1 Topic by aahpre1 (edited by aahpre1 2008-10-24 23:25:56)

  • Registered: 2008-10-19
  • Posts: 1

Topic: creating chords

i'm new to playing chords. so what i need to know is if playing cmaj the root being c on the a string what is the determining factor to choose the next note of that or any others i.e. f,d,e. i have played string bass more of my life and now learning to play guitar.

thanks
Rich

here is what i am looking for. as stated with example cmaj. what is the process for making the next note in this chord. i know the notes in cmaj ( c (being root) next is e and then c on the b string ) i am not trying to confuse anyone and sorry if i did. the chord directory is useful for finger position but how do you get those chords without memorizing the whole chart.

thanks again
rich

  • From: Almancil, Algarve, Portugal
  • Registered: 2006-09-02
  • Posts: 6,205

Re: creating chords

Hi Rich and welcome to Chordie,

One of the more theoretically minded guru's will hopefully answer your question for you.

Personally I would just look at the Chord Chart in Resources and see how the chord is played, but then again I am just a simple country boy who only needs to know it works and not how lol.

Roger

"Do, or do not; there is no try"

Roger Guppy's Website

3 Reply by Russell_Harding (edited by Russell_Harding 2008-10-24 19:38:58)

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: creating chords

All major 7th are 1357 or in c it would be c e g b  in the other keys you have to convert the sharps and flats by first useing the formula for a major scale eg. whole whole whole half whole whole whole half steps and in any chord the notes can be rearranged or inverted so c e g b could be expressed as g b e c or any combination smile 

aahpre1 wrote:

i'm new to playing chords. so what i need to know is if playing cmaj the root being c on the a string what is the determining factor to choose the next note of that or any others i.e. f,d,e. i have played string bass more of my life and now learning to play guitar.

thanks
Rich

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • From: Cardiff, Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2008-08-25
  • Posts: 182

Re: creating chords

The difference between what you are used  to (bass) and what the guitar offers is that in general, the bass plays a single note and the guitar plays a chord.
I'm not quite sure what your question is, but if you are asking about what notes a guitar plays, then it plays the notes in the chord of C major that are available on the 6 strings. A bass player will play a single note, usually, but certainly not always, the root of the chord, and maybe other notes that are also part of the chord.
The guitar will probably not play, in the case of C major, the lowest string if strumming chords, because the root of the chord is on the "A" string, as you call it.
Maybe you could rephrase your question if we have misunderstood you. There are loads on here who can help.

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: creating chords

you have to follow some progression and play the maj7 for the duration of the beats that it calls for depending on the time its written in, it can be strummed or played like a arpeggio and just as a bass has to change notes for the next chord so dose the guitar or any stringed instrument smile

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • From: NH
  • Registered: 2008-05-28
  • Posts: 66

Re: creating chords

Are you asking asking what notes make up a chord?

I will answer that question anyway, as that is the only think i think you could mean.
If this does not make sense I am sure someone else will be able to explain it better.
If you already know this I guess I wasted my time.

you know the chord is named after the root, in your example, that's C. The major chord is made up of three notes...the root, its 3rd and its 5th. To find them, look at the scale for that chord and find the 3rd and 5th notes.
for our example that is E and G

what you said "C (being root) next is E and then C on the B string" is right you have two of the notes needed to make this chord. The last one is the open G string, that will make your 5th.

now that you know what notes make up a C chord you can make that chord how ever you like. as long as it uses those three notes you are good.
and it doesn't matter how many times you use them either... that's why you have 2 Cs in your chord and not have it effect anything.

keep in mind this is just for major chords, you can go, way,way way, more into it than this.

chances are you already knew this and I just wasted my breath, but Im over it, its all good.

Mandolin>guitar

7 Reply by Russell_Harding (edited by Russell_Harding 2008-10-28 03:17:00)

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: creating chords

aahpre 1 this is a free program its called Guitar Alchemist and it has everything and more plus the chords play tones and there are scales included and all the modes and its totally free
just select the "free"choice smile
http://www.guitaralchemist.com/index-1.html

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • Registered: 2008-10-20
  • Posts: 16

Re: creating chords

Please explain how to play a "b" rif.

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: creating chords

Major or minor? you have to base a riff on the chord and you can choose from several different modes if its major you can use the relative minor of the chord or a part of the pentatonic scale it depends on if its blues rock country ect.. if its a minor chord there are several "modes" natural, harmonic ect..these are scales and you may want to inquire in the theory section of chordie for more information good luck smile

AndysMusic wrote:

Please explain how to play a "b" rif.

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • Registered: 2008-10-20
  • Posts: 16

Re: creating chords

thanks