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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Chordie's Chat Corner → Do you ever substitute one guitar chord for another?
I have small hands and can't quite reach some chords so I use a bar chord or substitute another chord that has a simular sound. I also cut my first finger on a table saw a few years ago and have no feeling in the nerves in it. Do any of you substitute some chords?
Sure. In the first instance you gave, that is exchanging different voicings of the same chord. That keeps things interesting for the player as well as the listener.
I also sub chords too, especially when I am purposefully changinb the style or sound of the song but most often when the original artist is a mutant with superhuman guitar abilities.
I do all the time. I also have small hands and they are always sore.
Thanks guys for the feedback. I really appreciate it.
I do that alot!
I'll drop a 7 chord pretty much any time I see an extended (9, 11, etc...) chord and I'm too lazy to go look it up.
sometimes I just play a 3 and b7 for a dominant chord. I also like the ii-V-I thing a lot.
all the time. i gig regularly so to fill in the sound i often play; eg, Em for G. it gives a 6th sound. Bm7 over a G sounds like Gmajor 7th. experiment with your guitar, ioften hit a chord or note by accident to find a nicer sound.
i remember hearing an interview with Mike Rutherford of Genesis talking about the making of We Cant Dance CD, where he says; "as we were jamming to write the music, we never said this is D and that's an F. we didnt realize we were playing different chords until we finished the album." or words to that effect. so i guess the lesson here is: if it sounds right, it is right
Some of my better chord progressions for my songs I have discovered though substituting an odd chord from an existing progression in a song then nicking it.
No hard and fast rules where making music is concerned if you like the sound then play it. 
If you are interested in more of the theory, Rob Bourassa has a couple great tutorials search "rob bourassa chord substitutions" -- interesting stuff.
Cheers!
Jim
Always, but it's due to laziness and lack of desire to practice and force myself to learn new chords more often than not.
All is fair in love and guitar technique. Of course it is alright to sub a chord if it sounds good to you. Many of us often take the short cut to make it easier. You don't have to follow the rules to be a good guitarist. I do the same as Jerome, I use a G7 or C7 instead of a G9 or C9. They are close enough that no one will ever ask you why you do it because they won't notice.
I substitute chords all the time! Not on purpose, I just ain't that good.
Yep, especially when I play "Substitute"!
If you are interested in more of the theory, Rob Bourassa has a couple great tutorials search "rob bourassa chord substitutions" -- interesting stuff.
Cheers!
Jim
Thanks so much for the advice. It really helps alot.
I'm not a guitar player; banjo is my game, but I have found in some songs that I substitute an Em for the C because the C just doesn't sound right. Off hand I can only think of one that I do this on (haven't had my coffee yet!) is "Route 66".
Guitar chord forum - chordie → Chordie's Chat Corner → Do you ever substitute one guitar chord for another?
