These Grooves Turn Simple Chords Into Something Magical

Hey, it’s James here from GoodGuitarist.com! In this lesson, I want to show you a cool little trick that turns your everyday chords – like E and C – into something colorful, rhythmic, and expressive.

You don’t need fancy theory or complex fingerings. We’re using chords you already know, but we’ll shift them around the fretboard to unlock new sounds and grooves. It’s one of those instantly rewarding techniques that can really spice up your rhythm guitar playing.

And the best part? You’ll get to loosen up and focus on your strumming and groove, rather than worrying about tricky shapes.

Groove #1 – Chromatic E Groove

This one starts with a basic E chord, but we shift that shape up the neck to add a gritty, chromatic flavor:

Chord progression:
E – G – F# – F/A
(Fret positions: 2 – 5 – 4 – 3)

Strumming pattern:
D – Du m-D- -uD- D-Du
(Tip: Replace the “m” with a muted strum for a tighter feel)

The movement sounds dark and bluesy, and the shape is familiar – just your regular E chord, sliding up the neck. It’s a great way to work on rhythm without overthinking the fretboard.

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📘 Get the Tabs & Backing Tracks

Want to practice these grooves with me? The tabs and backing tracks are included in The All-Access Pass. Just log in and you’ll find everything you need to play along and lock in the feel.

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Groove #2 – High D Groove

This one tracks a D chord shape up the neck:
Fret positions: 2, 9, 12, 7
(D chord shape played on each)

Strumming pattern:
D–u –D- -u– D—

Focus on hitting strong accents on beats 1, 2, 3, and 4. Once you get the feel with a simple version, you can build it up by adding more texture between those strong beats. This groove really builds your sense of phrasing.

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Groove #3 – Am with a Twist

We start with a simple Am chord, and then move to Am/B (just shift your bass note to the second fret of the A string):

Chord progression:
Am – Am/B (repeat)

Strumming pattern:
DdDdDdDd Ddx D-ddd
You get a rolling, syncopated vibe that sounds rich and complex even though the chord shapes are easy.

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🎯 Want to Build Real Rhythm Skills?

If you struggle with strumming or want a step-by-step method that takes you from the basics all the way to full songs, my Beginner Course – Learn Guitar Once and For All is the perfect place to start.
✅ Structured like real-life lessons
✅ Build real skills before moving on
✅ Focus on rhythm, chord switching, and full-song playthroughs

👉 Check it out with your All-Access Pass – you’ll get full access to this course and every other course I’ve made.

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Let’s Keep Practicing

These grooves are a great way to develop your rhythm and creativity on acoustic guitar. They sound good, feel good, and make practicing fun again.

Have a fun time practicing and I’ll see you soon!
– James