Two or more pitches sounded together, with a specific intervallic relationship. See also [tag:harmony]
16
votes
5answers
4k views
What does it mean to write a song in a certain key?
I have been searching for a while to try to correctly understand this.
What exactly does it mean if for example a song is written in C Major? Does it mean the song's notes cannot contain any sharps ...
3
votes
2answers
280 views
What do the brackets mean?
I'm trying to learn Sea Diver by Mott the Hoople. The first line of notes are:
C#(g#) C#(f) F#
I understand C# means play the C major chord one note higher. What does the (g#) mean? Does it mean the ...
3
votes
3answers
212 views
Musical Harmony: When to use more than three chords
I understand that I, IV, and V chords in both major and minor keys are common chords that make up a good progression. I understand that those 3 chords cover all the notes diatonic to the key that we ...
10
votes
5answers
843 views
5
votes
2answers
464 views
What is this chord (spelled 2nd, 4th, 5th) and how is it used?
For the piano/composers:
I compose music for the piano in my spare time, and one particular chord that has caught my attention (as one that I like a lot) is the D-F-G chord in C Major.
I have seen ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Why are the white and black keys on the piano placed the way they are?
I am pretty convinced it is not just for historical reasons.
I have found a mathematically-sound explanation of the twelve-tone musical scale, thanks to this question. Does anyone know a similar, ...
8
votes
9answers
4k views
What chord is formed by the open strings of a guitar in standard (EADGBe) tuning?
Here is something that I have been wondering about for a while:
If you strum all six strings of a guitar in standard (EADGBe) tuning what chord would you play?
I think it would be some variety of a ...
3
votes
2answers
241 views
How to Harmonize uncommon scales?
How do you harmonize scales like
C C# F F# Bb
Whole tone scale : C D E F# Ab Bb
?
(The scales above are just examples.)
Scales like these do not seem to bias to Major or Minor harmony, ...
5
votes
4answers
291 views
I need help understanding the concept of chord inversions.
This article from wikipedia, states:
In the first inversion of a C major triad the bass is E—the 3rd of the
triad—with the 5th and the root
stacked above it (the root now shifted
an octave ...
4
votes
1answer
106 views
Sixth and Minor Seventh inversions conflicts
For example consider C6 [C-E-G-A] and Am7 [A-C-E-G] which share the same notes in different order.
When we play [E-G-A-C] how is it called?(is this a inversion of C6 or Am7)
Generally, how are these ...
6
votes
3answers
291 views
Learning guitar via staff
I am learning guitar from my tutor and he is teaching me to read notes on a staff. However when I search for guitar music on internet it comes like:
A C♯m E Bm F♯m etc.
How do I convert these to a ...
10
votes
4answers
202 views
What does 'on' mean in chord notation?
For example, Em(onD) and Em(onC♯). I found these in a Japanese guitar tab book I bought.
15
votes
1answer
803 views
25
votes
4answers
3k views
What are some chord substitutions for a I-IV-V blues progression?
I was watching a video of SRV and one of the things that really stood out was the fact that he seemed to have a different iteration of the I-IV-V turnaround - and made it look/sound effortless. Any ...
2
votes
1answer
430 views
Scale change in “God will make a way” by Don Moen
God will make a way starts in F scale (as far as I know).
So the chords are from F major scale. (F, Bb, C, Dm).
This is fairly simple.
But if you check the lyrics-chords from the line "By a ...
2
votes
1answer
303 views
Which advanced chords can I use for a song composition in scale of G?
I am making a song composition in a scale of G.
I have already used major chords G, C and D and in some places I have used Am, Em and Bm.
I would like to make this composition richer with some ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
What usally follows an Augmented major seventh chord
I don't have a clear understanding of the notation used in the following sentence from the article on Augmented major seventh chord from Wikipedia:
As with dominant seventh chords, non-dominant ...
4
votes
4answers
331 views
Chord books and theory
I have some basic knowledge on chords but I was wondering what books on chords and theory were the best for expanding my musical knowledge? As in, intermediate to advanced level books ?
3
votes
3answers
218 views
How do you play C7 fast on a guitar?
There is a somewhat difficult chord near the beginning of Isaac Albinez's Austurias. I will post it in tablature form for the sake of convenience:
Ｅ｜－１２－｜ ４
Ｂ｜－８－－｜ １
Ｇ｜－９－－｜ ２
...
9
votes
3answers
388 views
Why do these progressions sound good?
I have always wondered why these progressions sound so exiting. I don't really know how the I-IV-things work, so I'll just write the chords. An explanation of what's really going on would be much ...
4
votes
2answers
213 views
Learning the piano strictly by learning chords…and saving scales and complex fingerings for later…
I studied piano for a couple years as a young adult. I enjoyed it, but got busy with school/activities/other instruments and it fell by the wayside.
I've been interested in picking it up again and ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Guitar chords for samba
I'd like to learn some standard samba chords for guitar. I understand the usual involves jazzy chords like 9/11/13 and few others. Now, I can construct these chords myself, but problem number one: ...
4
votes
2answers
322 views
When I play the C chord, why does the electronic tuner indicate that it is a G chord?
I am playing the guitar, and I would like to make sure the chord I am playing is correct,
I downloaded the chord from the Internet, and I played it.
When I play the C Chord, the tuner shows me it is ...
9
votes
5answers
256 views
Learn guitar chords?
I like to play guitar and I'm quite good playing tabs. However, I don't know the chords and I would like to learn them and to play them easily. Any tips on where to learn them on internet or tips to ...
1
vote
1answer
234 views
Finding out which scales contain a specific chord
Notation note: scales will be notated as C Major, D minor, etc. and chords as Am, F, etc.
Once you know a scale, yo know which chords it contains, for example the C Major scale contains the chords:
...
6
votes
4answers
222 views
How important is it for a guitar player to know the notes which make up a chord?
If you play piano you immediately see what notes construct what chord. For example you see on your keyboard that C Major is constructed of C E G. It's much harder to visual that on guitar even if you ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Finger landing order for D#m chord (and similar)
Which one is a faster finger landing order for this and similars chords:
4-3-2-1 or 3-4-2-1 (4 is a pinky finger).
I play 3-4-2-1(somehow faster for me)
1
vote
1answer
150 views
How should I finger A# and F# Major on piano?
How should I finger A# and F# Major with the left hand, 5-2-1 or 5-3-1?
6
votes
2answers
277 views
Do I need to play chords exactly as the tablature says?
For example, a D chord:
But sometimes, I think the 1 should be a 2, the 2 should be a 3, and the 3 should be a 4. This seems easier to play; can I play it in this way? Or do I need to play exactly ...
1
vote
4answers
203 views
What named chord is this?
I'm looking for named chords - we've already identified a couple others (it's part of a puzzle, e.g. Dream chord, Electra chord, etc.)
It goes: A A# D D# G A A(low) and is played in arpeggio ...
1
vote
2answers
231 views
Notating Augmented Chords
When writing an Augmented chord, which inversion of the chord should I use?
The problem came up while I was composing (piano). I came to an augmented chord and couldn't think of which version to use ...
5
votes
3answers
295 views
“slash” chords, e.g. B/F♯ - are these only for inversions, or can any note be the bass note?
I'm trying to work out whether it is technically correct to have a "slash" chord where the bass note is not one of the notes in the chord.
I thought the main reason for slash chords is to show which ...
3
votes
2answers
528 views
Guitar Fingerings for susb9 chords?
This chord goes well with Phrygian Mode and second mode of Melodic Minor.
From Mark Levin's Jazz Theory Book: "The Notes most often played on a susb9 chord, .. , are root, b9, 4th, 5th, and 7th. This ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What are the most common ways to “decorate” a melody?
Yes, I know, there are way too many possibilities and it depends on the style of the music... I would be happy with an incomplete list for beginners (like me). Here is what I have so far:
...
13
votes
4answers
509 views
Is there a known point in history where dissonance became acceptable?
So, I'm not a scholar of music history, but I have a basic timeline. The evolution of Western music theory had several times in which certain chords and intervals were considered too "jarring" or ...
13
votes
4answers
4k views
How to train recognizing chords by ear ?
How should I train my ears to recognize different 'flavours' of chords ?
I mean especially recognizing what fourth/fifth notes were added to the chord (beyond the minor/major triads) such as 7#9 etc. ...
3
votes
3answers
3k views
How to memorize seventh chords and inversions on piano?
These past few months I've been teaching myself how to play piano, using my background in guitar and a basic knowledge of music theory I've picked up from that. I am having difficulty "memorizing" ...
9
votes
2answers
835 views
How to begin learning the CAGED Method
What is the best way of approaching the CAGED Method. What are some good resources for beginning to learn this method.
4
votes
6answers
311 views
Is there a good Guitar Chord building web site?
I'm looking for a chord builder web site. Is there one that shows what strings are being played and what chord it is?
I'm specifically looking for the following chord, but ask for a web site so I can ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Should I mute “unwanted” strings or not when playing power chords?
I've been playing guitar for a while but haven't yet actually learned to play any songs featuring hard power chords. Now I'm trying to learn some songs by Metallica and AC/DC, and I don't have to tell ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
How to play chords like G/B
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
258 views
What's the term for the intervals between notes within a scale that produces a chord
I probably described that poorly in the title, and I'm not even sure there is a word for what I'm thinking.
Lets say you're playing on just the white keys on a keyboard. C E G is C major, and D F A ...
6
votes
4answers
186 views
Can there be more than one barre in a guitar chord?
I'm making a computer program that graphically represents a chord from text like this
(chord name = "F")
(barre = "Fret 1 strings EB finger 1")
oE---
oB---
oG-2-
oD--3
...
2
votes
3answers
287 views
Do you ever play a barre chord without you index finger on guitar?
I would think the only finger you'd ever use to play a barre chord is you index finger. is this right?
As in the finger you'd use to make the barre.
16
votes
2answers
1k views
What are some common jazz chord progressions?
What are some common progressions for Jazz improvisation?
I have been playing with ii-V-I and variations -- what are some others? Is the answer here just to really dig through standards until I've ...
3
votes
2answers
765 views
Playing Piano in a Big Band / Chordal Accompaniments
I play piano in a jazz band and I've been learning piano for about 8/10 years now. The type of music I'm talking about here is mainly swing music.
What are some good techniques/practices for ...
15
votes
6answers
2k views
Fast Chord Identification
How would someone go about identifying chords quickly and efficiently? While sight reading, I would often come up to some strange chord and try to decipher it. It normally takes me (what feels like) ...
6
votes
4answers
366 views
Is this an acceptable fingering of a G Chord?
I'm trying out the CAGED method, and whenever I use the G Form, either my pinky can't keep enough pressure on the High E string, or my ring finger lies so flat that it mutes the A string.
By curling ...
4
votes
6answers
2k views
Tips playing F barre chord
Any tips for a newbie in playing the F barre chord.
I find it very hard to put my fingers in place. I've got a strat.
I hear you can move it up and down the neck for other barre chords.
3
votes
2answers
225 views
What technique is it called in the song “Better Man” by Robbie William?
I just recently recall about this song and started to play it. There is a change of base chord in the song during the bridge.
I am playing on C (C, G, Am, F, Em) and during the bridge, it changed to ...
