• Registered: 2010-03-29
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Hey I need help with understanding some chords

I am a new learner and have 2 electric guitars and a acoustic, now I can only play the very basic "smoke on the water"

And that was easy to learn because it was in TAB form sheet.

Now when I search a bands song it all comes up different like, Dm# and F# and all that, I cant understand that, I can only understand the TAB sheets were it has like a diagram of the guitar strings and like fret 2 string 4 or something.

Can someone help me understand this Dm# F# etc please, it would help me alot and be really appreciated smile

Oh and by the way I only play on the acoustic and not the 2 electric guitars.

Thanks.

~OliverLearner

  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Hey I need help with understanding some chords

Hi!

What you're looking at are chords, which are two or more notes struck simultaneously.  Each chord is based on one of the notes in the chord, usually the lowest.   So for Example, F# would consist of an F#, A#, and C#.

Sometimes, a chord will have a different kind of sound.  That is usually noted after the letter.  For example, your D#m is a D sharp minor chord.  The D# is just as I noted above for the F#. It's the lowest note in the chord.   The m tells us it is a minor chord.  Minor chords have a more somber, mellow tone.

It's also worth noting that every chord is derived from some scale, usually (but not always) indicated by the chord name.  For example, your F# chord is derived from the F# major scale.  Your D#m is derived from the D# minor scale (which is itself derived from F# major).

You can use this chord chart to help you learn chords.

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

If you're just starting out, learn the following

C  A  G  E  D

If you can move easily between those five chords, you'll be able to play thousands and thousands of songs.

This is a good place to learn about this stuff.  But all of it boils down to learning scales.  So buy yourself a book, and practice, practice, practice.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • From: NY
  • Registered: 2009-08-26
  • Posts: 4,320

Re: Hey I need help with understanding some chords

Excellent beginner music theory there!

To explain how to read these chord charts (which I'm guessing is what you're trying to do?)  Here's an example:

http://www.chordimages.com/ramimages/i5/Achord_N02220_1.png
This is an A chord and the image represents the neck of the guitar.  The top most horizontal line is the nut, the next one is the first fret, the one below that is the second fret (which is where your fingers are going to be for this chord).  The vertical lines indicate the strings on your guitar.  The one on the far left is your Low E string (the lowest sound, thickest string) and the vertical line on the far right is your High E string (the highest sound, thinnest string).  The X on the top indicates that you do NOT play that string when you strum out this chord.  The 0 on the top indicates that you do not fret that string at all. 

In tab, the A chord would look like this:
|----0----|
|----2----|  T
|----2----|  A
|----2----|  B
|---------|

or there might be an X on the last line (low E string is not played)

here's a quick lesson on this particular chord:  http://justinguitar.com/en/BC-112-A-chord.php

So... Chords along with their diagrams are also very similar to tab, it represents the strings on the guitar and "shows" you where to put your fingers ... if you don't have the diagram, then you'll want to use that chart Jerome linked to as a reference to look up those chords you need!  smile  Have fun!

Art and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder.
What constitutes excellent music is in the ears of the listener.

mekidsmom's Website

  • Registered: 2010-03-29
  • Posts: 2

Re: Hey I need help with understanding some chords

Ok thankyou for your help I will take it into mind and practice smile

  • Registered: 2007-11-24
  • Posts: 4

Re: Hey I need help with understanding some chords

The help that you have already received is really good, and I really can't add to it much, with the exception of get a good basic chord chart and you will also NEED to learn the NATURAL notes of your guitar neck.  Once you learn these (notes) you will be able to form "chord shapes" and be able eventually to play anything!  It usually comes as a rather pleasant surprise to newbies that many standard chords have 'shapes'.  Basically, there are only about 6 shapes (notwithstanding extensions, which you may learn about later.  If you look carefully, you will notice several different chords 'look' sorta the same, but in different positions on the neck!  Anyway, best of luck.  Don't get scared of new chords; many 'big looking' ones are actually quite simple! :-))
A single lesson from a good guitar teacher will instantly solve stacks of mysteries!

  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Hey I need help with understanding some chords

Amen on the shapes.   From a theory standpoint, the chord shapes are the actual use of that theory.   I always say there are really only 5 things you need to know to play guitar.   C  A  G  E and D.  Learn those shapes, and their underlying scale patterns, and you own the fretboard.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • From: Western Australia (born in NZ)
  • Registered: 2011-04-18
  • Posts: 322

Re: Hey I need help with understanding some chords

mekidsmom wrote:

Excellent beginner music theory there!

To explain how to read these chord charts (which I'm guessing is what you're trying to do?)  Here's an example:

http://www.chordimages.com/ramimages/i5 … 2220_1.png
This is an A chord and the image represents the neck of the guitar.  The top most horizontal line is the nut, the next one is the first fret, the one below that is the second fret (which is where your fingers are going to be for this chord).  The vertical lines indicate the strings on your guitar.  The one on the far left is your Low E string (the lowest sound, thickest string) and the vertical line on the far right is your High E string (the highest sound, thinnest string).  The X on the top indicates that you do NOT play that string when you strum out this chord.  The 0 on the top indicates that you do not fret that string at all. 

In tab, the A chord would look like this:
|----0----|
|----2----|  T
|----2----|  A
|----2----|  B
|---------|

or there might be an X on the last line (low E string is not played)

here's a quick lesson on this particular chord:  http://justinguitar.com/en/BC-112-A-chord.php

So... Chords along with their diagrams are also very similar to tab, it represents the strings on the guitar and "shows" you where to put your fingers ... if you don't have the diagram, then you'll want to use that chart Jerome linked to as a reference to look up those chords you need!  smile  Have fun!

I was taught that the low E was played. Are there two ways of playing the A chord?

"Where you begin doesn't matter. Your willingness to start is what counts."
Without music life would be a mistake.
Country music is three chords and the truth.
cool cool cool cool cool cool
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Hey I need help with understanding some chords

steelstrings wrote:
mekidsmom wrote:

Excellent beginner music theory there!

To explain how to read these chord charts (which I'm guessing is what you're trying to do?)  Here's an example:

http://www.chordimages.com/ramimages/i5 … 2220_1.png
This is an A chord and the image represents the neck of the guitar.  The top most horizontal line is the nut, the next one is the first fret, the one below that is the second fret (which is where your fingers are going to be for this chord).  The vertical lines indicate the strings on your guitar.  The one on the far left is your Low E string (the lowest sound, thickest string) and the vertical line on the far right is your High E string (the highest sound, thinnest string).  The X on the top indicates that you do NOT play that string when you strum out this chord.  The 0 on the top indicates that you do not fret that string at all. 

In tab, the A chord would look like this:
|----0----|
|----2----|  T
|----2----|  A
|----2----|  B
|---------|

or there might be an X on the last line (low E string is not played)

here's a quick lesson on this particular chord:  http://justinguitar.com/en/BC-112-A-chord.php

So... Chords along with their diagrams are also very similar to tab, it represents the strings on the guitar and "shows" you where to put your fingers ... if you don't have the diagram, then you'll want to use that chart Jerome linked to as a reference to look up those chords you need!  smile  Have fun!

I was taught that the low E was played. Are there two ways of playing the A chord?

There's dozens of ways to play  an A chord.   A major is A  C#   E.  Any time you can find those three notes on the fretboard, you're playing A. 

You can play the bottom E string if you want, but you don't have to.   Technically, this would result in an "inversion" of the chord, but unless you're playing keyboard or are really into ensuring you're playing the chords according to Hoyle,  it won't make all that much difference.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website