Quote Originally Posted by kiteman
In my case I'm wearing hearing aids so it's no substitute for good ears. I can hear relative and very little pitch recognition so I read music but when the tabs came around it was a relief.

You can use triads as your chord shapes as it's a very basic components of the chords. Then you can add notes to it to define it. I use triads myself and they makes it easier to navigate the fretboard.

I like rock/metal myself and the 70s/80s are my favs.
IM big into the 80's metal as well. i find playing chords unplugged,sitting on the sofa as i watch TV , a real good learning method, changing back an forth from chord to chord, as it also helps play without staring at the fretboard.Ive also been trying to practice everyday even if its just for an hour as it helps me remember the chords easier.Now if i could just stay focused on finishing a few songs i get 3/4's thru i get started, id be mint