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Step-up guide

Spicing up chord progressions

Most songs use the same handful of chords. What makes a progression sound like a record is what happens between them. This guide gives you the tools one at a time: the circle of fifths, secondary dominants, diminished passing chords, tritone substitutions, borrowed chords and walk-ups, each with real songs you know, from the Eagles and the Beatles to Patsy Cline and Radiohead.

$24 AUD · one-off

19-page PDF · Instant download · Secure payment via Stripe

Want the complete course? See the 22-book Guitar Pathway →

Cover of Spicing Up Chord Progressions by James McHugh

What's inside

The circle of fifths

What it is, what it tells you, a seven-day plan to learn it for life, and how it is built into your guitar.

Secondary dominants

Put a 7 chord in front of any chord to make it pull. The trick behind Desperado, Yesterday and Something.

Diminished passing chords

A dim7 one fret below the next chord: the sweet, old-fashioned pull of Crazy and Friends in Low Places.

Tritone substitutions

Swap G7 for Db7 and the bass slides home. The jazz 2 5 1, and why it works, in plain English.

Borrowed chords and walks

The minor 4 of Creep, the b7 of Hey Jude, walk-ups, walk-downs and falling lines.

Harmonise and put it together

The sixths-and-diminished trick for chord melody, three plain progressions spiced up, a cheat sheet, a song list and a plan.

Take a peek

The circle of fifths, explained page from the plan
The circle of fifths, explained
Plain progressions, spiced page from the plan
Plain progressions, spiced

Made for you if

From James's students

★★★★★

Learning guitar as an adult is no small feat, but James makes the whole process enjoyable and never makes me feel silly for being a beginner.

Alex B.
Google review
★★★★★

I started with James over two years ago with no guitar experience and have been having weekly lessons ever since. James explains music theory in a way I can actually understand, and if something doesn't click, he'll try different examples until it makes sense.

Nick C.
Google review

Read all reviews on the Pricing page →

Common questions

What do I need to know first?

Your open chords and a barre chord or two. The guide explains the numbers it uses on the first pages.

Do I need to read music?

No. Everything uses chord names, numbers, simple tab and fretboard diagrams.

Acoustic or electric?

Either. Every idea works on both.

How do I get it?

Straight after payment you can download the PDF, and the link is emailed to you as well so you can get it again any time.

Is it part of the Guitar Pathway?

It is drawn from it. The same ideas are in Books 6 and 14 of the Guitar Pathway, in the order a student meets them. This guide puts them all in one place for players who want just this topic.

Would lessons help as well?

Many people use the plan alongside lessons. James teaches in South Melbourne and online, and is happy to pick up wherever you are in the plan. Book a trial lesson.

Contact

Get in touch.

Talk to James
0499 232 898 jamesmcqmusic@gmail.com
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Home studio, South MelbourneFree street parking, tram nearby
Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 9pmFriday, 12pm to 4:30pm