Questions tagged [chords]
For general questions about chords like how to play them, construct them, or what symbols represent them. For more in depth analysis of the ideas behind chords themselves, please use the chord-theory tag.
1,824
questions
19
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6answers
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Do all chords in a progression usually fit within a scale
I am wondering if when writing a chord progression, all the notes fit within a single scale.
If not, what is the logic behind chord progressions?
19
votes
4answers
3k 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 ...
19
votes
5answers
4k views
Why is a note sometimes a 4th and sometimes an 11th?
If I play the chord: GBDA, then this is considered a Gadd9. But if I play the 3rd above the 5th (GDB), it is not called a 10th.
Why don't we refer to all notes by 1-7, and is there a system to ...
19
votes
3answers
9k views
Classical examples of a 'fifth voice' or 'ghost soprano'
There is an interesting phenomenon in choral (and perhaps also instrumental?) singing in which typically four voices are arranges in such a way that a 'fifth voice' or 'ghost voice' can be heard. It ...
18
votes
8answers
9k views
Why aren't chord names written in classical sheet music?
When I see classical sheet music I don't see the chords named, were chords not used back then? And if they were, do the notes that are under a bass clef generally outline the shapes of chords?
I only ...
18
votes
8answers
2k views
“Wrong” key signature for a score in F dorian?
TL;DR I'm a bit confused on which key signature to use for a score in F dorian: 4 flats or 3 flats?
I wrote this arrangement of Mad World by Gary Jules back in 2012 using 3 flats as key signature. ...
18
votes
7answers
48k 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 ...
18
votes
4answers
7k 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:
...
18
votes
2answers
3k views
What is a Neapolitan 6th?
In studying music theory I have heard the term Neapolitan 6th quite a few times, but I'm not quite sure what it is. What is a Neapolitan 6th and how is it used in a composition?
18
votes
2answers
3k 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, ...
17
votes
4answers
26k 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 ...
17
votes
10answers
11k views
Fighting against the F Chord
Ok, first off, let me introduce myself: my name is Diego and I've been practising guitar(acoustic with metal strings) for about a month and a half, like five hours the day.
Well, to the point: ...
17
votes
11answers
32k views
Why does a minor sixth chord contain a major 6th interval?
This is something that has always puzzled me. Perhaps I am going about this the wrong way but when I build chords I always build them based on the scale that corresponds to the quality of the chord. ...
17
votes
5answers
2k views
Naming convention for augmented 6th chords
There are three types of Augmented 6th chord the German, the Italian, and the French. Most chords are named for the intervals they contain or their function, but these seem like just arbitrary names ...
17
votes
10answers
60k 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" ...
16
votes
8answers
44k views
16
votes
6answers
37k views
How to make songs with chords that don't belong in a scale?
I've always wondered how come there can be a chord progression with some chord that doesn't belong in the particular scale... Moreover, how can it be possible that this progression is in any key at ...
16
votes
4answers
5k views
Who plays the chords during a live performance when lead guitarist is soloing?
I recently watched the live performance of 'Stairway to Heaven' by 'Led Zeppelin'. I had a question while watching that song but it even applies to other songs.
See during the section of the song ...
16
votes
3answers
2k views
Chord stretched across treble clef and bass clef
I'm a beginner at piano, and struggling to understand what I'm looking at here, and how to play it. I've bought and downloaded some piano sheet music from musicnotes.com. It's in 12/8 time, and part ...
16
votes
3answers
36k views
What is the definition of a pad?
I've played in many bands and I do a lot of music production and the term "pad" is thrown around. My definition of a pad is something that is used to fill in the space of a piece usually with chords. ...
16
votes
4answers
87k 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 ...
15
votes
7answers
4k views
How do you voice extended chords?
If I have a Cmaj13 chord, it uses 7 notes. Basically all the notes of the scale. In a previous question, I was told that you rarely play all 7 notes for a 13th chord. So how do you know which ones to ...
15
votes
9answers
2k views
How can I learn about reasons for choosing different ways to play a chord?
I was playing a song where E7 was written as 022130 as opposed to 020100 which I'm used to playing. It sounds "stronger" and "rounder" to me, similar to playing G as 320033 as opposed to 320003. I ...
15
votes
8answers
6k views
Is the IV chord a perfect fifth in disguise?
They say the root of the IV chord is a perfect fourth away from the key's tonic. But isn't it a perfect fifth from the tonic (if we go the other way)? let's for the sake of coolness, call it a perfect ...
15
votes
4answers
62k views
How to find out the Major and Minor chords of a scale?
How do I know which notes of a scale may be a Major/Minor chord?
Take this question as an example. The OP states that the C major scale contains the following chords: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim
How ...
15
votes
6answers
6k views
Are there any enharmonic chords?
Will I even encounter any enharmonic chords? For example would an inverted variation of one chord be equivalent to the root variation of another chord?
15
votes
2answers
4k views
What are power chords?
I have heard about power chords being used in a lot of metal and similar music but I have no idea what they are.
15
votes
7answers
6k views
modulating from G major to G# major
I was asked to incorporate a modulation that goes one semitone up in a song initially written in G. So at some point it should go from G to G#.
I am having a lot of trouble finding a relatively nice ...
15
votes
6answers
31k 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 ...
15
votes
3answers
1k views
How do I play this chord with an overlapping sharp and flat?
How do I play this chord (underneath the red arrow in the attached image) that seems to have both D sharp and an E flat? Am I misreading it?
EDIT: the clip is from the piece "Manchega" by ...
15
votes
3answers
6k views
Why one shouldn't play the 6th string of an A chord on guitar?
Well everything is in the title: Why one shouldn't play the 6th string of an A chord on guitar?
As you may see on the diagram above we are supposed to strum the 1st string. But the 1st one is the ...
14
votes
7answers
8k views
How was the D chord constructed?
I'm a beginner trying to teach myself guitar, and I thought I understood how chords work but the D major chord just confuses the heck out of me.
From what I know, chords are built out of triads, and ...
14
votes
3answers
4k views
Significance of pop songs with progressions that alternate one chord with one that's three semitones below it
I've noticed a couple of pop songs that use one chord progression that alternates between swapping one chord (either fifth or fourth) with one that's three semitones below it (to third or second):
...
14
votes
10answers
46k views
Why do Major keys contain minor chords?
Looking through each Major Key:
At position II, III, VI are MINOR chords.
At position VII, this is a DIMINISHED chord.
Looking at the C Major Key as an example, this chord progression is made up ...
14
votes
9answers
3k views
Are 7th chords made up from 4 notes?
I'm new to guitar, and I have been learning basic chords over the months. I know that C Major is made up from C E and G
When learning C7, there's an extra finger and that makes up 4 notes, so, C E G ...
14
votes
9answers
17k views
Is Emajor the dominant chord in the key of A minor?
I read somewhere that Emajor is the dominant (V) chord in A minor. Is this correct? If so, why is it not Eminor, since the A minor scale has no sharps or flats in it?
14
votes
7answers
6k views
Why can't I identify major and minor chords?
I am playing violin for 6/7 years now and doing ABRSM grade 7 this year.
Problem is I still can't identify chords. Sad/Happy feeling doesn't work for me even a bit.
Because of this, I can't identify ...
14
votes
6answers
2k views
Proper symbol for this chord (1 5 7 9 11)?
I'm a songwriter in the jazz-pop idiom, and when playing through a chart with a guitarist, he told me that, in his opinion, I had labeled a chord inaccurately / incorrectly. Here's the chord as I ...
14
votes
4answers
25k views
Confused about diminished chords
I came across several guitar chords which seem to be 'diminished' chords:
X°
X°7
Xø
Xø7
I read some articles which might provide useful informating, including the Dutch Wiki article Chord (music), ...
14
votes
3answers
3k 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 ...
14
votes
7answers
4k views
Why are two pitches considered a chord?
According to Wikipedia, a chord is
any harmonic set of two or more notes that is heard as if sounding
simultaneously.
But I always thought that two notes aren't a chord, they are an interval. ...
14
votes
6answers
2k 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 ...
14
votes
10answers
3k views
How can I learn to play the chords by listening to the song (like I do with notes)?
I have started learning to play piano (I am from a poor family and can't afford a teacher). So,I've learned some popular songs and the notes from the internet.
From there I started listening to songs ...
14
votes
3answers
36k views
What does ø mean after a chord?
Can anybody tell me what this chord with an ø symbol after F# is? The key signature is E minor.
14
votes
3answers
710 views
When, if ever, are arpeggiated six-four chords really “real”?
Textbooks traditionally teach that there are four types of six-four (i.e., second inversion) chords:
Pedal six-four (also sometimes called neighbor), where the bass stays the same;
Passing six-four, ...
13
votes
10answers
4k views
For the chord C7 (specifically!), why do you write Bb and not A#?
For the chord C7 (specifically!), why do you write B♭ and not A♯?
13
votes
4answers
4k views
A♭ major 9th chord in Bach is unexpectedly dissonant/jazzy
Measures 21-24 in Prelude VII from Bach's Well Tempered Clavier I
I was looking at the Prelude VII by Bach and noticed that on the measure 23 Bach ended that phrase with a A♭ maj9 chord. I was ...
13
votes
9answers
5k views
How to transcribe an arpeggiated 4-note chord to be playable on a violin?
I finished arranging the first movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata in F minor for a string quartet, only to find out that the chord at bar 7 is impossible for a violinist. My instinctual reaction was:...
13
votes
7answers
931 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 ...
13
votes
4answers
3k views
Is there a specific term to denote playing a wide chord on a piano?
I'm a beginner who can play chords on a piano.
If I play a C chord on the keyboard I would play C-E-G, or one of the two inversions (I.E. G-C-E or E-G-C).
I've noticed some people play chords "...
