View Full Version : Guitar Chord Question
Crash
03-25-2006, 06:57 AM
<p>I just started to learn guitar in December. Respect to Bobo for recommending the Mel Bey book on music theory.</p><p>My question may seem pretty stupid to many of the people on this board with musical skills, but here goes.</p><p>At my daughter's request, I learned the notes to "Twinkle Twinkle". I wanted to convert this to a chord progression, and tried to take the individual notes and build a major chord out of each one. Didn't work.</p><p>Did I do something wrong or is this justy a fundemental misunderstanding of how music works? Seems to me that a note progression that starts with "C" should be similar to a chord progression that starts with C Major. But that doesn't seem to be the case.</p><p>Any help?</p>
cupcakelove
03-25-2006, 07:07 AM
You don't want to change chords with every note, try to figure out what key its in, then get the notes to the chords that are most likely to be used in it, and try to put them where they belong. Since its a simple song its probably just I, IV, and V. Chord changes will most likely be at the begining or middle of the bar. Do you know your circle of fifths?<br />
<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by cupcakelove on 3-25-06 @ 11:07 AM</span>
Crash
03-25-2006, 07:26 AM
<strong>cupcakelove</strong> wrote:<br />Do you know your circle of fifths?<br /><p>I know how to find the notes in a major key, and I know that the fifth is the "dominant" note of that key. And that a major triad contains the root, the third, and the fifth. And I know that a fifth is a size of a bottle of booze.</p><p>Not familiar with a circle of fifths, though. </p>
TheRealEddie
03-25-2006, 07:51 AM
<p> </p><strong>Crash</strong> wrote:<br /><p>I just started to learn guitar in December. Respect to Bobo for recommending the Mel Bey book on music theory.</p><p>My question may seem pretty stupid to many of the people on this board with musical skills, but here goes.</p><p>At my daughter's request, I learned the notes to "Twinkle Twinkle". I wanted to convert this to a chord progression, and tried to take the individual notes and build a major chord out of each one. Didn't work.</p><p>Did I do something wrong or is this justy a fundemental misunderstanding of how music works? Seems to me that a note progression that starts with "C" should be similar to a chord progression that starts with C Major. But that doesn't seem to be the case.</p><p>Any help?</p><p> </p><p>Hmm, you are kinda on the right track, this is how it works:</p><p>Fundamental chords are build in thirds. What that means is if you want to get all 7 chords in the key of C major (or any key), we start with the major scale and build chords off that in thirds. The most popular simple chords have 3 notes and are called triads.<br /></p><p>1) First write out the major scale:</p><p>For C, its simply C D E F G A B (no flats or sharps) </p><p>2) To build the chords this key, just pick the root you want and build the chord in thirds:</p><p>For example: C major will be C - E -G (just count in thirds)</p><p> The chord built off the second (which is D) will be D - F - A (again, start at D and count in thirds). D - F - A is actually D minor <br /></p><p>The chord built off the third (which is E) will be E - G - B, this is E minor <br /> </p><p>Just follow the same procedure to build all the chords.</p><p>3) Now take the notes in twinkle twinkle little star as the roots of the chords that we constructed here:</p><p>Here are the notes for the song: </p><p> </p>CCGGAAGFFEEDDCGGFFEEDGGFFEEDCCGGAAGFFEEDDC<p> </p><p>The C chord will be: C - E - G ( the I chord in the progression, it is major)<br /></p><p>The G chord will be : G - B - D ( the V chord in the progression, it is major)</p><p>The A chord will be: A - C - E (the VI chord in the progression, it is minor)</p><p>The F chord will be: F - A - C (the IV chord, it is major)</p><p>The E chord will be: E - G - B (the III chord, it is minor)</p><p>The D chord will be: D - F - A (the II chord, it is minor)</p><p>IF you want to make it sound jazzier, include the note which is a third above the fifth, this will be seventh, for example:</p><p>C major seven: C - E - G - B (we are still counting in thirds)</p><p>So, given the major scale of any key, you can build all the chords just by counting in threes.</p><p>As far as playing every chord with the melody its doable. In fact, use a little swing feel to it by playing the root first and then hitting the rest of the chord on the upbeat. Then have your kid play a walking bass line along with you. <img border="0" src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/thumbup.gif" /> </p><p>NOTE: I used the term THIRD rather loosely since the interval jumps talked about here are a mixed bag of minor and major thirds. The take home idea is to count in threes on the major scale to get all the chords. </p><p> </p><p> </p>
<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by TheRealEddie on 3-25-06 @ 12:02 PM</span>
Dirtybird12
03-25-2006, 08:03 AM
Twinke, Twinkle, Little Star<br />Traditional<br /><br />C F C<br />Twinkle, twinkle little star<br />F C G7 C<br />How I wonder what you are<br />C G7 C G7<br />Up above the sky so bright<br />C G7 C G7<br />Like a diamond in the night<br />C F C<br />Twinkle, twinkle little star<br />F C G7 C<br />How I wonder what you are<br />
a fun song to learn with power chords is "wild thing"....(well the rythm of it anyway) just look up the notes on google im too lazy to look them up <br />
Plethora
04-18-2006, 07:51 PM
<p>All Hail The 9th Chord</p><p><img width="272" height="276" border="0" src="http://guitar-primer.com/Chord-C9.gif" /></p><p>Use One Today. You'll be glad you did. </p>
<p>So <strong>that's </strong>a 9th chord! </p><p>Thanks, I never really knew the proper terminology. And I usually play it with my thumb holding down the 2 bottom strings.</p><p>Us self-taught musicians must irk the shit out of you properly taught guys, what with our botched fingerings and cluelessness on music theory. One of these days I'm gonna actually learn what the fuck I'm doing with that damn guitar! </p><p> </p><p> </p>
Plethora
04-18-2006, 08:11 PM
<p>Not so fast on lumping me into the properly taught camp. And using the thumb for fretting as often as humanly possible is key.</p><p>Hey! While your at it, throw in an 11th Chord:</p><p><img width="573" height="451" border="0" src="http://www.power-chords.com/Jazz/Jazz05x.gif" /></p><p>NOW you've got something. </p>
Now you're just fucking with me.<br />
tele7
04-18-2006, 08:20 PM
Hey Plethora. May I call you Guitar George? Thanks for passing those on. The 11th chords are nice, but a bit of a stretch for my chimp-like fingers.
FezPaul
04-18-2006, 08:25 PM
<p><a href="http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/">http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/</a></p><p>You guys ever been here?</p><p>Warning! You might not come back.</p>
tele7
04-18-2006, 08:27 PM
<p>thanks fezpaul. i bookmarked it. here's another cool one..</p><p><a href="http://guitargeek.com/">http://guitargeek.com/</a></p>
FezPaul
04-18-2006, 08:36 PM
<p>Oh no, thank you.</p><p>Toys, drool, drool.</p>
tele7
04-18-2006, 08:48 PM
no prob...i like the fact you can see the artists effects chain and rig setup. i've learned quite a bit
<p>It's cool having other guitarists here to throw shit back and forth with, but I'm jealous of the screen names you guys have. </p><p>I'm considering changing mine to <strong>SG</strong>vac. <br /></p>
FezPaul
04-19-2006, 04:27 PM
<strong>Gvac</strong> wrote:<br /><p>It's cool having other guitarists here to throw shit back and forth with, but I'm jealous of the screen names you guys have. </p><p>I'm considering changing mine to <strong>SG</strong>vac. <br /></p><p>http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/FezPaul/sg.jpg<br /></p><p>I like it. Think of the sig pic possibilities.</p><p>Although no one will ever top Bobo's "Where the fuck is Gvac's hat."</p>
Plethora
04-19-2006, 08:09 PM
<p> </p><strong>FezPaul</strong> wrote:<br /><p><a href="http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/">http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/</a></p><p>You guys ever been here?</p><p>Warning! You might not come back.</p><p> </p><p>Looks to be a tarted up rip of the original, old school (and still active) tab site: <a href="http://olga.net/" target="_self">olga.net<br /></a></p><p>You will even see the olga.net email addy on many tabs! It does look like they have some original stuff.. but ripping a site and repackaging it just seems plain wrong.</p><p>On the upside they appear to have some <a href="http://reverendhortonheat.com/" target="_blank">Reverend Horton Heat</a> tab (my current guitar hero) that OLGA does not... however, my search for RHH's Galaxy 500 tab continues.</p><p> </p><p>My 11th Chord is thumb on the low E, A muted, index finger across D G B e.</p><p>Now.... add the Major 7th (prefer Form 2):</p><p><img width="408" height="177" border="0" src="http://www.tedvieira.com/onlinelessons/images/maj7chord.gif" /></p><p>And it's ALL starting to happen... Jazzy like. </p><p>Guitar George?</p>
<hr width="100%" size="2" /><p>Guitar George?</p> <p>
</p><hr width="100%" size="2" />Please tell me you got the "Sultans of Swing" reference!<br /><p><br /></p>
<p> </p><p> </p><hr width="100%" size="2" /><p> </p><p><br /></p><p> </p>
<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Gvac on 4-20-06 @ 6:54 AM</span>
Plethora
04-20-2006, 07:39 AM
<p>I KNOW ALL THE CHORDS!</p><p>Dang... can't believe I missed that. That was bad.</p><p>Also, it's just not true <img border="0" src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/wink.gif" /> </p>
<p>By the way, boys - if any of you are showing up to the Karavas gig in May I'll gladly hand over my guitar for a song or two if you'd like to jam away. We're playing a covers-only set so I'm sure you'll be able to jump in no problem.</p><p>Just don't show me up too badly! </p>
Hmmm...that may be the motivation I need to show up. What say you Gvac -- a little "Casino Boogie" perhaps?
<p>Just say the word, brother!</p><p>I think it would be pretty cool to turn it into a RonFez.Net guitarists jam fest, and it might be like worlds colliding if I ever met my long lost brother AJ. </p><p>Let's do it! </p>
Plethora
04-20-2006, 01:35 PM
Can't make it, but see what you can do about working an 11th chord in there somewhere.<img border="0" src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/clap.gif" /> I hope it goes great!<br />
<p>Pleth - I play an <em>extremely</em> bastardized version of Stevie Ray Vaughn's "Lenny" and I do use one of the 11 chords you pictured. I just never knew what it was called. </p><p>There's also a chord I use when I play AC/DC's "Shoot To Thrill" and the James Gang's "Funk 49" that I have no idea what it is. I call it the "Hendrix chord" because I think it's the same one he uses in Purple Haze. </p>
Plethora
04-20-2006, 01:48 PM
My hat's off to you... <em>Lenny</em> is a gorgeous guitar piece.<br />
FezPaul
04-20-2006, 07:12 PM
<strong>Gvac</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Pleth - I play an <em>extremely</em> bastardized version of Stevie Ray Vaughn's "Lenny" and I do use one of the 11 chords you pictured. I just never knew what it was called. </p><p>There's also a chord I use when I play AC/DC's "Shoot To Thrill" and the James Gang's "Funk 49" that I have no idea what it is. I call it the "Hendrix chord" because I think it's the same one he uses in Purple Haze. </p><p>Are you playing?</p><p>1st string: E open</p><p>2nd string: E 7th fret</p><p>3rd string: G# 6th fret</p><p>4th string: A 7th fret</p><p>5th string: G 8th fret</p><p>6th string: E open</p><p>If so, I believe that's called Esus(add dim. 3rd)</p>
<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by FezPaul on 4-20-06 @ 11:15 PM</span>
Plethora
04-20-2006, 08:26 PM
<p> </p><strong>FezPaul</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>Gvac</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Pleth - I play an <em>extremely</em> bastardized version of Stevie Ray Vaughn's "Lenny" and I do use one of the 11 chords you pictured. I just never knew what it was called. </p><p>There's also a chord I use when I play AC/DC's "Shoot To Thrill" and the James Gang's "Funk 49" that I have no idea what it is. I call it the "Hendrix chord" because I think it's the same one he uses in Purple Haze. </p><p>Are you playing?</p><p>1st string: E open</p><p>2nd string: E 7th fret</p><p>3rd string: G# 6th fret</p><p>4th string: A 7th fret</p><p>5th string: G 8th fret</p><p>6th string: E open</p><p>If so, I believe that's called Esus(add dim. 3rd)</p>
<span class="post_edited">This message was edited by FezPaul on 4-20-06 @ 11:15 PM</span><p> </p><p> </p><p>I found this picture of the chord in question... I always wondered the name of that one too... 7 sharp 9? That's no fun to say at all, especially for such an excellent chord.<br /></p><p><img width="205" height="188" border="0" src="http://www.acousticguitar.com/lessons/Chord_Names2/images/A7sharp9(2).jpg" /> </p>
FezPaul
04-20-2006, 08:36 PM
<p>Less of a mouthful than what I came up with.</p><p>Gvac's post got me playin' Funk #49, very fun song.</p>
Plethora
04-20-2006, 09:14 PM
<strong>FezPaul</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Less of a mouthful than what I came up with.</p><p>Gvac's post got me playin' Funk #49, very fun song.</p><p> </p>I used to play guitars with this guy and one night we came up with the "how fast can you play funk #49 game" ... I highly recommend it, it makes me laugh everytime I play it now -- I have to play it at absurd & sloppy speed and then just a bit too long hold on that lovely chord above (build the tension you understand).<br />
<strong>Plethora</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>FezPaul</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Less of a mouthful than what I came up with.</p><p>Gvac's post got me playin' Funk #49, very fun song.</p><p> </p>I used to play guitars with this guy and one night we came up with the "how fast can you play funk #49 game" ... I highly recommend it, it makes me laugh everytime I play it now -- I have to play it at absurd & sloppy speed and then just a bit too long hold on that lovely chord above (build the tension you understand).<br /><p>On WJFK, Ron once asked what was the best Jukebox song of all time. I remember the "winner" was Mountain's Mississippi Queen. </p><p>I tried to call in with Walk Away (any James Gang would do), but I didn't get through.</p>
<p> </p><strong>FezPaul</strong> wrote:<br /><strong /><p>Are you playing?</p><p>1st string: E open</p><p>2nd string: E 7th fret</p><p>3rd string: G# 6th fret</p><p>4th string: A 7th fret</p><p>5th string: G 8th fret</p><p>6th string: E open</p><p>If so, I believe that's called Esus(add dim. 3rd)</p>
<span class="post_edited">This message was edited by FezPaul on 4-20-06 @ 11:15 PM</span><p> </p><p> </p><p>Exactly! So if it's played on the 6th fret instead of the 11th as in Plethora's diagram, I guess it's an E7#9 eh?</p><p>And I've long maintained that The James Gang in general (and Joe Walsh in particular) is one of the most underrated bands ever. </p>
<p>All right...quick question - how do you know what to call a certain chord if it's got the same notes as another chord? Does the root note denote the key?</p><p>For example, let's say I'm playing a chord consisting of the notes C-E-G-A. Is that a Cadd6 or an Am7?</p><p>If anyone gives an answer, please keep the explanation simple. Thanks. </p>
FezPaul
04-28-2006, 09:44 PM
<p>I would go w/ whatever was easier to write down or remember.</p><p>You can come up w/ a lot of different names, and I'm sure there are some hard fast rules based on proper music theory,but the bottom line is to communicate the idea.</p><p>If you're writing out lead sheets for a bandmate, best to go by what they are familiar and comfortable with.</p><p>Check out some of the tab sites to see how open to interpratation chord naming is.</p>
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