10. The 7 Diatonic Chords - E String

The E String

• This is the E string of a guitar with all the notes labeled.

The C Major Scale

• This is the C major scale on a piano with all seven notes labeled.

The C Major Scale on the E String

• This is the C major scale on the E string of a guitar.

Major Chords

• Highlight notes one, four and five in red because these are the notes that correspond with the root notes of the major chords.

• This is the E string major chord shape.

C Major Chord

• Find the root note C on the E string, then use the E string major chord shape to play the C major chord.

F Major Chord

• Find the root note F on the E string, then use the E string major chord shape to play the F major chord.

G Major Chord

• Find the root note G on the E string, then use the E string major chord shape to play the G major chord.

Minor Chords

• Highlight notes 2, 3 and 6 in blue because these are the notes that correspond with the root notes of the minor chords.

• This is the E string minor chord shape.

D Minor Chord

• Find the root note D on the E string, then use the E string minor chord shape to play the D minor chord.

E Minor Chord

• Find the root note E on the E string, then use the E string minor chord shape to play the E minor chord. Since you are rooting this specific chord on the open string, this is called an open chord.

• On a guitar fretboard the same notes repeat an octave higher when you go 12 frets to the right.
• Play the E minor chord an octave higher.

A Minor Chord

• Find the root note A on the E string, then use the E string minor chord shape to play the A minor chord.

Diminished Chord

• Highlight the note 7 because this note corresponds with the root note of the diminished chord.

• This is the E string diminished chord shape.

B Diminished Chord

• Find the root note B on the E string, then use the E string diminished chord shape to play the B diminished chord.

Tip: Diminished chords add tension—use them sparingly for emotional impact.

Play Diatonic Chords and Chord Tone Soloing in C Major (E String Root)

• Play the 7 Diatonic Chords (Root on Low E String):
  • C major (I, 8th fret: C-E-G), Dm (ii, 10th fret: D-F-A), Em (iii, 12th fret: E-G-B), F major (IV, 1st fret: F-A-C), G major (V, 3rd fret: G-B-D), Am (vi, 5th fret: A-C-E), Bdim (vii°, 7th fret: B-D-F).
  • Practice: Strum each chord 4x (down-down-up-down), cycle through all 7 chords, 5x daily, clean tone.
• Play Chord Progressions:
  • Practice: Play each progression 5x at 80 BPM (down-down-up strumming) using provided backing tracks.
• I-vi-IV-V (C-Am-F-G): C major (8th fret), Am (5th fret), F major (1st fret), G major (3rd fret).

1645 C Major

0:00

/9.6

1×

• ii-V-I (Dm-G-C): Dm (10th fret), G major (3rd fret), C major (8th fret).

2511 C Major

0:00

/9.6

1×

• I-iii-vii°-V: C major (8th fret), Em (12th fret), Bdim (7th fret), G major (3rd fret).

1375 C Major

0:00

/9.6

1×

• Solo with Chord Tone Targeting Over I-vi-IV-V:
  • Practice: Over C-Am-F-G progression, hold each chord and play its individual notes (chord tones: e.g., C-E-G for C major). Create a 4-bar solo emphasizing these chord tones over the backing track.

1645 C Major

0:00

/9.6

1×

Use the 7 Diatonic Chords on the E String to Create

• Use the 7 diatonic chords on the E string to create a four-chord progression. For example, you can modify the 1-6-4-5 progression by swapping out a chord to build a new progression.

Character of the 7 Diatonic Chords

• The 7 diatonic chords are essential in music because they each serve a distinct purpose in songwriting.
• Below is a table that explains the character of each chord:

Use Chord Character Table

• Play 1-6-4-5, 2-5-1-1, and 1-3-7-5 on the E string, then compare them with the Chord Character Table.
• You'll hear that each chord matches the description in the table.

Use Chord Character Table to Create

• Think of a message you want to convey through music.
• Using the Chord Character Table, create a four-chord progression that reflects that message—without even picking up your guitar.
• Next, play your progression on the guitar and listen to how it captures the mood.
• These are basic chord progressions, serving as a foundation—not perfect, but enough to express the general emotion of your message.
• In music, you start with a foundational progression and refine it through small adjustments to achieve the perfect sound.
• Later in this course, I’ll teach you how to fine-tune these 7 diatonic chords to shape your sound and communicate your emotions more effectively.

Summary

• The chapter introduces the E string of the guitar and the C major scale on it.
• It teaches how to play major, minor, and diminished chords on the E string using specific E string chord shapes.
• Major chords correspond to notes 1, 4, and 5 (C, F, G) in the C major scale.
• Minor chords correspond to notes 2, 3, and 6 (D, E, A) in the C major scale.
• The diminished chord corresponds to note 7 (B) in the C major scale.
• By memorizing these three E string shapes, all seven diatonic chords in the key of C can be played.
• In Chapter 30, I'll show you how to play these seven diatonic chords in all 12 keys.
  • 3 Chord Shapes → 7 Diatonic Chords × 12 Keys = 84 Chords
• The concept of notes repeating an octave higher after 12 frets is introduced.
• Common Pitfalls: Ensure fingers don't mute adjacent strings; practice slow chord switches; tune guitar before playing.
• Each of the seven diatonic chords has a distinct character and purpose in songwriting.
• A Chord Character Table helps understand the emotional quality of each chord.
• Basic songwriting:
  • Step 1: Write a basic chord progression using these 7 diatonic chords
  • Step 2: Make small adjustments until it perfectly conveys your message.

Goal Achieved

You've successfully learned to identify, form, and play all seven diatonic chords in the key of C major using three fundamental E string chord shapes. You've also begun to understand the distinct emotional character of each of these chords for songwriting.

What's Next?

Expand your chord vocabulary! Next chapter focuses on the A string, teaching you how to locate the notes of the C major scale and, more importantly, how to play all seven diatonic chords using just three new chord shapes rooted on this string. You'll master major, minor, and diminished chord forms, apply them to recognizable song excerpts, and begin experimenting with creating your own chord progressions from this new foundation. Get ready to add another versatile set of chords to your guitar playing arsenal!