Hey Friend,
Getting back to our regularly scheduled program (yeah, I went a little off topic with mu major chords), we finished looking at the chords in the key of E major. We studied them as individuals but the real strength of chords is using them in various progressions.
For this first exercise, let's take a listen to what these sound like as a harmonic progression.
Like the notes in the major scale, you can play the chords that occur naturally within the key in ascending (or descending) order for a scale-like progression.
As you move up the scale, each scale note is the root note (1 note, or tonic) of the next chord in the progression. As long as you follow the pattern of the scale type (in this case, a major scale because we're working with the key of E major), you can't go wrong. That pattern again is:
W W H W W W H
Each "W" represents a whole step (2 frets) between two notes, and the "H" is a half step (1 fret) between two notes. For E major, here it is:
Notes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (8)
Steps E w F# w G# h A w B w C# w D# h E Frets E 2 F# 2 G# 1 A 2 B 2 C# 2 D# 1 E
Consequently, each 5 note of most chords is seven half steps (frets) above the root note.That means each 1 and 5 note advance up the scale in the same intervals (spaces between them). Of course, there will always be some exceptions (gotta have a rebel around for discord!), but the major of the time this is what you'll find.
That leaves us with the 3 note. This note is the one that gives triads their uniqueness and changes the character of the chord.
We'll have to come back to that tomorrow, as my time today is running out.
Listen to the exercise MP3 and then play through the chords yourself.
Listen closely to each chord note as you advance up the harmonic scale. Notice how your fingering changes based on the type of chord, and try to determine which finger is playing the 3 note.
Have fun!
Peace~
Dave | 
