Is there a name for this type ascending inversions of a repeated chord?

Question

I was messing around on one of my guitars one day and stumbled upon this interesting ascending progression. I ended up writing a song using the progression even though I wasn't even sure what the names of the ascending chords were.

Here is what it sounds like:

Ascending Progression in G

I looked up the chord names on a reverse chord name finder and learned that the names of the chords I play in the progression are G - Gsus2 - G - G - C. Apparently each of the ascending chords is a derivation or inversion of the G-major chord. But they all sound different. The bass note in the G chord variants are G - A - B - D respectively, and the chords are played by moving up the fret-board from the open G position all the way to the tenth fret inversion of G major (with a D in the bass).

Here is the way the G chords look (note open or muted strings at far left of each chart):

Is there a name for this type ascending inversions of a repeating chord with a different bass note in each inversion? Or a term that commonly describes this device? It's not very common in the music I listen to but it sounds really cool.

Answer 1

I don't think that there's a specific name for such a progression. You basically repeat a chord in different inversions. However, the way I hear the second chord (with A in the bass) is not as a version of G. Of course you can call it Gsus2, but the question is if you hear it as a Gsus2. I don't because the 2 in the bass (A) is quite uncommon and suggests something else. What I hear is a D chord with the 5th in the bass, which is a much more common bass note than the 2. As a D chord it would be called Dsus4/A. So the way I hear it, it is a I-V-I progression eventually going to the IV chord (C).

Answer 2

This is called comping. You play the same chord in different positions. It creates movement and exhibits the whole range of the instruments while in some cases it generates interesting voicings like your Gsus. It sounds cool and its the dirty job of a guitarist.

Answer 3

Slash chords could be what you mean. It's a way of describing a chord with a note other than the root at the bottom. Common are G/B and G/D, which are G chords with B and D as the lowest note respectively. Otherwise called 1st and 2nd inversions. When A is underneath the chord is G add 2 or sometimes G sus 2, if B is absent, and here is written G/A. If there is a bassist playing, expect him to play the note after the slash, otherwise on guitar or piano, make that note the lowest played.

With the G/A chord, it sometimes gets named as an 11th. Listen to Midnight at the Oasis intro. First chord (in Eb) F#11, or maybe Gb11. It's an E major with F# bass - E/F#.