• Hoibie
  • Junior Member
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  • Registered: 2008-02-07
  • Posts: 3

Topic: Question on notations here at Chordie

Hello - I just joined and am having quite a time with this new site (for me).  I am a relative beginner after having taken quite a few years off.

In the Songs section, I'm finding chord notations that aren't in my chord dictionary (paperbound book).  Is there some sort of resource or guide to tell, for instance, what is:
     B7/9-

And occassionally I run across B7/9-  1

There are others that I can't decipher.  My dictionary comes pretty close but doesn't match what's presented here and because it isn't exact I feel like I'm probably missing some key component.  Can't figure this out with what I have here at home.  I figure there must be a guide on Chordie notation, but I can't find it.

Anyone care to share a link?

Thanks.

  • From: Madeira Beach, Florida
  • Registered: 2007-12-05
  • Posts: 3,312

Re: Question on notations here at Chordie

Hi Hoibie and welcome to Chordie!

You may want to check out the FAQ under the resources tab. Chordie is a search engine, songs and tabs are not actually hosted here, so any chord arrangement / fingering you see is actually from another site. That said here are are few links for you if you find an unusual chord. First, Chordie has  a pretty cool chord chart, you can click on any chord for alternate fingerings

http://www.chordie.com/chords.php

If you can't find the chord there, here's another chart - it's gotta be on there! big_smile

http://www.harmony-central.com/pv_obj_c … 27B9450900

Rule No. 1 - If it sounds good - it is good!
  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: Question on notations here at Chordie

Hello Hoibie & welcome to chordie!

topdown is correct about the chordchart under chordie's resources . . .

In case you're curious what something like B7/9 is, it is a B7 chord with a 9th thrown in.
A ninth interval is one octave plus a whole step - in this case that would be an A.
Adding a ninth to a chord gives it a little sparkly dissonance, a little shimmering zing.
Sometimes, these 'extra' tones are nifty but not essential.
Chances are, you can play the regular B7 and it will sound AOK -

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

James McCormick's Website

  • Hoibie
  • Junior Member
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  • Registered: 2008-02-07
  • Posts: 3

Re: Question on notations here at Chordie

OK, I got it.  Thanks.

So in this case you would say this as, "B seventh, add 9" right?  Then, what does the 1 (numeral 1) to the right mean?   I'm seeing a "1" and sometimes a "2".  I know that can't mean the fret number...

  • From: Madeira Beach, Florida
  • Registered: 2007-12-05
  • Posts: 3,312

Re: Question on notations here at Chordie

Hoibie wrote:

And occassionally I run across B7/9-  1

I believe you subtract the 1 from the 9 before dividing it into the B7, so it becomes B7 divided by 8 which gives you a .... Just kidding, I have no idea what you are looking at, but I bet if you you gave a link to an example, some of the experts here would be happy to help (not me - I'm no expert!) smile

Rule No. 1 - If it sounds good - it is good!

6 Reply by Hoibie (edited by Hoibie 2008-02-07 04:02:15)

  • Hoibie
  • Junior Member
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  • Registered: 2008-02-07
  • Posts: 3

Re: Question on notations here at Chordie

OK, Till There Was You -
http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.b … nt=2578305
See the first series of chords shown?  At the end, there's a B7/9-  1

Does the "-" after the 9 signify anything?
Does the "1" after the "-" signify anything?  Note that there's a couple of spaces out to the "1".

  • From: Madeira Beach, Florida
  • Registered: 2007-12-05
  • Posts: 3,312

Re: Question on notations here at Chordie

Sorry Hoibie, I can't really help you here. My tab reading experience and skills aren't as developed as some of the experts here. Maybe someone else will chime in.

A few things that might help though - I have found that tabs are not an exact science, individuals who share and post their tabs often have their own idiosyncrasies regarding notations, etc. There is a basic "standard", but I find there are many variations to that standard. One thing that may be helpful, is to click on the "Source: original song" link (on the right side of the song page) and sometimes there are notes that will help you decipher the hieroglyphics.

Rule No. 1 - If it sounds good - it is good!
  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: Question on notations here at Chordie

Again, topdown makes a good point . . . sometimes it is impossible to know what the original transcriber intended.  That little 'original song' button is great for seeing the source file.  Often, little tidbits of info that chordie's formatting voodoo ignores can be very helpful.

In fact, I realize now that I automatically ignored the 'mystery bits' added onto the chords . . . habit, I guess.

"Till There Was You" is by Meredith Willson and was written for the Broadway play 'The Music Man'.  He had a full pit orchestra at his disposal to create subtle and complex sounds.  It's difficult to fully capture all that nuance in a version for guitar.

Here are some other versions of this lovely song that are in chordie's index:

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.r … ou_rev.cpm

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.g … 13117.html

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.g … /2403.html

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.u … p;id=92390

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

James McCormick's Website

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,662

Re: Question on notations here at Chordie

Hoibie wrote:

And occassionally I run across B7/9-  1


Anyone care to share a link?

Thanks.

Hoibie,
Many times when chords are written like this ( B7/9-  1) the writer is using the #1 to describe a particular  variation of the chord being played. Use this link and choose the chord you wish to play and most all of the chords will have 4 or more variations of desired chord.
B7#9 (x2123x)
B7b9 (x21212)


http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/index.php

Give everything but up.