How to spice up a 2-chord song (inspired by Chris Stapleton)

Lesson #191 • Nov 14, 2018

Video Overview

Instructional PDF 3 pages

Follow along with the print-friendly PDF! It includes all of my notes for this lesson, allowing you to follow along at your own pace. You're free to download, print, and share the PDF across your devices.

Thanks for being a Premium member of Song Notes! Your support makes these lessons possible.

Download PDF

Follow along with the print-friendly PDF!

It includes all of my notes for this lesson, allowing you to follow along at your own pace. You're free to download, print, and share the PDF across your devices.

To download the PDF, upgrade to premium or log in.

Editor’s notes

Sometimes you’ll find yourself learning a song (or falling into a nice practice groove) that only uses two chords – and you’re faced with the challenge of “How do I spice this up? How do I keep this interesting?” In this lesson, I’ll dive on in and answer those questions. I’ll explain how you can use strumming, palm muting, bass notes walk-ups & accents, lead riffs, and more – all in the name of spicing up a song (or groove) that only uses two chords. For this lesson, I’ll be using Chris Stapleton’s song “Tennessee Whiskey” as a reference - it goes back and forth between G and A-minor using 6/8 time. I’ll walk you through, step by step, how to start bare bones simple and make it really interesting in many different ways. I hope you enjoy!

Quick note, this lesson is inspired by a similar lesson made by YouTube guitar teacher Sean Daniel - in which he looks at the Fleetwood Mac song “Dreams” that goes between F and G the entire time (he offers many good tips for spicing it up). I recommend his channel, check it out!

Start with the chords

This entire song (and lesson) will be using these two chords. Quite a simple place to start! But with these chords, oh the things we can do! First, make sure you can play them comfortably.

E –––3––––0––––
B –––0––––1––––
G –––0––––2––––
D –––0––––2––––
A –––2––––0––––
E –––3–––––––––
     G    Am

Chord progression we’ll be using

We’re modeling this after “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton, which uses this progression. Every measure has 6 counts. Two measures on G, 4 on Am, back to 2 on G. Repeat for the entire song, verse and chorus. This will serve as the perimeter, so to speak, for everything we’re going to play going forward: while we will mix things up quite a bit, we’ll always be within the bounds shown here.

G           G           Am          Am          Am          Am          G           G
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Simple strumming

To approach strumming, with a simple down-strum on the 1 and 4 counts. These are the main notes you want to accent & give emphasis to for each 6 note sequence.

G           G           Am          Am          Am          Am          G           G
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
d     d     d     d     d     d     d     d     d     d     d     d     d     d     d     d     
>     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     

From there, you could add an “up down up” on the “and 6 and” counts before each new measure starts. Again, make sure you accent the 1 and the 4 counts.

G           G           Am          Am          Am          Am          G           G
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
d  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  udud  ud
>     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     >     

Plucking the bass note of each chord

Let’s move away from strumming for a moment. Instead of any strumming patttern, use this tab when playing each chord. Pluck the bass note on the 1 count, and strum the rest of the chord on the 4 count.

E ––––––––3–––––     E ––––––––0––––––        
B ––––––––0–––––     B ––––––––1––––––        
G ––––––––0–––––     G ––––––––2––––––        
D ––––––––0–––––     D ––––––––2––––––        
A ––––––––2–––––     A ––0––––––––––––        
E ––3–––––––––––     E –––––––––––––––
    G                    Am
    1 2 3 4 5 6          1 2 3 4 5 6
          >                    >

Also, if you can, silence the chord immediately after the 4 count. Do this by touching either your left or right hand lightly against all the strings (release the chord shape with your left hand, even if you keep your fingers touching the strings).

E ––––––––3–x–––     E ––––––––0–x––––        
B ––––––––0–x–––     B ––––––––1–x––––        
G ––––––––0–x–––     G ––––––––2–x––––        
D ––––––––0–x–––     D ––––––––2–x––––        
A ––––––––2–x–––     A ––0–––––––x––––        
E ––3–––––––x–––     E –––––––––––––––
    G                    Am
    1 2 3 4 5 6          1 2 3 4 5 6
          >                    >

Here’s what the full sequence would look like, using this style:

E ––––––––3–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––3–x–––
B ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––
G ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––
D ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––
A ––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––0–––––––x–––0–––––––x–––0–––––––x–––0–––––––x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––
E ––3–––––––x–––3–––––––x–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––3–––––––x–––3–––––––x–––
    G           G           Am          Am          Am          Am          G           G
    1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Walking up into the bass note of each chord

Instead of playing each chord with a single down strum, walk into it via the E string. This open E string comes on the “6” count just before the “1” count (of which the proper bass note of the actual chord occurs).

E –––––––––3–x–––     E ––––––––––0–x––––        
B –––––––––0–x–––     B ––––––––––1–x––––        
G –––––––––0–x–––     G ––––––––––2–x––––        
D –––––––––0–x–––     D ––––––––––2–x––––        
A –––––––––2–x–––     A ––––0–––––––x––––        
E –0–3–––––––x–––     E ––0––––––––––––––
     G                      Am
   6 1 2 3 4 5 6          6 1 2 3 4 5 6
           >                      >

With this, the full sequence would be:

E ––––––––3–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––3–x––––
B ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x––––
G ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x––––
D ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x––––
A ––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x––––
E ––3–––––––––0–3–––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–3–––––––––0–3–––––––––0––
    G           G           Am          Am          Am          Am          G           G
    1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Using an A-minor7

Another small (but effective) way to add some variation to this is to use an A-minor7 for the final two measures of A-minor.

E ––––––––3–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––3–x––––
B ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x––––
G ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x––––
D ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x––––
A ––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x––––
E ––3–––––––––0–3–––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–3–––––––––0–3–––––––––0––
    G           G           Am          Am          Am7         Am7         G           G
    1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Adding the G => C/G strum

For the final two measures of G, here’s a great way to add in some heavier strumming into a Gsus4 (aka C/G).

––––––––––––––3–––––3–3–––3–––––3–3–3–3–––––3–3–3––|–––––
––––––––––––––0h1–––1–1–––0–––––0–0–0–0–––––0–0–0––|–––––
––––––––––––––0–––––0–0–––0–––––0–0–0–0–––––0–0–0––|–––––
––––––––––––––0h2–––2–2–––0–––––0–0–0–0–––––0–0–0––|–––––
––––––––––––––x–x–––x–x–––x–––––x–x–x–x–––––x–x–x––|–––––
––3–––––––––––3–––––3–3–––3–––––3–3–3–3–––––3–3–3––|–0–––
  G           G/C         G
  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 +    1 +

The full sequence would roughly look like this:

E ––––––––3–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––3–x–––––––––3–3–––3–––3–3––––––
B ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––1–x–––––––––0–1–––0–––0–0––––––
G ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––0–0–––0–––0–0––––––
D ––––––––0–x–––––––––0–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––––––––0–2–––0–––0–0––––––
A ––––––––2–x–––––––––2–x–––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––––––––x–x–––x–––2–2––––––
E ––3–––––––––0–3–––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–––––––––––0–3–––––––––––3–––––––––0––
    G           G           Am          Am          Am7         Am7         G      C/G  G
    1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Adding discretionary strumming

A final piece of advice for strumming: add more as you please! As long as you emphasize the 1 and 4 counts, any amount of extra strumming will sound fine. Try to get your hand going in a continuous down-up-down-up-down-up motion, and only bring it into the strings as you choose to - even if that means light brushes.

Adding lead riffs

Finally, here are some lead riffs you can freely incorporate as you transition into each new chord. Use these as heavily or sparingly as you please, whether you decide to mix them in with your strumming (which is tough) or play them without any attempt at strumming (which is fine too).

E ––––––––––––––––3––   ––––––––––––––––––––0––   ––––––––––––––––––0––   –––––––––––––––––3––
B ––––––––––––––––0––   ––––––––––––––––––––1––   ––––––––––––––––––1––   –––––––––––––––––0––
G –––––––0––2/4–––0––   –––4––2––0––––4/2–––2––   –––4––4––4––4–2–––2––   –––4––2––0–2–0–––0––
D ––0––2––––––––––0––   ––––––––––––––––––––2––   ––––––––––––––––––2––   –––––––––––––––––0––
A ––––––––––––––––2––   ––––––––––––––––––––0––   ––––––––––––––––––0––   –––––––––––––––––2––
E ––––––––––––––––3––   –––––––––––––––––––––––   –––––––––––––––––––––   –––––––––––––––––3––
                  G                         Am                      Am                     G

Good luck!

I hope this helps! My general closing advice would be to combine all the different techniques I show above to make this G-Am transition one that never feels boring or monotonous. As always, see my video lesson for reference.

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Gain instant access to my library of 245 print-friendly cheat sheets! Also includes my extended video lessons, jam tracks, courses, and more.

Join Song Notes Premium

Have questions? Watch video tour »

Browse Related Lessons

Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Most of the lessons on my website are 100% free. If you have the means, please show your support with a tip jar contribution. I put many hours into every lesson — but it only takes you a minute to make a donation. You have my thanks!

Donate

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Featured Courses

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Interactive fretboard map! See the patterns behind every scale in any key.

View

Capo Captain

An easy way to calculate key & chord combinations, for any capo location!

View

Key Master

See and hear the notes, chords, scales used in each of the most common keys.

View

Blank Tabs

Free PDF templates to download, print, and write out your own guitar tabs!

View

Coming soon is Jambox – which shows all the video jam tracks I've made. It's note quite ready for the spotlight, but check it out if you like!


Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!


Recent Lessons

  • December 6, 2024

    "Our House" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

    Let's fingerpick this classic from CSNY! While it's originally a piano-driven song, I came up with a easy-going Key of C arrangement I think you'll enjoy.

  • November 28, 2024

    Thanksgiving Roundup: Improved Search, Vidami Coupon Code, and Melody Deep-Dives

    A collection of website & lesson updates from the past couple weeks, including a 20% discount code for Vidami pedals!

  • November 15, 2024

    "Scarlet Begonias" by Grateful Dead

    Let's dive into the 1974 classic from the Dead, with an acoustic-friendly arrangement using Key of G chords! I also show how you can include the catchy riffs wherever they occur, which is great way to channel the full spirit of this song.

  • November 12, 2024

    Does CAGED Help When Learning Songs?

    A quick audience Q&A video, where I talk about how CAGED helps (or does not help) when learning songs. Featuring the main riff from Scarlet Begonias by the Grateful Dead, which I'll be teaching soon!

  • November 8, 2024

    Rhythm Deep Dive: "Guitar Town" by Steve Earle

    Watch the process of me transcribing the rhtyhm of an incredibly tricky song! All shown in real time, in writing. Featuring "Guitar Town" by Steve Earle.

  • Nov 1, 2024

    Website Tour – November 2024

    A look at the state of the Song Notes website, as of November 2024. I've been working on more than just new lessons... check out the latest updates here!

  • Oct 24, 2024

    "Fast Car" - Strumming & Rhythm Guide!

    I've gotten a ton of emails asking how to strum Fast Car — here's a lesson showing 3 possible approaches! You can strum the whole song using what I teach, or combine this with the fingerstyle riff from lesson #494.

  • October 18, 2024

    CAGED - It's More Than Just Chords!

    Learn how each CAGED shape contains not only a chord, but also an arpeggio, pentatonic, and full diatonic scale! This is a must-know realization that'll level up any practice you do with these shapes.

Browse All Recent Lessons →

← back to homepage