Chord Chemistry-Master These Voicings!

[@KyleKovalikSongs]

Thanks!

[@TheRiotguitar]

thank you!

[@chriswing7273]

Crazy how Ted Greene continues to casually play while someone is talking to him. Meanwhile it sounds like he's in a restaurant, someone passes in front of the camera, etc. It's fun to imagine thinking about the people in that room, who were dining, not realizing they were listening to a legend, likely couldn't pick him out of a line up, etc. Going through life not knowing they were in the room as a legend of the arts. So cool! Great lesson (again)!

[@TheRiotguitar]

oh I think they probably knew. That footage is from Joey Brasler's wedding (great guitarist and worked with Bogner, Line 6 etc..). He hired Ted to play at the wedding. But yeah it's effortless for him

[@chriswing7273]

Ahhh okay, super cool footage regardless!

[@jayv999]

@@TheRiotguitar Joey Backenstoe's wedding.

[@ValirAmaril]

my mate's dad has a story about seeing jimmy page in a pub, right after zeppelin broke up, he'd show up with an accoustic guitar and just sit in a corner playing for hours, every day for a couple weeks, and after a time most people would ignore him.

[@limpeacock573]

I bought Chord Chemistry when I was a Junior in high school (1973). It was overwhelming with the amount of variations of chords available. You are right. It is too much to take in all at once. Over the years, I kept going back to the well when I felt I was in a rut. I noiced that there are free digital downloads available out there. Thanks for keeping Ted’s awesome lessons alive for a new generation.

[@TheRiotguitar]

yeah it's more of a reference book although his chapters on harmonizing and triads etc are very well written. Shouldn't be free digital downloads unless someone is posting illegally (probably) it's still in print and protected by copyright....but this is the internet....

[@krisandelizabethringlee8438]

Introducing Tedesco or Green to those who may not know either is a really great thing to do. Every just so often I'll look to mine a different voicing out of Chord Chemistry just to open things up. When you read what it is he has to say in each section you can't help but recognize what an amazing person he was. Thanks man.

[@TheRiotguitar]

yeah they are great reference books for sure

[@piotrszarek9802]

Your lessons are great, meaningful and inspirig. Thank you.

[@TheRiotguitar]

So nice of you

[@Sparkman52]

the video of Ted playing at the wedding is one of greatest things ever. He was at the height of his powers. I have a dvd copy that I've watched a thousand times. Thanks Shane for putting the spotlight on the master.

[@TheRiotguitar]

i got to have dinner at a friends house with Ted's older brother last year. He's not a musician but an accountant. He brought a lot of family photos and some manuscripts. Pretty great to hear stories first hand. Like most things in my life I'm off with the timing by about 15-20 years haha so didn't get to meet him.....

[@Sparkman52]

Wow very cool. I’ve been obsessed with Ted for years. Can’t really play any of his stuff but always working on it!

[@markrichards4263]

Thank You!

[@RICO_SUAVE21]

This is an incredible lesson!!! I love playing chords, thank you!!!😊

[@_avia_]

Refreshing. That is it. So so refreshing. Thank you Shane.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks for watching!

[@fredr2694]

Another gem, Shane. Thank you! I loved the reference to "Home", it's a favorite AH tune (RIP).

[@Hetti-g2c]

Another great lesson Shane. I’ve got your New Orleans Funk book. These stories are gold! I’ve got a major music journey ahead of all and appreciate your knowledge. Beautiful voicings. You’re MY SWEET EMBRACEABLE … so nice. Golly, I know you’re gonna get tons of views and subscribers. Thank you Shane.

[@TheRiotguitar]

I appreciate the kind words Hetti!

[@davidmiller4078]

Thanx mate that cheered me up ive been working my own voicings along theses lines on some of the AC Jobim tunes which as you know have a lot of minor 6th cords nice to hear the anectdotes to good stuff

[@TheRiotguitar]

That's great!

[@DavidGatto]

I first encountered Chord Chemistry in High School - Still use the Chord Charts to this day - most are A and E, very useful for guitar playing. I found it much more useful to know your root, or absence thereof, then learning tones of disconnected shapes. Although searching for the uncommon chord is Holdsworth, moving the ball forward. He even inspired me to look at the Keys differently- its in the title of the book.

[@v2vroth]

love your channel thanks for sharing!

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks i appreciate that

[@chrisbroberg7014]

When I went looking for a jazz guitar teacher I had the supreme good fortune to meet one of Ted’s students, Alan Klotz , at my neighborhood guitar store mose music in San Diego. I have some of those Ted worksheets too. Thanks.

[@arpeggio62]

Always a Learning Experience - so good . Thank you Shane !

[@UnitedEffect]

Great lesson, as always. I still use my well-worn copy of Chord Chemistry that I bought back in the 70's. I grew up with books and still enjoy adding new stuff to my library. They're not a replacement for a great teacher, but they offer so much information at a reasonable cost. I have a copy of your New Orleans Funk... I'll have to get a copy of Modern Funk Fusion in the near future. Thanks once again for what you share here on your YT channel!!! ~Glenn

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@DavidHendersonMusicChannel]

Own both those books!!

[@michaelgregory2231]

Hi, Shane. We were both on Mark Varney's Guitar On The Edge CD back in the 90s. Thanks for highlighting those two books. I still have them both and my copy of the Tedesco book is signed and treasured.

[@TheRiotguitar]

That's awesome- Small world! I wonder what happened to him

[@michaelgregory2231]

@ He’s retired now from his career as a school district psychologist in Northern California.

[@rickp.6251]

Beautiful thanks. I had that book, lost it moving around. 😢 Love Ted Greene videos.

[@mariacruikshank5150]

Wow! Another phenomenal lesson from my favourite channel! I love learning & you make everything so easy to understand! Thanks so much, Shane! 💙

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@joemiller9856]

Gold! 💥🎸❤️

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks Joe

[@Nozmo_King_NJ]

Wonderful lesson, Shane. Ted Greene .. Oooooffff! What a genius. I feel like a dog with a brand new bone, but my left hand will need a chiropractor .. ouch!

[@carloswhomusic]

Great stuff, thanks!😋

[@JamesVandevanter]

I caught the Sandman shortly before you hit it. We used to play Elizabeth Reed (?) with 1-2 stretch chords.Thanx

[@hydeman75]

So cool , nice voicing and great stories THanks Shane !

[@Mr.Owl9]

Dude, I asked for a Wah pedal for Christmas when I was 17 and also got the Guitar Handbook and I still have both of them today !!!

[@TheRiotguitar]

wow really haha

[@Mr.Owl9]

@@TheRiotguitar Dunlop CryBaby is indestructible...the book; not so much...

[@arnaudstegle5034]

"Remember when books were a thing ?!" In the early 90's, I was 20, first job, with my first salary I've bought for almost 500 buck of books. "Chord Chemistry" was ione of them ! Thanks for the reminder about this great book and for sharing these beautiful chords.

[@TheRiotguitar]

i still love books. I find it really difficult to keep focused when it's on a screen.

[@arnaudstegle5034]

@@TheRiotguitar Same.

[@DeutschlandGuy]

Oh wow... I think I have that book in a box somewhere. I remember getting it back in the 1970's because jazz friends of mine said if I really studied this book, I'd be a great guitar player. At the time, however, the chords looked like some kind of Rorschach test, so I never really got much use out of it. Some 50 years later, I probably have learned most of the chords through trial-and-error... but it would be fun to dig out that book and see if it makes more sense to me now. I also have the "Mickey Baker Jazz Guitar Book 1"... I just came across it in storage a couple of weeks ago. It has met the same "decades stored in a box fate" that the Ted Green book has. Haaaa! 😅🤣😂

[@tubytele]

Cool Shane. I had both of those books when I was young too. I wasn't ready for either of them except for the hilarious TEDESCO stories. TED GREENE scared me with all of those voicings!

[@TheRiotguitar]

wow I thought I was the only one haha

[@gregfinlayson8135]

Awesome. Thanks.

[@davemassie3726]

Sweet lesson Shane! Thanks for sharing. Peace

[@piktormusic2538]

As a keyboard player, I wouldn’t say that I am jealous, but I AM fascinated with the guitar and translating voicings from piano to guitar. I think that some things just do sound better on instrument or the other. Instead of referring to a book such as those you presented here, I usually enjoy experimenting finding voicings as I need them or discover them. However, I love that you showed us some options and ideas that I might not have hadn’t considered. This video inspires me to explore more. Thanks again Shane.

[@TheRiotguitar]

haha yeah just a joke...thanks for watching til the end! The guitar is great and has a ton of attitude and expression but the piano and keyboard - that's like a mini orchestra. I'm actually jealous of those really nice voicings through a fat sounding Rhodes with a bit of panning on it

[@piktormusic2538]

@ No problem - I took it that way Shane.

[@johndrew8]

Great stuff as always!! Thanks. And as always, JD

[@dwightrobertson275]

Thanks!

[@TheRiotguitar]

thank you Dwight!

[@markbray2536]

TedGreeneArchives is the home of Ted videos on KZbin, performances and seminars but also vids taken by students in private lessons, amazing stuff. My fave is the multi-part lesson Ted teaches on playing in Bach style, talking and answering questions while he improvises counterpoint, it is incredible.

[@TheRiotguitar]

I love those Bach lessons- It's the best stuff

[@johnk7147]

Good one!!!!

[@TLMuse]

Wonderful lesson, from a fantastic book that has certainly earned its reputation. Subscribed! -Tom

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks Tom

[@Nightpants]

This was great! Thank you.

[@elizabethdunn1668]

Those voicings really are beautiful, as is that Allan Holdsworth song. “I want to go to the music store” - 🎸 Always a good decision.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks Elizabeth

[@KyleKovalikSongs]

Thank you Shane. Wonderful lesson! I was lucky enough to be in the GIT class with Dan Gilbert and Jamie Findlay, whom I believe you know, and we got to go to Ted's house one day and hang with him. What a gift!

[@TheRiotguitar]

wow that's great. Yes I know Dan. So the three of you went to Teds? Amazing

[@KyleKovalikSongs]

@@TheRiotguitar If I recall correctly, it was a group of us, maybe a dozen, that went to Ted's place. We were all in Class 3, March, 78 - March, '79. I think there were less than 40 of us in the entire class so we got to do cool things like that and pre-Christmas dinner at Tommy Tedesco's home. I feel very lucky!

[@TheRiotguitar]

@@KyleKovalikSongs that's incredible

[@DarkoP9.13]

@7:27 i learned that finger/pad from Tom Bukovac

[@ronkresch9228]

I have both of those...learned a ton!

[@TheRiotguitar]

Hey everybody let me know if you have any Ted Greene stories out there....be sure to subscribe and share-

[@Gilyslas]

I'm digging your channel. I bought a copy of Chord Chemistry many moons ago, a must have for all guitar players.

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks!

[@buzzfretwear2906]

Thanks Shane - great stuff to break out of the usual chord cliches. Tried a couple - and my doctor said my hand should heal back up in a week or two 😁. But seriously, interesting that you featured Holdsworth's "Home". I bought his book at one of his shows years ago, and if I'm recalling correctly the transcription had the upper extension fingered by the index finger of the right hand and plucked with the thumb. Holdsworth had huge hands. I do not!

[@TheRiotguitar]

which book is that? The Uncommon Chord one? I don't think Allan approved of that book's transcriptions...I have that book and it was signed by the man himself something like "i cannont endorse these transcriptions" or something haha

[@cowboygypsey]

Another great video. At 70yo I have trouble stretching to some of the old standards, these a C6 from, Micky Bakers book that stiffs me.

[@TheRiotguitar]

yeah I think those old voicings are more derived from banjo from back in the 30's or something . I have seen a few of those books

[@nelsonkerr1119]

Finally bought that book a couple months ago...afraid to open it 😁

[@markplumb3968]

Shane thank you for a very watchable video, kudos….. I was told to get chord chemistry years ago, but at the time it’s content was overwhelming, and it was relegated to a drawer…..

[@TheRiotguitar]

Yeah it's not a book to just sit down and try and memorize, more of a reference book.

[@jimdrum1]

I am playing a lot of acoustic at the moment. Is the stretch more on an acoustic for the Am9 than an electric?

[@TheRiotguitar]

Yes the stretch is more noticeable on an acoustic, but it kinda depends....action set up etc...

[@michaelbuccetti6138]

Another great video! Thank you. I wish my fingers would stretch that much! Or maybe grow an extra inch. lol

[@johnhoffman3836]

I never got to see Ted, but I did see George Van Epps play a casino lounge gig in San Jose with his 7 string Gretsch mid 1980s. Hafa Adai from the Micronesia Blues Society on the island of Guam.

[@TheRiotguitar]

whoa! Thanks for watching

[@timboehlert9703]

I bought Ted’s book in the 70’s - it’s likely still in my library with some Mickey Baker! Now it’s available in digital format, and some guy has a KZbin channel where he goes through the book!

[@TheRiotguitar]

it's kinda overwhelming, I think it's best to take a few voicings and apply them and then come back to it every so often.....

[@learnguitarquickly]

great video Shane loved the sound of the chords you demo'd. Can you provide any tips on increasing your span when fingering those chords. I find it difficult to stretch those distances between frets. Thank you and Keep well!

[@TheRiotguitar]

drop your wrist and thumb towards the floor. Tilt downwards. They aren't super difficult once you get the anchor in place

[@Wonderfulandusefulinfo]

@@TheRiotguitar Thanks Shane will practice this tip keep well!

[@alexalexanderman1238]

Thanks for the vid. I do not have a hand span nearly as large as yours unfortunately. I tried some of the chords you showed and I don't think even with practice that I could reach them well enough to eliminate buzzing. I will have to learn to play some other voicings with a smaller stretch. A smaller hand span is a problem even in piano. Some of the great composers had larger than average hands which makes playing their pieces more challenging (or so I have read). We work with what we have.

[@TheRiotguitar]

possibly but i will tell you that I had a friend named Anders who had really small hands. He could play Holdsworth stuff like no one else. Chords and all. Try anchoring your thumb lower on the neck. Keep it anchored but lower the wrist. This will help a lot.

[@alexalexanderman1238]

@@TheRiotguitar i will give it a try

[@5geezers]

@@TheRiotguitar Also tilt the guitar neck up, more like a classical guitar player would. Together with Shane's advice you can do it. Ya gotta believe it will happen, if your belief is you can't, well, it won't. [Be more crafty man.]

[@rajeshgumber363]

Awesome voicings! Whats the chord name at time 9:08? Is it Dmin sliding to to Dmin7 and Dmin6? Thankyou!

[@TheRiotguitar]

thats a Dmin7 going to what is a Dmin 6 shape, but actually it's acting as the "V" chord so it's a like G7 add9 or something like that. No root. It's "Mr. Sandman"

[@rajeshgumber363]

@@TheRiotguitar I see, thankyou! Sounds great.

[@joeloschiavo1237]

Tommy Tedesco was The Greatest TED GREENE CHORD CHEMISTRY was Insane

[@emrysbaird1013]

Great Video as ever Shane !Ted Greene doing his restaurant gig ! You can tell because the waitress walks past delivering butter! I wonder how long he did that gig for?

[@TheRiotguitar]

i think this was someone's wedding. I think he did occasional restaurant gigs every so often but his main source of income was teaching.

[@wallemon06]

I thought there was a raven on his shoulder in the title card. 😂

[@Vern859]

Good info but my hands dont there. 😅 lol👍

[@TheRiotguitar]

it takes a while, you can get there. Angle your hand and wrist downwards.

[@jeremyversusjazz]

Love ted greene. His solo album is awesome…his only produced recording that i know of…but That book…the pages with all the diagrams gave me a fricking headache! I bought it took one look at page 1 and stuck it on the shelf with all the other killer books i never studied…and that was that. My loss. Also, i never had your talent bro. Lol but yeah, those are gorgeous voicings

[@TheRiotguitar]

thanks man. It's more of a reference book IMO. Not something you try and memorize every voicing out of. But yeah I think that's the only record he ever made. It was remixed and song order changed in his lifetime when they put it out on CD> It's out of print now

[@jeremyversusjazz]

@ ill have to dpin my rip-see if f it has 80’s verb like when they put out that first zz top 6 pack box set back in the late 80’s when the Top were back on top lol the drums sound like linn machine lol agree about the book being a reference but truth is now that im studying the barry harris stuff i dont need to find random cool voicings-at least not for what im working on-cuz his scales of chords kinda cover all the harmonic food groups in beautiful ways…if u borrow notes on sny give chord you get extensions… but the voicings u demoed make a strong case for sliding that dusty tome off the mudic book graveyard dhelf!

[@PulauSwan]

At 4:47 your chord diagram indicates an F# on the 1st string . Is that A mistake or A maj7 add 13

[@TheRiotguitar]

no mistake, I didn't actually play the F# but it's there if you want to use it since your 1st finger is already barring it. My intention was to show the maj7 voicing on 4,3,2 string.

[@joeloschiavo1237]

If memoey serves Allan Holdsworth Reachi g TheUncommon Chord had an A6 on the cover 4th st up 7652 frets lol😂 Insane

[@TheRiotguitar]

i actually have a copy of the book autographed by Allan that was given to me by a friend who was on tour with Ronnie Montrose/Allan in the 80's. In the book Allan signed it something about how the transcriptions were BS> haha so who knows.

[@ChrisMacdonald-z8x]

Still have Ted's "Modern Chord Progressions"

[@TheRiotguitar]

I love that title- "Modern" haha. Great book I have that as well.

[@ChrisMacdonald-z8x]

@TheRiotguitar But really, when will those voicings not sound "modern? " ( you are a great player / arranger Not blowing smoke) cheers from Nova Scotia / L'Acadie

[@paulgibby6932]

Unfair! (reach)