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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.

43 votes
12 answers
30k views

Why do many songs in major keys use a bVII chord?

Based on my understanding of chord theory, the chords used in most modern popular songs are comprised of notes that occur in the scale of the tonic key for that song. … The I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, and diminished 7th chords in any major key, will (to the best of my knowledge) be comprised of notes from said scale. …
Rockin Cowboy's user avatar
20 votes
10 answers
9k views

Why is the first inversion of a C Major Chord very rarely used on guitar even though it is e...

The open C Major Chord is one of the first basic chords taught to beginning guitar students. It is also one of the most common chords I see in the music I listen to. … Is it just a coincidence that the songs I choose to look up the chords for just don't have the C/E chord as part of the arrangement whereas many of the songs I look up do specify the D/F# chord? …
Rockin Cowboy's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
323 views

Is there a reason an arranger/composer will choose a particular chord voicing when charting ...

When I look in music books for guitar or chord arrangements (or tabs) online for songs I want to learn to play on guitar, I notice that often a specific voicing for each particular chord is indicated. …
Rockin Cowboy's user avatar
2 votes
11 answers
10k views

Why is the tonic chord of a key formed with the 1,3 and 5 notes of the key but the major cho...

However, in chord theory, the Major chords that work in that key are the one, four and five Major (I IV and V) chords. … In other words - why not the I III and V major chords? …
Rockin Cowboy's user avatar
8 votes
12 answers
10k views

Why does most "Country" Music use mostly major and minor plain simple chords?

Rock and Roll features power chords. Funk features 9th and 13th chords. Blues features 7th chords. … Jazz features all kinds of strange diminished and augmented and suspended and flat 5th and other unusual chords. …
Rockin Cowboy's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
11k views

Why do guitar teachers and lesson books teach playing a G Major chord without using your pinky?

Most chords that come after a G major chord in most common progressions are easier to transition to if you are using what some guitar teachers call the "situational" G fingering using the pinky on the …
Rockin Cowboy's user avatar