Even the top professional guitarists would agree that they spend most of their professional guitar playing time in an accompaniment role, so if the world's best players spend the majority of their time accompanying singers or other instrumentalists it should be a cue for all guitarists to brush up on their chord playing skills.
It's pretty crazy when you think about it most of the newbie players are trying to master outrageously difficult solos played at breakneck speeds or learn a random lick or two in the hope to get noticed; whereas in the real world the work and employment opportunities are in the rhythm accompaniment department... yes even lead guitar heroes need someone to accompany them!
There is an art in playing rhythm guitar and part of that art is being able to play just the right chord or chord voicing under the soloist; but where do you start?
Here's a few ideas to help you improve your ear and increase your knowledge of the harmonic possibilities on the guitar.
Color tones: If you are not familiar with the term 'color tones' they are simply the notes for the scale that are not in the chord.
Some examples...
C major scale: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
C major chord = C - E - G
All other notes in the C major scale other than C - E - G would be considered color tones that could be added to the C major chord.
[C] - D - [E] - F - [G] - A - B - C
Color tones for the C major chord would be D, F, A & B they would be identified are follows:
D = 2 for example: C major add 2 (Cadd2)
F = 4 for example: C major suspended 4th (Csus4); omitting the 3rd
A = 6 for example: C major 6th (C6)
B = 7 for example: C major 7th (CMaj7)
Likewise a Dm chord created from the C major scale would contain the notes...
D minor = D - F - A
Therefore all the notes other than D - F - A would qualify to be color tones for the D minor chord.
C - [D] - E - [F] - G - [A] - B - C
Color tones for D minor chord would be E, G, B & C they would be identified are follows:
E = 2 for example: D minor suspended 2nd (Dmsus2); omitting the 3rd
G = 4 for example: D minor suspended 4th (Dmsus4); omitting the 3rd
B = 6 for example: D minor 6th (Dm6)
C = 7 for example: D minor 7th (Dm7)
Now that you know what color tones are how do you learn to 'hear' then?
Using a Major 9th as an example.
CMaj9
--x----
-[3]----
--4----
--2----
--3----
--x----
Step 1: strum the chord once, make sure you have the color tone as the highest note in the chord. Color tone in the CMaj9 chord indicated as [].
Step 2: play all the notes from the scale up to the color tone (the ninth)
Step 3: strum the chord once more finishing on the highest note (the color tone).
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