Three-String Chords & Arpeggios

John Wheatcroft discovers that three is a magic number. Let’s join him for an in-depth exploration of three-string chords and arpeggios.

- John Wheatcroft

While it’s undoubtedly fair to say that the luxuriant sound of six guitar strings ringing away in perfect harmony is a glorious thing to behold – who can argue with Yngwie Malmsteen’s philosophy that, in some instances, more is indeed more? However, it’s also accurate to state that it can be an equally fruitful process to refine our guitaristic gaze to super-specific areas of our fine instrument and explore these locations in detail, to provide us with an almost infinite supply of musical gems that we can incorporate as fundamental tools within our musical vocabulary. This article will lead you to a greater understanding of the geography of your instrument; it will give you more options to draw from in both rhythm and lead situations and will get you one step closer to negotiating your guitar with freedom, flair, authority and confidence. Sounds like a plan? Put the kettle