Another Chord Question

Hi all.

I've just come across an interesting dilema. If found this website Guitar Chords where it plays the chords you choose. Cool, very helpful. I have bought a book which has a chord chart in it. I have noticed that the F# chords are different.

The website plays all 6 strings, while my chart only plays 4 strings. The fret positions on the D G B & E are the same but the D string uses a different finger. Which one is correct? They both sound right when they're played.

Thanks,

René

Hey pony65k,
Technically you should play all 6 strings, when you play only the 4 it's what is called a fragmented chord. Either work fine. Very useful rockabilly/blues/jazz tool, as it allows you to use your pinky to hammer on/pull off/bend/slide off other notes within that chord structure.
Me personally, I play alot of fragmented chords unles I'm playing a boogie type riff or fill, then I'll play a full barre chord so I can stab at it to fill the sound up a bit. Listen to TLE version of Rising Sun to hear this sort of technique as he's just about to start singing the first line. You'll hear a kind of bumpa-bumpa boogie and then he'll strum the full chord to give a bit of colour.
It's probably easier to show you what I mean, another lesson perhaps?
Hope it has helped, Pete.

P.S. In regards to fingering, I chop and change according to the previous/next chord and what feels comfortrable.

PICKIN' PETE wrote:

Hey pony65k,
Technically you should play all 6 strings, when you play only the 4 it's what is called a fragmented chord. Either work fine. Very useful rockabilly/blues/jazz tool, as it allows you to use your pinky to hammer on/pull off/bend/slide off other notes within that chord structure.
Me personally, I play alot of fragmented chords unles I'm playing a boogie type riff or fill, then I'll play a full barre chord so I can stab at it to fill the sound up a bit. Listen to TLE version of Rising Sun to hear this sort of technique as he's just about to start singing the first line. You'll hear a kind of bumpa-bumpa boogie and then he'll strum the full chord to give a bit of colour.
It's probably easier to show you what I mean, another lesson perhaps?
Hope it has helped, Pete.

Hey Pete.

I'm always up for a lesson. I can't say I've progressed too far from the last one though. Had a tough week at work and haven't practised much at all Funny about the chords being different though, they're both F# major chords, thought they'd always be the same. Looks like my chart is screwed. Sounds better playing all 6 strings, got a richer sound.

Still waiting on my bloody amp too They've given me the option of upgrading to the Spider III 30W from the 15W I ordered for an extra $115. Do you think I should go for the 30W???

I know you got the big gig coming up, so I don't want to be a pain in your ass. Can save the lesson 'til after your gig if that suits?

Catch you later mate.

René

pony65k wrote:

Hi all.

I've just come across an interesting dilema. If found this website Guitar Chords where it plays the chords you choose. Cool, very helpful. I have bought a book which has a chord chart in it. I have noticed that the F# chords are different.

The website plays all 6 strings, while my chart only plays 4 strings. The fret positions on the D G B & E are the same but the D string uses a different finger. Which one is correct? They both sound right when they're played.

Thanks,

René

René, keep in mind that a chord needs only 2 tones to be identified as such: The 1 (root) tone and the 3rd tone (b3rd for minor, 3rd for major). Most chords, though, are built around at least 3 tones: root, 3rd & 5th. Now guitar gets weird because some chord fingerings duplicate some of the tones, barre (E-type) chords in particular. In the E form there are 3 root notes, 1 3rd and 2 5th notes. See what I mean, Vern?
You may be seeing versions of chords fingered without the duplication, a la jazz-style. Are you learning open chords and then moving to closed (playable up the neck) chords? Those 4-tone chords, built around the root, 3rd, 5th and 7th, are what guys like Brian play around when soloing and are key to learning the instrument. Just keep working on the basics to get your hands used to what they should be doing and you'll be fine.
-Eddié

Hi René

If your looking at the Line6 Spider amp, why don't you also check out the Vox Valvetronix?
Similar price range but IMO sounds much better!


Cheers
John

Eddie Lee wrote:

pony65k wrote:

Hi all.

I've just come across an interesting dilema. If found this website Guitar Chords where it plays the chords you choose. Cool, very helpful. I have bought a book which has a chord chart in it. I have noticed that the F# chords are different.

The website plays all 6 strings, while my chart only plays 4 strings. The fret positions on the D G B & E are the same but the D string uses a different finger. Which one is correct? They both sound right when they're played.

Thanks,

René

René, keep in mind that a chord needs only 2 tones to be identified as such: The 1 (root) tone and the 3rd tone (b3rd for minor, 3rd for major). Most chords, though, are built around at least 3 tones: root, 3rd & 5th. Now guitar gets weird because some chord fingerings duplicate some of the tones, barre (E-type) chords in particular. In the E form there are 3 root notes, 1 3rd and 2 5th notes. See what I mean, Vern?
You may be seeing versions of chords fingered without the duplication, a la jazz-style. Are you learning open chords and then moving to closed (playable up the neck) chords? Those 4-tone chords, built around the root, 3rd, 5th and 7th, are what guys like Brian play around when soloing and are key to learning the instrument. Just keep working on the basics to get your hands used to what they should be doing and you'll be fine.
-Eddié

Hey Eddie Lee,
I thinks ya explained what I shoulda said!! I've met Rene, he's a pretty cluey guy, so your explaination will help him heaps.
Cheers Pete.

Eddie Lee wrote:

René, keep in mind that a chord needs only 2 tones to be identified as such: The 1 (root) tone and the 3rd tone (b3rd for minor, 3rd for major). Most chords, though, are built around at least 3 tones: root, 3rd & 5th. Now guitar gets weird because some chord fingerings duplicate some of the tones, barre (E-type) chords in particular. In the E form there are 3 root notes, 1 3rd and 2 5th notes. See what I mean, Vern?
You may be seeing versions of chords fingered without the duplication, a la jazz-style. Are you learning open chords and then moving to closed (playable up the neck) chords? Those 4-tone chords, built around the root, 3rd, 5th and 7th, are what guys like Brian play around when soloing and are key to learning the instrument. Just keep working on the basics to get your hands used to what they should be doing and you'll be fine.
-Eddié

Hey Eddié (nice work on the é)

OK, Pete's giving me way too much credit. When you say Root tone, do you mean notes in the scale? I.e if you're playing in G (root), notes B (3rd), D (5th) & F (7th), or something else? At the moment I'm just learning the basic open chords. Not going up the neck yet.

Sorry if this all seems like crazy questions.

Gotta start somewhere.

Regards,

René

Good question, René, this can get quite confusing, so bear with me, please. First, one step back: fundamentally, there are two types of chords: major and minor. This is defined by the interval, aka: tonal space, between the root of the chord and the 3rd tone. Play your E (major) chord a few strums, now play your Em(inor) chord. All you are changing is the finger on the 3rd string/1st fret to 3rd/open, right? Listen for the difference. The minor chord is defined by the flatted 3rd, in this case G. The major chord is defined by the natural, major 3rd: G#. Do the same thing with an A chord to A minor. Now, play your regular D major chord. What do you change to get a Dm? If each fret up the neck is a half-step (it is!) the major 3rd is 4 frets (half-steps) above the root tone. The minor 3rd is 3 frets above the root. Some "open" position chords don't work well in doing this, eg: C major or G major. But open E and open A are the goldmine of chordings up the neck.
Think about it: Put fingers on the neck for an E chord now move up the neck 5 frets. If you strum only the fingered notes this is an A chord! Up 2 more frets=B! See what I mean? Try this: play that E-form A chord, then switch to the open A chord, playing only the fingered notes on both. Do they sound the same? Well, they are the same notes, just at different places on the fretboard! This is what sets the guitar apart from the piano.
I've gone on too long and I hope it's not confusing. Just play around with the chords you know and move the fingerings up the neck and experiment. You can do this fairly easily with the E, A and D chord forms. The C and G forms are a little different.
To answer your question: the root I am referring to is the root of the chord you're fingering, not necessarily the root of the scale in which you are playing.
"Good night. It's time to go home."-Dire Straits

z

Hey Eddie lee,
Once again you've explained it well! I think by you explaining it and me showing him, Rene is going to be rockin in no time!! Gotta love this forum!!
Cheers Pete.

Thanks Eddie. When I get a chance, I'll have a good read to digest it. I'm sure it'll make sense.