One chart, three keys

The chart

Eight bars, four beats per chord, twice through:

In G, these are open chords you know. The challenge starts when the chart has to go up.

In G: the starting version

In A: everything goes up a whole step

A whole step is two frets. Every chord goes up two frets: G becomes A, D becomes E, E minor becomes F# minor, C becomes D.

In G	G	D	Em	C
In A	A	E	F#m	D

Play them as barre chords, in the same area of the neck: A in the E shape (5th fret), E in the A shape (7th fret), F# minor in the E shape (2nd fret) or the A shape (9th fret), D in the A shape (5th fret). Look for the combination where your hand moves the least.

In C: three more frets

From A to C is three frets (a step and a half). G becomes C, D becomes G, E minor becomes A minor, C becomes F.

In G	G	D	Em	C
In C	C	G	Am	F

This time, play everything as barre chords, around the 3rd fret: C in the A shape, G in the E shape, A minor in the E shape (5th fret), F in the E shape (1st fret) or the A shape (8th fret).

Practice

1. Each key on its own, slowly (60), until the changes are clean.
2. All three in a row: the chart twice in G, twice in A, twice in C, without stopping between keys.
3. Go up to 80. Keep the pop pattern steady; if a barre chord isn’t ready, strum the open strings on the last “and”, like in the beginner course.

Record yourself on all six passes. When you play it back, each key should sound like the same song, just higher.

You’ve got it when…

• You play the chart in A and in C with barre chords, no capo
• For each chord, you choose the shape closest to the previous chord
• You play all three keys in a row at 80 without stopping