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I heard that if there is a chord written like x/y then that means an x chord with y in the bass. This can be played by playing x normally, but then playing the y note on the 6th string, correct?

Then what about G/B? B on the 6th string is the same as the B on the 5th string 2nd fret. That note is already played in a G chord. So does that mean that all notes lower than that note are omitted?

Here is a list of ways to play G/B. The only one that makes sense to me is 7. 1 is very similar to 7, except instead of playing B on the second string D is played. Won't that sound different? How can these two be the same chord?

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Keep in mind that when playing with a bass player (who will likely be on the B), any voicing that doesn't emphasize the G in the root (which would clash with the bass) will work. Indeed, you can just take normal G voicings and omit the root. When playing solo, on the other hand, it's important to indicate the root of the chord. – Rein Henrichs May 31 '11 at 18:47

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up vote 6 down vote

You've pretty much got it figured out.

If you read G/B as "G over B" it makes sense that your lowest note needs to be a B. There is nothing that says what string the B has to be played on, only that the G chord has to be above B. So, you can voice the chord up and down the neck, and keep the lowest note a B.

When this is really important is when there's a moving line in the harmony and is a B at that point.

When arranging for a group I'd often let a guitar ignore that voicing if I had other instruments that were moving the harmony line already. It just depends on how strong that note/harmony needs to be in the overall sound of the band.

And, for the theory of it, it's really a G chord in first inversion.

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up vote 7 down vote

In the G/B chord you play a normal G with B as a bass. That means that the lowest note you have is a B. Since a G chord contains the notes G D and B you can play a G chord from any position as long as you play B as a bass.

As you can see in all the examples from your link the lowest note is always a B. That is also why you leave out the 6th string from your normal G chord. You will still have a higher G as well as a higher D in the same chord, but now the bass note is a B instead of a G.

Chords are made out of at least three different notes. A G major chord is G B D. The different chord positions will sound a bit different but the harmonies are the same, and since you are only playing G B and D it will still be a G chord.

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Technically, chords are made out of at least two different notes. Pedantic Man, away! – Rein Henrichs May 31 '11 at 18:48
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Technically, perhaps, but in practical use a major or minor chord is a triad meaning three notes. – Wheat Williams Sep 11 '11 at 3:36

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