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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 56
| Some of you may remember me for posting some music theory questions a few months ago. After 15 years of playing, I am finally trying to understand how music "works".
I was playing last night, and happened upon a very nice chord. I can't quite figure out what the chord is called, but it is a variant of Em. It has a certain Pink Floyd feel to it. It looks like this:
[EADGBe]
[xx2002]
The notes are E G B F#, which is an Em with an added F# on the high e string.
The beauty of this chord is that it can be played anywhere on the neck using a barre. For example, as an Am (variant), the chord is
[xx7557]
(Barre across the 5th fret, with your middle finger on the D string and your pinky on the high e.)
Simiarly, as a Gm (variant), the chord is
[xx5335]
You can either finger-pick this chord, or you can pluck the 'bass' note (on the D string) and then pluck the high three strings simultaneously. In either case, be sure to let the high e string ring clear for the full effect of this chord.
Move around the neck this way within a given key. It sounds nice.
The question is: what is this chord called?
Alina |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | It's an Eminor add 9. An Eminor9 would need to include the b7th -D (I bIII V bVII IX) As this doesn't have the bVII it's just a basic Eminor triad (EGB) with the addition of the 2nd degree of the scale (F#) which in this context is referred to as the 9th. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | It can also be written as Em/9. Another add 9 that I like is C/9. [x3203x] or [x32030] |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | This is a scale degree chart that I've found to be useful.
Notes:
P = perfect
m = minor
M = major
- = flatted or diminished
+ = sharped or augmented
This isn't all of the possible designations for the degrees, just the more common ones.
For example: --2 = P1 (double flatted 2nd = Perfect 1st)
To change to a different root note just rotate the top row until the one you want is at the P1 position.
Anyplace where there's a / means that the degree could be either one of the designations (depends on what else is being used and/or the intent of the composer).
note
|__C__|C#/Db|__D__|D#/Eb|__E___|__F__|F#/Gb|__G__|G#/Ab|__A__|A#/Bb|__B__|
1st octave
|__P1_|__m2_|__M2_|__m3_|__M3__|__P4_|+4/-5|__P5_|+5/m6|M6/-7|__m7_|__M7_|
2nd octave
|__P8_|__-9_|__9__|__+9_|10/-11|__11_|_+11_|__12_|_-13_|__13_|_+13_|__14_|
Note: The 10th is used with the root (P1) by bass players sometimes.
You can keep adding octaves, but they aren't very useful for guitar. (Just add a row and add 7 to each number).
Sorry about the alignment, the font is changing things. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | my new years resolution was to understand more of the theory and reasoning of what i do with a guitar. i found a book called fretboard logic to be a very simple straightforward approach. does anyone have an opinion re this book?
i have started teaching a couple of beginner's classes and wonder if anyone has a few links to good beginner sites. i don't want to drown the kids with scales, but i dont want to teach them the way i learned, banging out 3 chord progressions without knowing why they worked or that scales could give me lead lines to go with them. what suggestions would you have for keeping them interested? i am finding that teaching and verbalizing the basic stuff i know is really helpful to me too. and i have this new fired urge to do more than just play gig after gig. it can start to feel like a rut that keeps getting deeper. |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 150
Location: Minneapolis, MN | I really enjoyed Fretboard Logic and would recommend it to anyone. As for what I can actually play on a guitar, that's another story... but now I understand the neck layout a little better. |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Russ
One of the things that I didn't figure out until had played a long time was that the chords contain the scales and that is how you jump out of rythym into lead without losing the beat. Your fingers are on the scale notes as you play rythym and you can switch from strumming to picking without moving the left hand too much. In bluegrass and probably jazz and blues, playing rythym is half the job, and when your turn comes you have to be ready to jump in on the next beat. I say this to point out the folly of only knowing a lead to a song and resting when your break is over like one banjo player we had that drove everybody crazy when his instrument would drop out as others took their ride. Learn the chord structure and you have insight into the melody and will be loved by your fellow members.
Bailey |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 45
Location: Oakton, VA | Russ,
I find "Edly's Music Theory for Practical People" to be an effective primer in scales, modes, and chord constructions.
Even though cartoon characters frolic through the book's illustrations, I think the book's content is beyond a child's level. But I think you, their teacher, can learn plenty and feel confident passing its knowledge on.
No specific instrument is assumed. Some musical illustrations are in standard notation. I have no financial interest whatsoever.
Tom |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | thanks for the input. some of the kids i am teaching would definatly respond to a cartoon format. the level of one class is basic enough that some kids are still struggling to arrive with their guitar in tune. once they pass a test of chord diagrams and fretboard layout, they get into a second class. so far i only have three in that class and we are currently working on pentatonic scales, as rock and country seem to be their interest. the classes are right before supper, and after that i play till 12-1 am. that makes tuesday and thursday pretty exhausting. the cartoon format would probably help me too.
bailey, one of the things i am working on with the second level is just what you mentioned. also playing the same chord in the 5 different positions on the neck. i made a felt guitar neck with velcro stick ons to represent the fingers and all of the notes in the chromatic scale. this has been a big help in showing chord formations and scales.
i mix theory with the group strumming songs they want to learn and tapping their feet in time. house of the rising sun, bad moon rising, and last kiss are the current favorites, but are oen painfull to listen to, but they are making solid progress. one of my students is absolutly brilliant and will certainly become a real player if he can stick with it. unfortunatly at the age 12 he already is working hard in his dad's oil change business. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Russ:
When you heading back up this way? I've still got an envelop with catalogs in it for you. |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Russ
You are giving those kids an experience that they will never forget. Some of them will be hiring you to play with them when your old and gray. Keep up the good work.
Bailey |
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Nice chord, but what is it?
