Listen up: scales aren’t just torture devices invented by guitar teachers... When you use a scale, say, C major, you are playing ‘in the key of C’. The word ‘diatonic’ simply means ‘within a key’, so ...

Guitar skills: Soul and Motown players such as Steve Cropper, Joe Messina and Dennis Coffey would often strip their chords down to just two notes, creating memorable melodic accompaniments and fills.

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze knows a thing or two about using inventive and interesting chord ...