Two or more pitches sounded together, with a specific intervallic relationship. See also [tag:harmony]
25
votes
4answers
2k 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 ...
20
votes
14answers
5k views
How can I best learn to play barre chords?
I've been trying to learn the F chord for a while now, and I am having a very hard time playing the barre chord. I've read that pulling back slightly with your finger and using the body of the guitar ...
18
votes
7answers
12k views
How do I make piano chords sound interesting when playing along with popular songs?
I'm wanting to start playing along with popular songs and the easiest way to find lyrics and music only has guitar chords. I can play those chords on the piano but it just sounds boring. How should I ...
17
votes
7answers
823 views
Is there a way to measure the consonance or dissonance of a chord?
I know that if I played C and B together they would be very dissonant compared to if I played a G or C one octave up. Is there a quantitative way to describe that sort dissonance?
Edit: I understand ...
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 ...
16
votes
6answers
920 views
How to formulate a chord on the piano?
I play guitar, and am attempting to teach myself the piano. Which notes from a scale form the chord on the keyboard? Is there a common rule for this?
Thank you for your time.
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 ...
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) ...
15
votes
5answers
593 views
What notes are optional in jazz chords?
I have a question on jazz chords, and what notes can be removed from the chord. My understanding is fairly superficial - mostly from what I've read in books. This is what I understand:
In some ...
15
votes
1answer
795 views
14
votes
3answers
1k views
How to identify the root note of a chord
I struggle with chords on the staff because I'm not sure which note is the root note. Is it the top note with the rest of the notes falling below it? E.g., The top note is C, and bundled below it are ...
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. ...
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
3answers
143 views
Playing a Coltrane polychord and the limits of space
As I was the reading sheet music for John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, I noticed a chord I had never seen before. It looks like this:
I'm familiar with slash chords, but never had to practically ...
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 ...
11
votes
2answers
360 views
Properly fingering jazz chords?
I've seen these come up in a few places (Crazy Train and a couple of Jimi Hendrix songs come to mind offhand), however I've never figured how to work them in fluidly;the fingerings always seem ...
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, ...
10
votes
3answers
570 views
What is the (Practical) theory behind applying chords for a Song?
I love playing Guitar. I can play the lead for any song by listening to it. But often in our prayer meeting people sing different songs in different keys. I can track the major they sing, but I am ...
10
votes
5answers
333 views
When playing in a minor key, will the chords be minor as well?
I've been jumping into music theory myself and I've been stumbling on creating certain melodies and such. I've played guitar all my teenage life and not once have I ever sat down and said I'm going to ...
10
votes
5answers
825 views
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.
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 ...
9
votes
5answers
535 views
Guitar chords high on the neck
Apologies, this is an incredibly vague question, but any help would be appreciated.
When watching skilled acoustic guitar players, I regularly see them playing chords high on the guitar neck (ie ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Is it possible to find the correct chords from melody notes alone?
I'm caught up in this thought. My friend gave me just the melody notes of a song. Here it is,
So, Here is the problem: "without having the chords supplied, there is no way of knowing what the chords ...
9
votes
4answers
485 views
Identify this chord: F# (bass) + C + E + A
Would someone be able to identify this chord for me?
A
E
C
F# - bass
I'm sure it's obvious but I can't seem to figure it out.
It's a song in the key of C major. A C major chord precedes it and ...
9
votes
8answers
5k views
Why does my thumb hurt when I play bar chords?
Certain chords cause my thumb to be sore. How can I play in a way to prevent this?
9
votes
6answers
5k views
Fingers Too Short for Barre Chords?
My wife is learning the guitar and is getting pretty good. She gets frustrated though because she can't play barre chords. She claims that her fingers are literally too short to ever be able to play ...
9
votes
6answers
325 views
Can a chord contain both the C and C♯ notes? (as opposed to containing C and D♭ notes)
Can a chord contain both the C and C♯ notes? Or do you always have to use D♭ rather than C♯ in a chord that already contains the note C?
I'm guessing the answer is no, both C and C♯ should not be ...
9
votes
3answers
384 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 ...
9
votes
2answers
141 views
What does a duplicated note in a chord mean?
While reading the score of Misty (Burke, Garner, arranged by Roed), I encountered the following chord notation (it's on the bass clef in bar 32, and the signature is E-flat major):
What does the ...
9
votes
2answers
821 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.
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 ...
8
votes
5answers
913 views
Whole finger callous - for barre chords?
Attempting to learn barre chords and am having trouble with the G-string. What is happening is while I have sufficient pressure (at least I believe so?) the middle third of my index finger is ...
8
votes
2answers
401 views
Scale modification in sus2 and sus4 chords
I've recently been looking at what makes chords what, and hence my first target for this was looking at major, minor, sus2, and sus4 chords. I know major chords are made up of the first, the third, ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
What is a “Circle of Fourths” chord progression?
Are there any examples of songs that employ a Circle of Fourths that I might be able to practice along to? How does the progression tie in with different scales?
8
votes
2answers
3k views
How to turn any (pop) song into a jazz song?
Quite often there are pop songs wich get covered in a jazz style. These covers are seen from youtube to tv.
Now I tried doing something like this, with for example Bad Day by Daniel Powter. It's ...
8
votes
1answer
177 views
Beatles - Because: Chord progression
I am currently looking at this tune but I'm a bit confused by a part of the progression.
It seems to be using chords built mostly from the C# harmonic minor scale.
So, my current understanding ...
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: ...
7
votes
6answers
1k views
What is the full list of possible chord names? Are there chords that don't have a name in chord theory?
My chord book covers 35 different chord types. When I look on the web or in other tools, all the same types of chords come up.
But I don't think this is the "full" set of possible chords. I'm not ...
7
votes
2answers
5k views
What chords are used often in “Funk” - Why?
"Pass The Peas";"Le Freak"; "Get up and Jump";"Shake your Pants""The Crunge"....They all use very similar chords in a Funk setting - what are some Standard Funk Chords and why (from a Music Theory ...
7
votes
6answers
186 views
Power chord: Can the lower fifth be used?
Normally a C power chord is played by using C and the G in the same octave (that is, 3rd fret of 5th string and 5th fret of 4th string). But a friend says the C power chord can be played just by ...
6
votes
5answers
2k views
What are the feelings & emotions behind chords?
I studied some different books on Music Theory and all were too much scientific and definitely very helpful to some point.
Now that I have started writing some songs, I feel I need to know more ...
6
votes
3answers
142 views
Fingers and fretboard
I am glad to join this community :)
I am a beginner in guitar and I have the following question: When I play a chord (for example G7) my fingers aren't vertically aligned with the fretboard, but they ...
6
votes
2answers
262 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 ...
6
votes
7answers
477 views
The “right” way to use my pinky.
Ever since I've been playing, I've always fretted a B chord like this:
Using my pinky to cover the D, G, & B string. However, while it works, it's never felt quite right. I've tried to use three ...
6
votes
4answers
220 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 ...
6
votes
4answers
205 views
Does the bass note in a “slash” chord really have an associated interval?
I have a question about "slash" chords.
Look at the chord E/G:
E G♯ B G
1 3 5 ?
G is the minor 3rd interval (♭3) in the key of E.
However, I would have thought by definition chords cannot ...
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
...
6
votes
4answers
364 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
290 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 ...
