Every guitar player has their favorites; chords they just love to try and work into the songs they write, when they are comping, and when a friend asks to “show them something on the guitar.”

I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorites with you and, hopefully, get you to share a few of your favorites with me.

So, here they are, in no particular order; my 5 favorite chords:

1. F#Maj7#11

For me, at least, this was the chord heard ’round the world. It’s the opening chord of Rush’s “Hemispheres” and completely knocked me on my ass the first time I heard it. There’s nothing overly special about it, but the added #11 from the open B string just locks this chord into sexyville for me.


2. Am7add11

One of my new favorites, I’ve been using this chord a lot in writing material for the new Din Within CD. This is a great chord to vamp with and move up and down the neck for different sounds.


3. CMaj9#11

I call this the “Wayne Krantz” chord. It’s the only chord I’ve heard him play that I can figure out. Put
just a little bit of gain on your amp, turn your volume pot down a smidge, and let this chord rip!


4. Min9/Maj7

This is a general-utility comping chord. If you play it with your pinky on the 9th scale degree, it’s a great minor 9th chord voicing (pinky on the ‘B’ note sounds great as an Am9 chord). If it’s played on the 7th scale degree, it’s also a great Maj7 chord (pinky on the ‘B’ note sounds great as a CMaj7 chord).


5. Ab 6/9

Not sure why I like the sound of this chord in Ab more than any other key, but that’s how I roll.