How the hell do I fret this chord?

[Invisible_Kid]

I just wrote a solo bass song, and the final chord is an Eb Major 7 (with the 3 on top, to resolve the guide-tone melody). I wrote it out like this:

G------12------
D------12------
A------13------
E------11------

However, the best fingering I can come up with for it is to bar the G and D with my pinky, go over my pinky with my ring finger to hit the Bb, and fret the Eb with my pointer finger, which is a bit painful. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Timmah]

Index on the E, ring on the A, and middle barring the D&G?

[Invisible_Kid]

Originally Posted by Timmah

Index on the E, ring on the A, and middle barring the D&G?

My middle finger can't bend enough to fret the G. If it does, then my index finger is to short to reach the E.

[DeathFromBelow]

G-pinky
D-middle
Bb-ring
Eb-pointer

[Invisible_Kid]

Originally Posted by DeathFromBelow

G-pinky
D-middle
Bb-ring
Eb-pointer

Thank you.

[DeathFromBelow]

No problem.

[Basshoofd]

I'd leave out the fifth. No loss of harmonic content and it may even clear up some mud.

[Schlyder]

Originally Posted by Basshoofd

I'd leave out the fifth. No loss of harmonic content and it may even clear up some mud.

^this

[Skitch it!]

This is how I feel it.

Ring -G
Mid - D
Pinky - Bb
Index - Eb

[anezthes]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

This is how I feel it.

Ring -G
Mid - D
Pinky - Bb
Index - Eb

+1

[DeathFromBelow]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

This is how I feel it.

Ring -G
Mid - D
Pinky - Bb
Index - Eb

Yep, I hear ya, but with my stumpy short fingers, this is just more comfortable:

Originally Posted by DeathFromBelow

G-pinky
D-middle
Bb-ring
Eb-pointer

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

The best fingerings for me are:

G: Middle
D: Ring
A: Pinky
E: Index

Another option is to barre the G and D strings with your index finger, middle finger on the A string and tap the E string with your plucking hand's index finger immediately after playing the other three notes. You can even tap all four notes at the same time with the same disposition.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by Basshoofd

I'd leave out the fifth. No loss of harmonic content and it may even clear up some mud.

I'd wholeheartedly agree with your advice if the chord layout were like this:



But if the OP definitely wants to keep the third on top, removing the fifth will result in something like this:



Not that it CANNOT be done, but that "direct" (I mean, with nothing in-between) major seventh interval between the lower voices doesn't sound that good to me. The upper voice isn't enough to "mask" such strong dissonance. If it weren't a solo bass piece, I'd even prefer this (again, assuming that the OP definitely wants the third on top):



A piano, guitar or another bass (or all of them) would complete the chord. Now, from another point of view, there's nothing wrong with playing a G minor chord (an Eb Maj7 minus the root) and leave the rest to the audience's imagination. Not the best approach from an strictly technical standpoint, but nothing terribly wrong with it either.

YMMV, of course. This is just my opinion.

[M.Wrenn]

Originally Posted by Basshoofd

I'd leave out the fifth. No loss of harmonic content and it may even clear up some mud.

+1

[Skitch it!]

I like the 5th in there, in that frequency range I don't find it offensive.

Or you could voice it with harmonics:

Eb - Mid (6th fret A string)
D harmonic - Index (barre) - above 5th fret D string
G Harmonic - Index (barre) - above 5th fret G string

Nice voicing without the 5th.

[jordan2]

As many have said before, I would leave out the 5th but If I were going to play the chord like you said I personally would use my thumb on E, ring on A, pointer and middle finger on D and G. I know using the thumb is weird and many might disagree but that's probably what I'd do if I were playing the chord as you said.

Best answer: leave out the 5th IMO.

[DeathFromBelow]

Talkbass: Providing complicated answers to simple questions since 1998.

[sammyp]

leave out the Bb ...you don't need it.....and it's making things really hard on the mits!

if you must it's 1st finger E string, pinky A string, 2nd finger D string, 3rd finger G String!

but as others have noted....leaving out the a string on this chord really opens it up ...sounds good!

[drumvsbass]

Leave out the fifth, but also use the twelfth fret harmonics for the D and G. :P

[drumvsbass]

Or... If you're feeling really jaco, Eb on the sixth fret of the A string and the d and g harmonics at the fifth fret... Just sayin