In this video
Back from a busy couple of weeks — including Biffy Clyro's biggest ever headline show at Finsbury Park — and tonight we're diving into some songs inspired by that, plus a full exploration of the key of A.
We start with three songs before getting into the theory:
Where Is My Mind – The Pixies — the lead part, and why power chord practice is the secret weapon for bar chord struggles
Machines – Biffy Clyro — four cowboy chords in G, the "rock G" shape that cleans up the bottom end, and how a rhythm of three over a count of four works
Choosing Texas – Ella Langley — a live first-listen jam, working the chords out by ear (capo 1, D minor, F and C), plus tips on playing through mistakes and staying in the groove
Then it's into the key of A explorer, covering the full range from beginner to intermediate:
All the ways to play an A chord — three finger, one finger, barre, triad — and when each one is useful
The major scale formula in A and how it gives you all the diatonic chords in the key
Chord embellishments: major 7, dominant 7, A6, sus2 and sus4
Songs touched on include Wild Thing, All Right Now, We Will Rock You and Can't Take My Eyes Off You
The Cure deep dive — Boys Don't Cry, In Between Days and Pictures of You, all built from the same diatonic chords running up the A major scale
A minor pentatonic — how the key of A opens up into rock and blues territory, with Led Zeppelin and AC/DC riffs to finish
There's also chat about the Brighton Guitar Show, the Dan Hawkins Classic Rock workshop at Water Bear, and a possible upcoming Airbourne interview.