Rock'n'roll chords

Rock 'n' roll guitarThe are no chords named "rock'n'roll chords", but some certain chords are more suitable for the genre and have been used widely in the styles of rock'n'roll and rockabilly.

Double stops

Theoretically not considered as chord, double stops could still be treated in the context of (inverted) 5th chords. Chuck Berry was one of the first to use these and you will mostly be occupy string pairs belonging to the fourth highest strings, in the treble region so to say.

 

A5/E

  • A5/E chord diagram

D5/E

  • D5/E chord diagram

E5/B

  • E5/B chord diagram

C5/G

  • C5/G chord diagram

These can be combined with licks and shuffle patterns. One example of shuffle pattern with a A5-A6 combo is XXXX55 and XXXX75.

In a lick context:

Tab Chuck Berry lick

3-strings chop chords

Chop chords are chord that have been "chopped", in other words abbreviated - only some of the notes have been left and this are generally played on the tree or four highest (thinnest) strings. Some of these are close related to so-called triple stops and basically the same thing. Triple stops along with double stops are common in the Chicago blues style.

A

  • A chord diagram

A6

  • A6 chord diagram

A

  • A chord diagram

D9

  • D9 chord diagram

E9

  • E9 chord diagram

Notice that the shapes are movable. You could for example play D6 as XXX 11 12 10.

Learn from video

4 strings chop chords

The 4-strings chop chords are often just extended versions of the shapes above.

A7

  • A7 chord diagram

E

  • E chord diagram

G

  • G chord diagram

 

Again, the chords are movable. In the E chord that is based on a open D major shape, the root note is on on the second string.

Drum tracks

The backing tracks are for rock'n'roll style music and involves only drums.

Jam track 1
Jam track 2
Jam track 3



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