Master 30+ chords
in days, not
years.
You're overwhelmed by the thousands of chords that exist. You've bought chord books that didn't help. You're just memorizing shapes without understanding how they work.
That all changes when you learn the 4 simple principles that explain how all chords are built — then build from open chords to barre chords, seventh chords, and beyond.
One membership. 25+ courses. Starting at $20/month. 30-day free trial on Monthly & Annual.
Watch: Build Your Chord Vocabulary
Thousands of chords exist. Where do you start?
Major, minor, dominant 7th, major 7th, minor 7th, sus chords, add9 chords, diminished, augmented — the list is endless.
You've bought chord books and wall charts that show you shapes but never explain WHY those shapes work or HOW to apply them to real music.
The result: you're memorizing without understanding. Stuck. Overwhelmed.
Every guitarist without a system feels this…
Overwhelmed by the sheer number of chords
Memorizing shapes without understanding them
Having to look up every new chord you encounter
Playing with boring, dull-sounding chords
"Why am I always stuck at the same level?"
30+ chords
mastery.
The big secret: You don't need to learn thousands of chords. Learn 4 core principles, then build from 13 essential open chords up to barre chords, seventh chords, add9s, and power chords — all organized by shape and easily transposable across the fretboard.
This course teaches those 4 principles first, then systematically covers E-shape barre chords, A-shape barre chords, D-shape barre chords, power chords, 4-note seventh chords, and add9 voicings — so you'll never feel overwhelmed by a new chord again.
No memorization. No overwhelm. Just clear understanding.
What's Inside
24 bite-sized lessons covering 4 principles, 13 essentials, and 30+ total chord shapes.
Part 1: The Foundations
- The 4 Simple Principles of Chord Building
- My "Throwing Away" Exercise for Learning Shapes
- 13 Essential Easy Chords Every Player Needs
- How to Transform Basic Chords into Amazing Ones
- Understanding Chord Progression Patterns
- Music Theory for Chords (simplified and practical)
Part 2: Mastery & Application
- Power Chord Shapes for Rock & Metal
- Barre Chords Mastery (nailing those first attempts)
- 12 Useful 4-Note Chords (major7, dominant7, minor7)
- Lush Major & Minor Add9 Chords
- How to Use These Chords in Real Music
- Practice Methods for Quick Mastery
2 Hours Video
24 bite-sized lessons, 5-10 minutes each. Learn one during a coffee break or work through several in a session.
Lesson Worksheets
Downloadable worksheets for every lesson. Diagrams, reference guides, and practice exercises.
Practice Guides
Know exactly what to practice and how. Clear, step-by-step practice routines for fast results.
What students say
Real Results
"I can't help but write and say a big THANKYOU for this course! The way you deliver the material makes it feel less overwhelming. I've bought so many chord books before, but they never explained the WHY behind the shapes. This finally makes sense. I can now play chords I never thought I'd be able to learn."
Ian — Total Guitar Lab Member
James Shipway
James has been teaching guitar for over 25 years. One pattern he's noticed: students don't struggle with chords because they're hard — they struggle because they're taught in a confusing, overwhelming way.
Over the years, he's helped many guitarists move from memorizing random shapes to actually remembering chords and using them confidently in their playing. The key is learning how to approach chords strategically — understanding the shapes, how they move across the neck, and how to apply them to real songs.
He created this course to distill everything he's learned: foundational principles, systematic building from open chords through barre chords and beyond, practical exercises that stick, and clear guidance on how to use what you learn. No overwhelming chord books. Just solid, usable chord knowledge.
Choose Your Plan
All plans include full access. No locked content, no upsells.
Monthly & Annual include a free 30-day trial. The 6-Month plan is a one-time payment with no trial.
Monthly
Per month
- Full course library access
- Study Plans
- TGL Backstage community
- Direct access to James
- 30-day free trial included
- Cancel any time
6 Months
One payment
Save ~9% vs monthly · No auto-renewal
- Full course library access
- Study Plans
- TGL Backstage community
- Direct access to James
- No auto-renewal
- No free trial — one-time payment
Annual
Per year
Under $17/month — 2 months free
- Full course library access
- Study Plans
- TGL Backstage community
- Direct access to James
- 30-day free trial included
🎸 Not sure which to pick? Annual works out under $17/month — less than one private lesson, for unlimited access to everything.
Monthly & Annual start with a free 30-day trial — no risk. The 6-Month plan is a one-time payment with no trial.
FAQ
What skill level is this for?
How long are the lessons?
How long to learn the chords?
Can I cancel anytime?
What else is included with membership?
Stop Feeling Overwhelmed
Learn the 4 principles that explain how all chords work. Build confidence playing 30+ chords. Transform your playing.
See All Plans30-day free trial on Monthly & Annual • 6-Month is one-time, no trial, no auto-renewal
What's TGL Membership?
All-Access Guitar Education
TGL Membership gives you instant access to our complete library of 25+ courses covering blues, rock, theory, fretboard mastery, and technique — all for one price.
What You Get:
- check_circle 25+ courses — Blues, rock, theory, fretboard, technique and more
- check_circle Study Plans — Clear paths for every level and goal
- check_circle The Guitar Clinic — Focused technique lessons
- check_circle TGL Backstage — Members-only community
- check_circle Direct access to James — He replies to your questions
- check_circle New content monthly — Added free to your membership
How It Works:
Choose any course to start with, then explore all 25+ courses in your membership. You own your learning path.
Choose Your Plan:
Monthly
$20/mo
Cancel anytime
6 Months
$109/6mo
$18.17/mo
No auto-renewal
No free trial
BEST VALUE
Annual
$199/yr
$16.58/mo
Monthly & Annual plans include a 30-day free trial — cancel anytime, no lock-in. The 6-Month plan is a one-time payment with no trial and no auto-renewal.