pushing through together! 🎸💪

[@GenX071Guy]

Love it! Ty!!!!

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Thank you! 🙌 Glad you're loving it! If there's anything specific you'd like to see in the next parts, just let me know. Happy Picking! 🎸

[@keeper_cps5628]

Getting a lot from this. Thank you!

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@keeper_cps5628 I'm so glad to hear you're getting a lot from the series! 🙌 Thanks for watching and for your support-it means a lot! If there's anything you'd like to dive deeper into, feel free to let me know. Happy picking! 🎸

[@MarlonG527]

Thank you so much for this

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@MarlonG527 You’re very welcome! I’m glad you’re enjoying the series-more to come soon!

[@isaacmarecos3029]

Pelease continue with your work

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Thank you, Isaac! I definitely will! 🙌 There’s so much more to explore with Chord Chemistry, and I’m excited to continue this journey with all of you. Stay tuned for more! 🎸

[@cognitiveburp]

Bought my copy to follow along with.

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Thanks so much for supporting the series and grabbing a copy! 🙌 Hope you're finding it helpful so far. Let me know if you have any questions or if there's anything you'd like me to cover in future lessons. Happy Picking! 🎸

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Also, if you have a moment, I’d love to hear your feedback on the pace of these lessons in this series thus far. Feel free to check out the poll on my KZbin Community Tab and let me know if you’re happy with the current flow or if there are areas you’d like more explanation on. Your input helps shape future lessons! 💬 Thanks again, and happy picking! 🎶

[@cognitiveburp]

@@JasonCareyGuitar I think the pacing is spot on! I'm an experienced musician and have a working knowledge of theory, I'm primarily a Bass and Double Bass player , but I have played guitar for over 10 years and looking to improve. Keep up thew good work!

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@@cognitiveburp Thank you so much for the feedback! I'm really glad to hear the pacing is working well for you. It's great that you're coming from a bass and double bass background-such a solid foundation to build on! I'll definitely keep the pace going as we explore more together. Appreciate your support, and happy picking! 🎸🎶

[@alexmarkowski3859]

Don't skip this bit folks! Supper important! Jason you might consider long pants for future videos

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@alexmarkowski3859 Haha, I appreciate the tip! 😄 I promise I’ll keep that in mind for future videos! Thanks for highlighting the importance of this section-I’m glad you found it valuable. Let’s keep digging into these concepts together! What do you think about the material so far?

[@mbmillermo]

Maybe Greene focused on flats instead of sharps at 2:00 because he was a jazz player. Horns and woodwinds are mostly B♭ and E♭ instruments, so guitar accompaniment is usually in flat keys. But guitarists usually prefer sharp keys because the open strings are EADGB, keys with 4, 3, 2 and 5 sharps, respectively. I mostly learned the non-natural notes as sharps, but that made it a little trickier to learn the jazz tunes. I think Greene knew that we needed the flats a lot more than we needed the sharps, so that's what he gave us.

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@mbmillermo So glad to see you back here! 😎 That's a great observation-Ted Greene really did have a way of thinking beyond just guitar, and you're right about how flats fit better with jazz players and their instruments. I love how you connected it to your own experience too-it’s so true, sharp keys feel more natural for guitarists, but those flats open up a whole new world, especially for jazz. Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts! Keep ‘em coming!

[@locobhai842]

I normally use flats for B and E, sharps for C, F and G. Probably because that's just the most common names I see for chords i.e it's more common to see E flat then D sharp because some key signatures are just more popular then others

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@@locobhai842 Thanks for sharing your perspective! It's interesting how our preferences for using flats or sharps can be influenced by common naming conventions and key signatures. I appreciate your insight into the practical aspects of chord naming. It’s great to hear how you navigate this in your playing! Do you find that certain keys or tunings inspire you more than others?

[@APMTenants]

Memorize only the E A and B strings. Any note played on the E string is one full step up on the D string. Any note played on the A string is one step up on the G string. Now just memorize the B string and you know the entire fretboard.

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@APMTenants This is a solid approach for quickly mapping the fretboard, and it’s a great way to simplify note relationships across strings! Ted’s Chord Chemistry takes a similar idea and expands it, helping us see how these notes link up in musical contexts and chord voicings across the neck. Your tip is spot-on for building confidence in fretboard navigation. Thanks for sharing such a practical insight-this will definitely be helpful for anyone looking to deepen their understanding. Keep those ideas coming, and happy picking!

[@nakim55]

When you get to the dreaded section 7&8, could you show/tell us the fingerings you are using? Ted gives us “dots” on the finger board grids and my problem is finding good fingerings! I wish he would have used numbered fingerings.

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Thanks so much for this important question, @nakim55! Sections 7 & 8 are definitely a bit intimidating, and you're not alone in wanting more clarity on fingerings. Ted's "dots" can leave a lot of room for interpretation, and I’ve definitely felt that challenge too. When we get there, I’ll make sure to walk through the fingerings I use and offer some practical options that might make things more comfortable. I think we’re all learning together through this, and I’m excited to dive in and figure it out alongside you. Thanks again for bringing this up-looking forward to sharing what I learn as we go! 🎸🤙🏻

[@JoeCoutureMusicCouture]

Even After Death God Brings Eternity.

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Wow, @JoeCoutureMusicCouture, I can’t believe I haven’t heard that one before either - it’s brilliant! Such a powerful and memorable way to think about the string names. Thanks for sharing, and glad to have you in the community! 🙌🎸

[@tritone3284]

E lefants, A nd, D onkkies, G row, B ig, E ars

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

That is such a clever way to remember the strings! 🐘🐴🎸 I love it! "Elefants, And, Donkkies, Grow, Big, Ears" is a fun and memorable mnemonic. Thanks for sharing that, it's sure to stick with a lot of folks! Keep up the great work and happy playing! 🎶🐾

[@Lutemann]

I've never found any of these chord books to be any particular use. They end up being so complex and so slow moving that nobody really wants to do it. The guitar is non-linear to the point where almost any method is doomed to failure. What I have found is that for each task that the guitar performs, there are a finite and more or less easily learned set of chords you need to know. IMO, for jazz, the first task should be learning straight rhythm chords on strings 6,4,3,2. Once you learn those chords, you can play and sing all the standards. An added benefit is that when you drop the 2nd string note, you have a set of 3 note shell chords which I've found useful for playing walking bass/chord comping. There are other tasks which I could talk about but not now. I used to comp for a violinist for a few years in hotels and restaurants. You might look at my Mel Bay book "Jazz Comping For Fingerstyle Guitar" (there's another set of chords)

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@Lutemann Thanks for sharing your insights! I really appreciate your perspective, especially on rhythm chords and shell voicings for comping - that’s a very practical and effective approach for many. I’ve reviewed a number of instructional books in college, focusing on both andragogy and pedagogy, and I’ve always found Mel Bay publications, like your Jazz Comping For Fingerstyle Guitar, to be clean, accurate, and practical. Ted Greene’s Chord Chemistry can definitely seem complex and non-linear, and I agree that each player has to find what works for their own journey. It’s great to hear how you've tailored your learning to real-world applications, like your years comping for a violinist. Your contribution is inspiring, and I’m thinking we may dive into your book in a future video or series! Thanks again for adding such valuable insight to the conversation - I’m excited to explore more with this community! Happy Picking! Jason

[@koshomannheim]

To declare the condensed thoughts by a true master like Ted Greene useless in one trivial sentence is your right to your opinion. But then to do that on Jason’s platform while promoting your own book in the same post I find very elbow type egotistical and so uncool, it cracks me up. I mean, come on, we know most music (theory) books are not studied until the end and here is a guy making the effort of explaining the book page by page with multi media. Anyway, all the honour goes to Jason‘s polite and constructive answer.

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Thanks for your kind words! It’s all about building a supportive community where we can dive into Ted’s incredible work together. Everyone's on their own musical journey, and we’re here to explore it with respect and curiosity. Let's keep the learning fun and engaging for all! 🎸 Happy Picking!

[@bradleysones7818]

Easter Bunnies Get Drunk At Easter

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Haha, @bradleysones7818, that's a good one! Definitely a creative way to remember the string names. I love seeing all these different acronyms-helps keep learning light and fun! Thanks for sharing it with us!

[@xinespox8771]

Maybe I’ve got the wrong target audience here, But I’ve enjoyed teaching the students in my age bracket [20s] Eminem And Dre Got Big Egos

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Hey @xinespox8771, love that you're experimenting with mnemonics and bringing your own twist! 🎸 Eminem and Dre Got Big Egos is such a clever and memorable way to remember the string names! It's awesome to see how you're connecting with your students through music they love-and I’ve got to say, the guitar explorations on your KZbin channel are equally inspiring. Keep sharing your passion and creativity, both in the classroom and online. Rock on! 🤘

[@guitarsofold100]

hard to continue with your guitar having massive tuning issues ! i suggest you lower your pickups

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@guitarsofold100 Thanks for your input! I make sure to keep my guitar in tune and properly set up for each lesson, but I’ll definitely take your suggestion into consideration. Sometimes the audio or video can play tricks, so I appreciate your feedback. I'm always working to provide the best experience for everyone tuning in. Hope you’ll keep watching and enjoying the series!

[@GenX071Guy]

Every Ant Does Good Belly Exercises (EADGBE) 😊😂

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Haha, I love that! 😂 Definitely a creative way to remember the strings! I'll be using that one in future lessons for sure. Thanks for the laugh! 🎸😊

[@GenX071Guy]

​@@JasonCareyGuitar I also just purchased the book. TX for the series!

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲! 🙌 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀! 𝗜'𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆. 🎸 Also, if you have a moment, I’d love to hear your feedback on the pace of these lessons in this series thus far. Feel free to check out the poll on my KZbin Community Tab and let me know if you’re happy with the current flow or if there are areas you’d like more explanation on. Your input helps shape future lessons! 💬 Thanks again, and happy picking! 🎶

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

We'll prob talk about this in an upcoming video, thank you friend!

[@danhusband6154]

Eddy Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddy (EADGBE)

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

Haha, love it, @danhusband6154! Eddy sure had an interesting meal! 😄 These classic mnemonics never get old. Thanks for sharing that, it’s always good to have a little laugh while learning. Happy picking! 🎸

[@gavocrazy]

EADGBE Every Acid Dealer Gets Busted Eventually Elephants Always Do Get Baby Elephants Those are the ones I learned on

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@gavocrazy Haha, those are classics! 😂 Love both of them-can't go wrong with some memorable mnemonics to spice up EADGBE. Thanks for sharing, and glad you're enjoying the series! 🎸🐘

[@normang3444]

GuitarTri... beginner course mentions: 'E'ddy 'A'te 'D'ynamite 'G'ood 'B'ye 'E'ddy. I use something I made up I like: 'E'ggs 'A'nd 'D'onuts 'G'ood 'B'reakfast 'E'ats.

[@JasonCareyGuitar]

@normang3444 Love your version! Creative and delicious! Thanks for sharing your unique take on it-keep the ideas coming!