Book 1 · Chapter 4 · Barre chords
Song Builder
Write a verse and a chorus in Roman numerals. Play it. Then change the key and watch what stays the same.
1Pick a key
Drawn like you are facing David while he plays.
The other spots: vi is 3 frets behind I. iii is 1 fret behind IV. Same in both patterns.
2Write your verse
- Start on I
- End on IV or V
- David's rule: each chord only once
3Write your chorus
- Start on IV, V or vi
- Not the chord the verse ended on
- Chords can come back
- End on IV or V
Finish your verse first.
4Play your song
Verse twice, then the chorus, then end on I.
✕ = mute with your left hand. On beat 4, start moving to the next chord.
No sound on an iPhone? Flip the silent switch off.
Do your verse and chorus sound different?
Ideas, not rules.