5-1

5-2

BLUFF YOUR WAY

‘9’, ‘11’ and ‘sus’
CHORDS

ONE MAGIC FORMULA

The more tunes you play, the more you will see chords
with the numbers 9, 11 and sus2 or sus4 after them.

It is important to learn how to play these chords

because they all add ‘colour’ to your tunes.

I have devised ONE MAGIC FORMULA that let’s you

‘bluff' all three types of chord easily...
 5-3
BLUFF YOUR WAY - ‘9’, ‘11’ and ‘sus4’ CHORDS
part 1 - Where the numbers come from

Chords are based on SCALES

Chord NOTE NUMBERS are derived from these scales
For instance
If we play a C7* scale over 2 octaves we can number each note like this

The chord of C uses 1 3 5 = C E G

The chord of Csus2 uses 12 5 = CD G

The chord of Csus4 uses 1 45 = C FG

The chord of C+ uses 1 3 5# = C E G#

The chord of C6 uses 1 3 5 6 = C E GA

The chord of C7 uses 1 3 5 7 = C E G Bb

The chord of C9 uses 1 3 5 7 9 = C E G Bb D

The chord of C11 uses 1 3 5 7 9 11 = C E G Bb D F

* NOTE - in strict theoretical terms this scale would be called C mixolydian but it’s just much
easier to think of it as a major scale with the 7th note flattened - and call it a ’C7’ scale

Chord extensions that go beyond an octave - like 9, 11, 13 are always added with a flat7
 5-4

BLUFF YOUR WAY - ‘9’, ‘11’ and ‘sus4’ CHORDS

part 2 ONE MAGIC FORMULA

Notice that the ADDED notes for C9 are Bb - D

the ADDED notes for C11 are Bb - D - F
the ADDED note for Csus2 is D
and the ADDED note for Csus4 is F

Now notice that Bb - D - F is the chord of Bb major

So if you play the chord of Bb major with your RIGHT hand and play a
LEFT hand bass (ROOT) note of C you will definitely be adding a C11 and you
will roughly hear the ‘sound’ of the C9, and even Csus2 and Csus4

From this example we can easily work out a FORMULA to enable you to
EASILY BLUFF any ‘9’ , ‘11’ or sus2 or sus4 chord...

Notice that the RIGHT hand Bb chord is 2 notes LEFT of C

So the MAGIC FORMULA is...

TO BLUFF X9 or X11 or Xsus2 or Xsus4

LEFT HAND - plays the ROOT note of X in the bass

RIGHT HAND - plays a MAJOR chord whose ROOT note is 2 notes LEFT of X

REMEMBER TO COUNT BLACK KEYS

 5-5

EXAMPLES OF BLUFFED 9, 11 and sus4 chords

D11, D9,
Dsus2, Dsus4

Or 2nd 4th

Bb11, Bb9,
Bbsus2, Bbsus4

Or 2nd 4th

G11, G9,
Gsus2, Gsus4

Or 2nd 4th

F11, F9,
Fsus2, Fsus4

Or 2nd 4th

REMEMBER - It’s a BLUFF - and although it will work a lot of time - it may not work every time
Sometimes the composer maybe wanted JUST the 9 or JUST the sus4 for a specific sound - use
your ear - if it sounds ‘off’ then experiment until you get what you think it’s meant to sound like
 5-6

BLUFF 9, 11, sus

PRACTICE PROGRESSIONS
 BLUFF 9, 11, sus4 Practice Progressions 5-7

RHYTHM: Bossa Nova Bounce (In the style of... Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen)
G (bk) Em (mid) Am7 Dsus = C/D

G (bk) Em (mid) Am7 Dsus

RHYTHM: Slow Bossa Nova Bounce (In the style of... Mandy - Barry Manilow)
C Cmaj7 Dm Dm7

Bbmaj7 G11 mid = F mid/G G (mid)

C Cmaj7 C Cmaj7
Dm Dm7 Bbmaj7 G11(md) G (md)

RHYTHM: Half Beat Bounce (In the style of... Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison)
F Am7 Bbmaj7 C Gm Csus=Bb(md)/C

F Am7 Bbmaj7 C F Am7 Bbmaj7 C

Bbmaj7 Am7 Gm Gm/C F Csus

RHYTHM: Half Beat Bounce (In the style of... Rocket man - Elton John)
Gm (bk) Gm7 (bk) Csus = Bb/C C7

Eb (mid) Bb Cm F (bk)

Gm (bk) Gm7 (bk) Csus C7 Gm (bk) Gm7 (bk) Csus C7

Eb (mid) Bb/D Cm Cm/Bb F (bk)/A

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 BLUFF 9, 11, sus4 Practice Progressions 5-8

RHYTHM: Half Beat Bounce (In the style of... Woman - John Lennon)
C Dm Am (bk) Gsus mid = Fmid / G

F (mid) Em (mid) G (mid)

C Dm C Dm C Am (bk)
Dm Gsus (mid) G F (mid) Dm Em (mid) Gsus (mid)
(mid

RHYTHM: Bossa Nova Bounce (In the style of... My Cherie Amour - Steve Wonder)
Cmaj7 C11 = Bb/C Fmaj7 (mid) D11 = C/D

Cmaj7 C11 Fmaj7 (mid) D11 Repeat

RHYTHM: HBB (In the style of... Don’t Know Why - Norah Jones)

Cmaj7 C7 Fmaj7 (mid) E7+5 (mid)

Am7 (bk) D7 G7sus4 (F(mid)/G) C

Cmaj7 C7 Fmaj7 (mid) E7+5 (mid) Am7 (bk) D7 G7sus4 C

RHYTHM: Slow Half Beat Bounce (In the style of... Lonely Together - Barry Manilow)

Eb (bk) Bb11 = Ab/Bb Bb Fm (bk)

your eyes are.. Eb (bk) Bb11 Bb Fm (bk) Bb Eb (bk) Bb11

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 BLUFF 9, 11, sus4 Practice Progressions 5-9

RHYTHM: HBB (In the style of... Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man)
Cmaj7 Am7 Dm7 (mid) G7 C11 = Bb/C

F (bk) Fm (bk) Em7 (mid) Ab7 Cmaj7 (mid)

Cmaj7 Am7 Dm7 (mid) G7 Cmaj7 C11 F (bk) Fm (bk)

Em7 (mid) Am7 Ab7 G7 Cmaj7 (mid)

(mid)

RHYTHM: Oom Pah (In the style of... I’ll Do Anything For You Dear.. - from Oliver)
Bb BbM7 Bb6 F (mid) F7 (mid) F7sus = Eb/F

Bb BbM7 Bb6 BbM7 F (mid) F7 (mid)

Bb BbM7 Bb6 BbM7 F7sus (mid) F7 (mid)

RHYTHM: HBB (In the style of... Say Something I’m Giving Up On You - Christina Aguilera)

Bm G D (bk) Asus4

Bm G D (bk) Asus4 Repeat

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 BLUFF 9, 11, sus4 Practice Progressions 5-10

RHYTHM: Bossa Nova Bounce (In the style of... The Look Of Love - Burt Bacharach)

E7sus4 (mid) Bm7 Cmaj7 (mid) C6 (mid) Bsus4 B7

E7 (bk) Cm6 (mid) Gmaj7 G7 B (mid)

Em7 (mid) A7 G Am

E7sus4 E7sus4 Bm7 Bm7 Cmaj7 (mid) C6 (mid)

Bsus4 B7 E7sus4 E7 (bk) C6 (mid) Cm6 (mid)

Cm6 (mid) Gmaj7 G7 Cmaj7 (mid) C6 (mid) B (mid)

Em7(mid) A7 G Am/D Am/D Am/D G

Am/D Am/D Start again

E7sus4 (mid)
The 4th of an E chord is 'A'
In this case the left hand plays the root note 'E' (1st)
And the right hand plays the 4th, 5th, 7th and 1st (AB DE)

Bsus4
The left hand plays 1 (B)
The right hand plays 1 45 (B E F#)
 5-11

MANILOW MOOD

I thought it worth including a little chordal composition based on Barry

Manilow’s style because there are several devices he employs in most of his
songs (or at least in his arrangements of songs)

• Very often they change key several times which creates tension and
movement that wants to be ‘resolved’. The keys move upwards which
builds the song up in an emotional way.

• He uses a lot of slash chords. ie C/D. They will either be written as slash
chords OR as 9, 11 or sus4 chords. But basically it’s the formula on page 4.

• He often employs a 3 beat slash chord pattern where the vocal gets
drawn out and is quite dramatic (you’ve heard Frank Sinatra doing it a
million times) You will see this used at the start of songs and then just
before certain verses or the chorus.

• Notice also the bass runs that lead onto the next chord.

• He also uses CLUSTER chords (we’ll look at these later) again to create
a bit of dissonance and tension

Try the next tune and see if you can spot all these devices. Then try writing your
own Manilow-style song.
 5-12

BASS RUN
3 4
5-13
 5-14

DIMINISHED CHORDS
 5-15

DIMINISHED CHORDS

Diminished chords add a very distinct sound to any tune. The good news is
they aren’t really THAT difficult to learn.

One way to make a diminished chord is to play a MINOR chord (in ROOT
position) and move the 5th (your small finger) DOWN one key.

ie. to make Co (C diminished)

(which could also be written as Cm-5 or Cmb5 or Cdim)

First play Cm

Then move the 5th DOWN one key to make Co

See if you can form Do, Eo, Fo, Ao,

Remember, make the minor first then drop the 5th down a key
 5-16

DIMINISHED CHORDS
ALL YOU NEED TO LEARN ARE 3 SHAPES

Another very useful thing to remember about diminished chords is that they
connect up in a most GEOMETRIC way

Notice how the groups of four diminished chords on the left ALL fit into the
ONE shape to their right. Check it and see for yourself!

So if you MEMORISE these 3 SHAPES you can easily play

ANY diminished chord
 5-17

DIMINISHED CHORDS
ALL YOU NEED TO LEARN ARE 3 SHAPES

If you play the chords over more than one octave you will notice that they
create very symmetrical and geometric shapes which helps you play the chords
very easily

Notice again how the groups of four diminished chords on the left ALL fit into
the ONE shape to their right
 5-18

Diminished Chords
PRACTICE PROGRESSIONS
 Diminished Chords - Practice Progressions 5-19

RHYTHM: Left Note / Right Chord (In the style of... Tuxedo Junction)
G (bk) C D C#dim

G (bk) G/B C D G (bk) G/B C D

G (bk) G/B C C#dim D D G

RHYTHM: Left Note / Right Chord (In the style of... You Make Me Feel So Young)
C C#dim Dm G (mid)

C C#dim Dm G (mid) Repeat

RHYTHM: Half Beat Bounce (In the style of... She - Charles Aznavour)
D Fdim G (mid) B

Em (mid) Bb dim D (mid) Bm A

D Fdim (mid) G (mid) D B Em (mid) Bbdim

D (mid) Bm Em (mid) A D (mid)

RHYTHM: Oom Pah (In the style of... Life Is A Cabaret Old Chum - Liza Minnelli)
D (mid) A DM7 (mid) D7 (mid)

G G# dim B Em7 (mid) A7

D (mid) A D (mid) A D (mid) DM7 (mid) D7 (mid) D7 (mid)

G G#dim DM7 (mid) B Em7 (mid) A7 D (mid) D (mid)

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 Diminished Chords - Practice Progressions 5-20

RHYTHM: Bossa Nova Bounce (In the style of... My Sweet Lord - George Harrison)

A Em (mid) D (mid) Bm Ebdim

A Em (mid) A Em (mid) A Em (mid)

A D (mid) Bm D (mid) Bm D (mid)
Eb dim Em (mid) A Em (mid) A etc

RHYTHM: ‘Snappy’ Oom Pah (In the style of... If I Was A Rich Man - Fiddler On The Roof)

D (mid) A Dm (mid) G#dim A7

D (mid) D (mid) D (mid) D (mid) A Dm (mid) G#dim A7

LH=G# E

RHYTHM: BNB (In the style of... Cant Take My Eyes Off You - James Arthur, Sinatra etc )

C Cmaj7 C7 F (mid)

Fm (mid) D7 Ddim

Verses

C C Cmaj7 Cmaj7 C7 C7 F (mid) F (mid)

Fm (mid) Fm (mid) C C D7/C Ddim C C

RHYTHM: HBB (In the style of... Kissing A Fool - George Michael) in D - original Eb

Dmaj7 Ebdim7 Em7 Bb7 A7

Verses

Dmaj7 Ebdim Em7 Bb7 A7 x3 etc

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 Diminished Chords - Practice Progressions 5-21

RHYTHM: Oom Pah (In the style of... Love And Marriage)
C G (bk) C7 F (mid)

E (mid) F#dim D7

C G (bk) C C7 F (mid)
C E (mid) F (mid) F#dim C D7 G (bk)

RHYTHM: Slow Half Beat Bounce (In the style of... Somewhere Over The Rainbow)
C (mid) Am7 Em (mid) Cmaj7 F (mid) Fmaj7(md)

Edim (mid) Fm (mid) A A7 F G

C (mid) Am7 Em (mid) Cmaj7 F (mid) Fmaj7 (mid) Em (mid) Edim (mid)
F (mid) Fm (mid) C (mid) A A7 F G C (mid)

RHYTHM: Left Note / Right Chord (In the style of... Pennies From Heaven)
C (mid) Dm (mid) Em (mid) Ebdim G

C (mid) Dm (mid) Em (mid) Ebdim (mid) Dm (mid) G Dm (mid) G

RHYTHM: Bossa Nova Bounce (In the style of... Alone Again Naturally - Gilbert O’Sullivan)
Fmaj7 (mid) F6 (mid) Am (bk) Am7 (bk)

Cm Cm7 Adim D7 (mid)

Fmaj7 (mid) F6 (mid) Am (bk) Am7 (bk) Cm Cm7 Adim D7 (mid)

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 Diminished Chords - Practice Progressions 5-22

RHYTHM: HBB (In the style of... Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon)
F (bk) Bb Eb (mid) F (mid)

Edim7 A (bk) A7 (bk) Dm

F (bk) F (bk)/A Bb Eb (mid) F (mid) Edim7 (mid) A(bk) A7(bk) Dm

RHYTHM: HBB (In the style of... You’ve Got A Friend In Me - Randy Newman - Toy Story)

C (mid) G7 C7 (mid) F F#dim

E Am (mid) A7 Dm7 (mid) C (bk)

C (mid) G7 C (mid) C7 (mid) F F#dim C (mid) C7 (mid)

F C (bk) E Am (mid) F C (bk) E Am (mid)
F C (bk) E Am (mid) Dm7 (mid) G7 C (mid) A7
Dm7 (mid) G7

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 5-23

CLUSTER CHORDS
 5-24

RIGHT HAND CLUSTER CHORDS

A CLUSTER chord is a chord in which two (or three) of the notes

in the chord are CLUSTERED together.

Up to now you have played evenly spaced three note chords. If you ADD an
extra note INTO the chord you can make some very interesting sounds.

Try the following examples - ALL RIGHT HAND

Can you hear the TENSION within the chord?

 RIGHT HAND CLUSTER CHORDS 5-25

When you start adding extra notes in between chord tones it can be a bit confusing
what numbers to use

If we play a C7 scale over 2 octaves and number each note

We see that the 9 is a D note - but the lower D is the 2nd - same note different
numbers

Now if we ONLY play a C chord in the right hand and we add a D between the 1st
and 3rd we can call it the 2nd - or 'add2' (1 2 3 5)

But then if we play a root note one octave lower in the left hand the 2 suddenly
becomes a 9 - or add9 (1...............8 9 10 12)

So it can get very confusing. I have seen add9 and add2 used for the exact same
desired sound

For the sake of avoiding confusion - when I use the word 'add' - I will use it to
indicate a note being added WITHIN the right hand chord

So add9 or add2 will mean the same thing - adding a note between the 1st and 3rd
of the right hand chord
Both terms can be seen as correct - its a 2 if we play the chord on its own - its a 9 if
we add a root note one octave left

If I don't use the word 'add' and just say C9 or G9 that means we are playing more
of an open chord with the 9 being played higher up from the root note maybe along
with the 7th - not beside the root note or 3rd

So C add9 or Cadd2 would have the 3 notes clustered together

And with C9 the notes would be more spread

 5-26
RIGHT HAND CLUSTER CHORDS
Try these examples
 5-27
RIGHT HAND CLUSTER CHORDS
 5-28

‘Cluster’ Chords
PRACTICE PROGRESSIONS
 CLUSTER Chords - Practice Progressions 5-29

RHYTHM: HBB (In the style of... Out On The Weekend - Neil Young)
G Am D (mid) G9 add the 9th(2nd)

G Am D (mid) G G9 Repeat

RHYTHM: HBB + (In the style of... It Must Be Love - Madness) CLUSTER
Am(add9) (mid) Am (mid) G (mid) C D7

Am (bk) G (bk) Bm7 Cmaj7 D (mid)

Am9 (mid) Am (mid) Am9 Am G (mid) C/G D7/G Repeat

Chorus

Am (bk) Am/G Am/F# D G (bk) Bm7 Cmaj7 D (mid)

RHYTHM: HBB / Left Note Right Chord (In the style of... I’m Not The Only One - Sam Smith)

Fadd9 A Dm Bb F C (mid)

Intro, Verses & Chorus

Fadd9 A Dm Bb Fadd9 A Dm Bb
Fadd9 A Dm Bb F C (mid) F

RHYTHM: BNB (In the style of... Just The Two Of Us - Grover Washington Jr)

Cmaj7 (mid) B (mid) Em7 (mid) Dm7 (mid) G7

Cmaj7 (mid) B (mid) Em7 (mid) Dm7 (mid) G7

Cmaj7 (mid) B (mid) Em7 (mid) Repeat

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 CLUSTER Chords - Practice Progressions 5-30

RHYTHM: Oom Pah (In the style of... The Fool On The Hill - Beatles) (Cluster)
C6 (mid) F6 (mid) Dm7 G (bk) C Am

C6 (mid) C6 (mid) F6 (mid) F6 (mid) C6 (mid) C6 (mid) F6 (mid) F6 (mid)

Dm7 G (bk) C Am and so on

RHYTHM: HBB or BNB (In the style of... I’ve Seen Fire And I’ve Seen Rain - James Taylor)
C Gm (bk) F (mid) Cadd2 G (bk) Bb

C Gm (bk) F (mid) C Cadd2 C G (bk) Bb Repeat

RHYTHM: Slow Straight Beat (In the style of... The Scientist - Coldplay)
Dm Bb (bk) F (mid) Fsus2 (mid)

Intro + verses

Dm Bb (bk) F (mid) Fsus2

RHYTHM: HBB + (In the style of... More Than Words - Extreme)
G (bk) Cadd9 Am C D Em (mid)

G (bk) Cadd9 Am C D G (bk) Cadd9 Am C D Em (mid) etc

RHYTHM: Slow BNB (In the style of... Jesus To A Child - George Michael)
Am(add9) E (bk) FM7 (Am/F) Dm (mid) G (bk) Am

Verses

Am(add9) E (bk) FM7 E (bk) Dm (mid) G (bk) G(bk)/A Am

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 5-31

‘EXTRA’
PRACTICE PROGRESSIONS
 Extra Practice Progressions 5-32

RHYTHM: BNB + (In the style of... Shallow - A Star Is Born)

Em D G (mid) C

Em D G (mid) C G (mid) D Repeat

RHYTHM: Slow BNB (In the style of... Shallow - A Star is Born)
Em (bk) D (bk) G C (mid)

Intro + verses

Em (bk) D(bk)/F# G C (mid) G D (bk)

RHYTHM: BNB (In the style of... Holding Back The Years - Simply Red) Am

Am9 (or Cmaj7/A) D7 (cluster with root note)

Am9 D7 Keep repeating

RHYTHM: BNB (In the style of... Holding Back The Years - Simply Red) Dm

Dm9 (or Fmaj7/D) G7 (4 note chord)

Dm9 G7 Keep repeating

RHYTHM: BNB (In the style of... Holding Back The Tears - Simply Red) Em

Em9 (or Gmaj7/E) A7 (cluster with root note)

Em9 A7 Keep repeating

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 Extra Practice Progressions 5-33

RHYTHM: Straight Beat (In the style of... Say Something - A Great Big World)
Bm (mid) G D (bk) Asus4

Intro & Verses (Hit each chord twice - constant top D note all chords)

Bm (mid) G D (bk) A sus4 repeat

RHYTHM: Straight Beat (In the style of... Say Something - A Great Big World) in Gm

Gm (mid) Eb Bb (bk) Fsus4

Intro & Verses (Hit each chord twice - constant top Bb note all chords)

Gm (mid) Eb Bb (bk) Fsus4 repeat

RHYTHM: HBB (arpeggiated) (In the style of... Someone Like You - Adele)

C Em Am F

verses

C Em Am F Repeat

RHYTHM: Modified BNB (In the style of... Stay With Me - Sam Smith)

Am7 (mid) F C (bk)

Intro, Verses & Chorus

Am7 (mid) F C (bk) repeat

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 Extra Practice Progressions 5-34

RHYTHM: Modified BNB (In the style of... Horse With No Name - America)

Em9
Em (Bm/E)

D69/F# Dmaj9/F#
(A/F#)

Em D69/F# Em D69/F# Repeat

Chorus
Em9 Dmaj9/F# Em9 Dmaj9/F# Repeat

RHYTHM: Bossa Nova Bounce (In the style of... May You Never - John Martyn)

A (bk) A11(bk) = (G(bk)/A) D (mid) G

A A7 Aadd2

A (bk) A11(bk) D (mid) G/B A D (mid)

G/B A D(mid) G/B D(mid)

A A7 D(mid) G/B D (mid)

A A7 D(mid) G/B D (mid)

Aadd2 Aadd2 G/B G/B

A A7 D(mid) G/B D
 Extra Practice Progressions 5-35

RHYTHM: Modified Bossa Nova Bounce (In the style of... Downtown - Petula Clarke)

G (mid) Gmaj7 (mid) C D7

G (mid) Gmaj7 (mid) C D7 G (mid) Gmaj7 (mid) C D7

RHYTHM: Straight Beat count 8 half beats per bar (In the style of... The Logical Song - Supertramp)

Dm (mid) Bbmaj7 Am7 C (mid) Gm7 (bk)

G7 (bk) F (bk) Bm7-5 (Bdim) Eb (mid)

Dm (mid) BbM7 Am7 Am7 C (mid) C(mid) Gm7(bk)/Bb G7(bk) /B Repeat

F (bk) F (bk) Bm7-5/F Bm7-5/F

BbM7 BbM7 Eb(mid) /D /C /Bb

RHYTHM: HBB (In the style of... Meet Me On The Other Side - David Gray)

Dm (mid) Dsus4 (mid) G G7 (bk) F (bk)

C (mid) A Bb (mid) Am (mid) G (mid)

Chorus

Dm (mid) Dsus4 G G7 (bk) riff Repeat x 4

Chorus
F (bk) C (mid) Dm (mid) G
A Dm (mid) C (mid) Bb (mid) Am (mid) G (mid)

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 Extra Practice Progressions 5-36

RHYTHM: New Rhythm (In the style of... Ocean Eyes - Billie Eilish)

C (mid) Em (bk) G

Verses
C (mid) C (mid)/D Em (bk) / repeat 3 times

G G/B C (mid) /

RHYTHM: Mixed - HBB - L/R Split (In the style of... Hurt - Johnny Cash)
Am C (mid) D (mid) Am F G

Intro & verses

Am C (mid) D (mid) Am

Chorus

Am F C (mid) G

: :
T T T T
1 2 3 4
L L

RHYTHM: HBB or L/R Split Chord (In the style of... Betty - Taylor Swift)

C (mid) Am Gsus4 F G

Intro and verse

C (mid) C(mid)/B Am Gsus4 F Gsus4 G

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 5-37
Extra Practice Progressions

WHAT’S UP - MODIFIED HALF BEAT BOUNCE - PATTERN OVER TWO BARS

R R R R R R R R
1 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 2 + 3 + 4 +
L L L L L L

RHYTHM: Modified Half Beat Bounce (In the style of... What’s Up - 4 Non Blondes)

G Am C

G G Am Am C C G G

R R
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

L L L L

RHYTHM: Various Possibilities (In the style of... Price Tag - Jessie J)

F (bk) Am Dm (mid) Bb

Intro & Verse

F (bk) Am Dm (mid) Bb repeat

© Robin Hall 2021

 Extra Practice Progressions 5-38

RHYTHM: LN/RC (In the style of... Is She Really Going Out With Him - Joe Jackson)

Bb (mid) F Ab Eb (bk)

Bb (mid) F Ab Eb (bk)
Bb (mid) F Ab Eb (bk)

RHYTHM: Twist 2 / Blues Bros Rhythm (In the style of... I’m A Believer - The Monkeys)

G D (bk) C (mid) G7 C D

Verse - Twist 2 rhythm

G D (bk) G G G D (bk) G G

Chorus - Blues Brothers Rhythm

Then I saw her G C(mid) G7 C(mid) G C(mid) G7 C(mid) G C(mid) G7 C(mid)
G C(mid) G7 C(mid) G HOLD C HOLD G HOLD C HOLD D

RHYTHM: HBB (In the style of... Don’t Stop Thinking’ About Tomorrow - Fleetwood Mac)

A G D E E7

A G D Repeat 3 times E E7

These progressions are for improvisational purposes only - You can find the complete chord progressions, with lyrics, for FREE at [Link]
 Extra Practice Progressions 5-39

We Are The Champions

R T R T

1 2 3 4 5 6
L L L

RHYTHM: LN/RC - 6/8 (In the style of... We Are The Champions - Queen)
Am G C (mid) F (bk) D (mid)

G (bk) F6 (mid) F#m (bk) Bm A B (mid)

Em (mid) A7 (bk) Gm (bk) C#dim Dm7 (mid) Em7 (mid)

Am G/A Am G/A Am G/A

Am G/A C (mid) F(bk)/C C (mid) F(bk)/C

C (mid) G/B Am D (mid) G (bk)

F6(md)/G G(bk) F6(md)/G G(bk) F6(md)/G G(bk) F6(md)/G G(bk)

D (mid) F#m (bk) Bm G A

D (mid) F#m (bk) G B (mid)
Em (mid) A7(bk)/E Gm (bk) A7 (bk) C#dim
D (mid) Em (mid) F (mid) F(mid)/G
Dm7 (mid) Em7(mid)/D Dm7 (mid) Em7(mid)/D
 5-40

RHYTHMS FOR BEATLES SONGS

If you are a BEATLES fan (like me) you will have great
fun practicing all your rhythms on their songs

Rather than finding the chords and lyrics online I

recommend getting a dedicated Beatles song book

It will bring you hours of enjoyment!

*YOU DON’T NEED A PIANO VERSION*

Now that you know the rhythms all you need is lyrics
and chords. You may see small boxes above the lyrics
with guitar chords but just ignore that

There are so many versions of Beatles books its hard to

recommend any one in particular

You are looking for ‘complete Beatles’ lyrics and chords

On the next two pages I give a list of songs that work

well with all the rhythms and I suggest the first chord
for the key which will make it easier to play.

So you may need to transpose some of the songs from

the original key.
 RHYTHMS FOR BEATLES SONGS part 1 5-41

SONG 1ST CHORD RHYTHM

Across the Universe C SPLIT CHORD
All my Lovin’ Dm TWIST
All You Need is Love G HALF BEAT BOUNCE / BASS RUN
And I Love Her Fm BALLAD / BOSSA NOVA
Another Girl G TWIST
Anytime At All Gm BOSSA NOVA BOUNCE
Baby You’re a Rich Man G BOSSA NOVA BOUNCE
Back In The USSR G STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE
Ballad of John & Yoko C TWIST
Because Am SPLIT CHORD
For the Benefit of Mr Kite Cm HALF BEAT BOUNCE
Carry That Weight C BOSSA / Cluster chords
Can’t Buy me Love C TWIST
Bungalow Bill C HALF BEAT BOUNCE
Cry Baby Cry G STRAIGHT BEAT / BASS RUN
A Day in the Life G HALF BEAT BOUNCE (slow then fast)
Day Tripper C TWIST
Dear Prudence G HALF BEAT BOUNCE
Don’t Pass Me By C TWIST
Eight Day’s a Week G TWIST
Fool On The Hill C6 OOM PAH - STRAIGHT BEAT
For No One C (listen to the original)
For You Blue C 12/8 BOOGIE SHUFFLE
From Me To You G TWIST 2
Golden Slumbers C6 BALLAD
Happiness is a Warm Gun Am BOUNCE 1 / UM PAH
Get Back D 12/8 BOOGIE SHUFFLE
Girl Am OOM PAH (think Russian)
Glass Onion Am BOSSA NOVA BOUNCE
Good Day Sunshine G OOM PAH
Got To Get You Into My Life C BOSSA NOVA BOUNCE
Hard Day’s Night C TWIST
Help Dm TWIST
Hello Goodbye F HALF BEAT BOUNCE
Here, There & Everywhere F SPLIT CHORD
Hey Jude C HALF BEAT BOUNCE / Slash
 RHYTHMS FOR BEATLES SONGS part 2 5-42

SONG 1ST CHORD RHYTHM

Here Comes The Sun G BOSSA NOVA BOUNCE
Honey Pie Dm OOM PAH
I Feel Fine F TWIST
I Me Mine Am 3 BEAT BOUNCE
I Need You G BOSSA NOVA
I Saw Her Standing There C TWIST
I Should’ve Known Better C TWIST
I Wanna Hold Your Hand C TWIST
I Will F SPLIT CHORD
I Am The Walrus A STRAIGHT BEAT / Think Oasis
If I Fell Gm SPLIT CHORD
If I Needed Someone G BOSSA NOVA BOUNCE
I’m Looking Through You C TWIST
I’m Only Sleeping Em HALF BEAT BOUNCE
I’m So Tired A BOUNCE / TWIST
In My Life G HALF BEAT BOUNCE
It’s Only Love C BALLAD STYLE
I Wanna Be Your Man F STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE
Julia D HALF BEAT BOUNCE
Long And Winding Road Am HALF BEAT BOUNCE
Lovely Rita Meter Maid C STRAIGHT BEAT
Lucy In The Sky A HALF BEAT BOUNCE / Str8
Martha My Dear C OOM PAH
Maxwell’s Silver Hammer C OOM PAH
Michelle D SPLIT CHORD
The Night Before G TWIST
Nowhere Man C OOM PAH
Ob La Di F (listen to the original)
Piggies F STRAIGHT 4 BEAT
Run For Your Life G TWIST
Sexy Sadie F STRAIGHT 4 BEAT
Sgt Pepper C TWIST
Something G SPLIT CHORD
Strawberry Fields Forever A HALF BEAT BOUNCE
Sun King C SPLIT CHORD
When I’m Sixty Four C OOM PAH
While My Guitar Gently Weeps Am HALF BEAT BOUNCE
Yesterday F SPLIT CHORD
You Can’t Do That F TWIST & BOUNCE
You Won’t See Me F TWIST
 5-43

You are now ready

for Section 6