I've just begun to experiment with ways to "comp" through a tune playing the chords in the way a guitar player or piano player would. I'm playing the root, 3rd and 7th of the chord high up the neck to avoid muddiness. I'm using my middle finger for the root, index finger for the 3rd and my ring finger or pinky for the 7th. Is anyone using a different method, type of fingering, choice of notes etc?

i play my chords either with the nail of my index finger, to make it sound a little more agressive, and for usually chords with 2 notes like power chords and what not. for 3 note and above chords i use my thumb for the root and my index, middle, and ring fingers for whatever other note is in the chord. i copped this from todd johnson.

Originally posted by Phil Smith
I've just begun to experiment with ways to "comp" through a tune playing the chords in the way a guitar player or piano player would. I'm playing the root, 3rd and 7th of the chord high up the neck to avoid muddiness. I'm using my middle finger for the root, index finger for the 3rd and my ring finger or pinky for the 7th. Is anyone using a different method, type of fingering, choice of notes etc?

I do pretty much the same thing, except I try to use as many notes of a chord I can, because with 7th chords the the 3rd, 5th, and 7th can change what kind of 7th chord it is.

One really cool way to comp is to do what Roscoe Beck does: tap root notes with the left hand and tap syncopated upper chord voicings with the right. As Beck demonstrates, practically any chord can be outlined using fourths, fifths and tritones on the right hand and a root note on the left. Once you work out the rhythms, it's pretty easy, and you avoid the mud that comes with traditionally fingered non-tapped chords. Add some mild chorusing and phasing, and you're as good as a Hammond B-3!

Mike Dimin, anyone?

Originally posted by JimK
Mike Dimin, anyone?

That fellow got me into playing chords.

I love (tastefully) using chords and double-stops. That's one of the main reasons I'm thinking of re-stringing my 5-string up to EADGC. I figure the clear, high C will sound really nice for that type of playing.

Not seriously. Sometimes when Im mucking around with the band I'll play guitar chords for the hell of it, but I probably wouldnt use them in a song.
I now know 9 guitar chords!! :p

Originally posted by Phil Smith
I'm playing the root, 3rd and 7th of the chord high up the neck to avoid muddiness. I'm using my middle finger for the root, index finger for the 3rd and my ring finger or pinky for the 7th. Is anyone using a different method, type of fingering, choice of notes etc?

If the root is on the A string, that is a good method. If the root is on the E string, then I play the 7th on the D string and the 3rd (actually the 10th) on the G string.

Here's an example of a G7 chord:

B on the 16th fret of the G string.
F on the 15th fret of the D string

G on the 15th fret of the E string

I think the wider intervals make the chord sound a lot less muddy and give the notes some room to breathe.

Originally posted by alexssandro


If the root is on the A string, that is a good method. If the root is on the E string, then I play the 7th on the D string and the 3rd (actually the 10th) on the G string.

Here's an example of a G7 chord:

B on the 16th fret of the G string.
F on the 15th fret of the D string

G on the 15th fret of the E string

I think the wider intervals make the chord sound a lot less muddy and give the notes some room to breathe.

How would you configure your fingers to play that G7 so that you could strum it or pluck each note? What finger configuration would you use to play the corresponding G-7, GMaj7, and GMinMaj7 chord?

Originally posted by Phil Smith
How would you configure your fingers to play that G7 so that you could strum it or pluck each note? What finger configuration would you use to play the corresponding G-7, GMaj7, and GMinMaj7 chord? I would do it like this:

G7: Gm7: GMaj7: GMinMaj7:
-16-|4 -15-|3 -16-|4 -15-|2
-15-|2 -15-|2 -16-|3(or 4) -16-|3
----|x ----|x ----|x ----|x
-15-|1 -15-|1 -15-|1 -15-|1

(formula: -fret-|finger (or x = mute, with index finger))
I hope I'm right on the actual chords... :)

Originally posted by Christopher
One really cool way to comp is to do what Roscoe Beck does: tap root notes with the left hand and tap syncopated upper chord voicings with the right.

Hey, thats basicly what I do, but I just play them all at the same time, what is syncopating them?

Originally posted by Phil Smith


How would you configure your fingers to play that G7 so that you could strum it or pluck each note? What finger configuration would you use to play the corresponding G-7, GMaj7, and GMinMaj7 chord?

Oysterman beat me to the reply! That's exactly the way I would do it too.

I would just like to add a point about the right hand. You asked how I would strum or pluck it. Well, I personally never strum chords or double stops. I think it sounds better when you pluck them at the same time. I do this by playing the lowest note with my thumb, and the upper two notes with my index and middle finger. It's more like a "triple stop" than a chord in the guitar sense of the word.

Originally posted by ThePaste


Hey, thats basicly what I do, but I just play them all at the same time, what is syncopating them?

Listen to Roscoe Beck sometime. He keeps a walking bassline going with his left hand (swung quarter notes) and stabs at double stops to round out the chords with his right. Some of the double stops fall right on the beat that's being defined by the walking line; others are a little ahead or behind. The syncopation's a little tricky at first, as you have to develop some hand independence a la a non-classical pianist in order to pull it off. Actually, it's more of a mental thing than a physical thing.

Another guy who does this a lot is Arne Livingston from the funky fusion trio "Living Daylights". He's not as well known, though.

Yep, there ain't nothing like a slap line followed by a double-popped power chord :D.

Originally posted by Christopher
Another guy who does this a lot is Arne Livingston from the funky fusion trio "Living Daylights". He's not as well known, though.

I caught the Living Daylights by accident. I was actually going to see Project Logic and in the other room/bar the Living Daylights were playing. The bass player made really good use of tapping as a harmonic vehicle for the tunes. He also did some great looping. That was one of the coolest coincidences - walking into a bar and catching a great quality band out of the blue.

I do chords using all my right hand fingers to "pluck the strings" nashville country style. To me it has more impact then strumming because the note sound closer. I have a wide neck 5 so physical distance between the strings hurts in strumming.

I was in a single guitar metal band and got into chords to play second to him. and to back up his solo's sometimes.

forgive me for being stupid, but do you pluck all strings at the same time, or do you arpeggio them, or strum them or what...?

sorry, i'm just really bad

simon a

I've been into slapping chords lately. Nice diversion.

to eskimobob

you can do what ever you want with them. i have one of my songs that starts of with arpegios and then goes into open hammer pluck with chords. or you could just strum them but when it's a a chord with a muted string in between it gets all muddied up.

All of the above. I like plucking

Oteil Burbridge and Dominic Dipiazza are the chordal bass masters-also Matt Garrison. dig
p e a c e

Originally posted by Gallient Knight
I do chords using all my right hand fingers to "pluck the strings" nashville country style. To me it has more impact then strumming because the note sound closer. I have a wide neck 5 so physical distance between the strings hurts in strumming.

I was in a single guitar metal band and got into chords to play second to him. and to back up his solo's sometimes.

That's the way I usually do it when playing full chords, either plucking them all at once Nashville style, or on ballads I will arpeggiate them. The only time I strum is on double stops.

And I play them for the same reason, GN. One of my bands is a power trio, and the arrangement can get a little sparse during a guitar solo, especially up in the 12+ fret area on the GBE strings.

In the oldies band, we have 2 guitarists most nights, but one of them plays keyboard parts on a few songs. If there is no prominent bass hook in the song, I will play chords during the guitar solo.

BORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRING. After several years of playing rhythm guitar, I swore I would never play another cord. That was 36 years ago.

I hate cords.

Originally posted by nanook
I hate cords. I agree, they can get troubling at times... got any good wireless system to recommend? ;)

i'v been in chords ever since i learnt a piece called Mercy Mercy Mercy, i think its an excellent way to expand your horizons as a bass player. It gives u a greater understanding of harmonies etc, and i'm also incorperating tapping into it to. Mike Dimin has helped me quite a bit, and i'm gonna be ordering his book after x-mas.

I just got a 5 string Bass Collection 335 (very nice)
and had it strung EADGC, so even more possiblities now :)

*Si*