Chord chart with tons of 6 and 9 chords

[hublocker]

I have a song I'm supposed to learn and the verses go

C6 F9 C6 D7 G9


I've played over the youtube version of the song (Momma was the rose of San Antone) with my usual major and Dom7 walking patterns, but it doesn't sound right.

Any tips on the chord notes to play on this?

[azureblue]

2nds, 6, 9 and major 7 chords don't work well with b7 (dominant) and minor chords. 3rds, and 6s will as the maj.7. Using the key of C for an example, try a lick that is E (3) / G (5) / A (6). Also a 6/ 9 chords lends itself to a doo wop sort of bass part- going back and forth from the 5th to the 6th.

[Ewo]

Do ya read music notation? If so, just write out the notes in the changes, using whole notes (and half, and quarter, as needed) to show the duration of the harmonies. IOW, lay out the chord tones on your chart in the bars where they occur.

Get those in your mind and ear by arpeggiating them (get around on the neck as widely as you can) against a click. Slow the tempo down as needed, then work it up--but practice the arpeggios in time across the chord changes.

Now add passing tones to connect the chord tones, observing the changes as they occur.

Hope I'm making the concept clear...but that sort of approach has been valuable to me. See the chord tones as arrival points in your lines, and fill in with passing notes or approach/neighbor notes.

[Ewo]

Actually, you can still take that approach even if you don't read music notation. Just practice arpeggiating the chords tones on the neck--then think about filling in between them.

[nysbob]

That's some good, solid advice from ewo up there.

If you understand the chords, it's much easier to create a bassline from their components.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by hublocker

I have a song I'm supposed to learn and the verses go C6 F9 C6 D7 G9 I've played over the youtube version of the song (Momma was the rose of San Antone) with my usual major and Dom7 walking patterns, but it doesn't sound right. Any tips on the chord notes to play on this?

Here are the chord tones and the notes involved with those chords. See if the song will let you use more of the chord tones than you have tried. I don't know the song, but, from the name I suspect it's country and your R-5 will normally work - try R-b7 on the 9's see if that helps. I don't play 9's I have played 6's. Normally playing 6's is just to give it another voice beyond the same ole, same ole. IMHO not a big deal, what normally works should still work here.

A few chord tones and the interval box pattern and you are in business. This may help; http://www.looknohands.com/chordhous.../index_rb.html
I suspect the song is in 4/4 time so I've listed 4 chord tones.

C6 chord tones R-3-5-6 or C-E-G-A
F9 chord tones R-3-b7-9 or F-A-Eb-G The 5th is optional. That's a big jump IMO you need the 5.
D7 chord tones R-3-5-b7 or D-F#-A-C
G9 chord tones R-3-b7-9 or G-B-F-A The 5th is optional.

Of course play as many of those chord tones as you need for the groove. Just roots may be all you need. As you know Country lives on R-5. I like R-5-8-5 as a generic riff. Those are the chord tones - secret is finding the right combination - of those notes.

Just in case you need it........

Major scale box with interval numbers shown
G-|----|--9-|----|-10-|-11-|----|----|
D-|----|--6-|----|--7-|--8-|----|----|
A-|----|--3-|--4-|----|--5-|----|----|
E-|----|----|--R-|----|--2-|----|----|

Place your root.........
Where is your 2? Two frets up the neck - same string.
Where is your 3? Up a string and back one fret.
Where is your 4? Up a string same fret.
Where is your 5? Up a string and over two frets.
Where is your 6? Up two strings and back one fret, over the 3.
Where is your 7? Up two strings and over one fret.
Where is your 8? Up two strings and over two frets. Right over the 5. Look how R-5-8-5 becomes a piece of cake.

Place the root then those intervals are always in the same spot within the box and the box can be moved all over your fretboard. Yes, you need to put where they are within the box to memory.

Have fun.