Emaj7, E5, E7, Emin,....whats the difference?

[jpark369]

when i see these chord names, how do i know what to play on my bass? ive been learning songs from guitar chords, just to see what key i should be playing in, and sometimes it confuses me as to which E is which, or whatever note it may be. can someone help me understand. thanks a lot

[BassChuck]

They all have E as a root, so that's a large part of the job done there... but you should know more.


Emaj7 = E G# B D#
E7 = E G# B D
Emin = E G B

The E5 is a new chord symbol. I"m guessing that its a chord without a 3rd, like a power chord.

[CamMcIntyre]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

The E5 is a new chord symbol. I"m guessing that its a chord without a 3rd, like a power chord.

Yeah-that's how i've always interpreted it.

Here's a list of some of the most common chord symbols. If you don't know your major and minor triads-here's also a quick lesson.

A major triad would be spelled E G# B [think of an E major scale]. An EMaj7 chord would be: E G# B D#. We have the root (E), maj 3rd (G#), 5th (B). maj 7th (D#). Most common symbols for Emajor 7 are: Emaj7, E [triangle] 7

E7 is an E dominant 7th chord. We have the Root (E), maj 3rd (G#), 5th (B), and min. 7th (D). Common symbol: E7

An E minor triad would be spelled E G B. So an Emin7 chord would be spelled: E G B D. We have the root (E), min. 3rd (G), 5th (B) and min. 7th (D). The most common symbols for this are: E-7, Emin7

I'm guessing you aren't too familiar with major and minor scales at this point. Do a search on here or google and you should be able to find them complete with fingerings. Learning your major and minor scales make chords make a lot more sense.

General tip: for most music-if you see a symbol w/ C7 or anything. Play the letter it has-that's the root. If you see something like C7/E it means it's a C dom. 7th chord w/the E in the bass [aka the 3rd in bass...a C chord in first inversion]

If you have any specific questions-feel free to hit me on AIM.

[DocBop]

The typical chord is create with the Root, 3rd, and 5th of the scale they are based on. A chord with 7th adds the seventh of the scale. Many like to relate all the chords to the major scale to see how things change. The two main notes of a scale are the 3rd and 7th they are the main ntoes that give a chord it's identity.

E Maj7 1=E, 3=G#, 5=B, 7=D# (a E major triad with an added major 7th tone)
E Min 1=E, b3=G, 5=B, b7=D (a E minor triad. In minor the third is flated compared to major. I added the 7th for reference, it is also flatted compared to a major seven chord)
E7 1=E, 3=G#, 5=B, b7=D (a E major traid wih a flatted 7th.)
E5 1=E, no 3rd, 5=B (a special type of chord with no 3rd)

There is a lot more theory behind why these chords are spelled the way they are. If just getting started learn a major scale fingering on your bass. Then learn it in numbers 1 (or root),2,3,4,5,6,7,8 (or root). Once you know a major scale the scale step numbers related to the fingering, then you can play and hear the chord tones. Play the major scale, play the Root, 3, 5, major triad. play a root, flat 3, 5 and hear the minor triad and so on to start hear the notes of chords.

That's some barebones info to get you started.

[jpark369]

thanks alot. i really appreciate the help.

[liltommyg]

Just a quick add to docbop above.
You can see he's numbered the notes 1 thru 8 in the scale,
The "main" chord tones of any scale can be gotten by playing every second note of the scale ,
ie
major 7th chord - major scale - 1, 3, 5, 7th
Dom 7th chord - mixolydian scale - 1, 3, 5, 7th
m7flat 5 chord- locrian scale - 1, 3, 5, 7th
and so on till you meet chords that need to be played on
a piano.
this is probably no help at all jpark.

[jpark369]

everything helps. thanks. im getting it more. i just get confused as where i use a scale in reference to the guitar playing. i know how the roots work, but the rest of the scale should be used when? sorry if these are dumb ass questions

[KidFunky]

Good question as I have similar problems :-)

If it is written to play: major 7th chord Does that mean that during that bar I should play all of these notes?:

major scale - 1, 3, 5, 7th

(If that makes sense)

[Deacon_Blues]

Originally Posted by KidFunky

Good question as I have similar problems :-)

If it is written to play: major 7th chord Does that mean that during that bar I should play all of these notes?:

Nope. But if you want you can play all those notes in a walking bass line over the chord.

[KidFunky]

So you are saying if I follow that chart I CAN do that if I wish so, but I can play much less as long as they are part of that chord. (I assume to ensure harmony with the other parts)

I know this is simple stuff to many of you guys but the ability to read chord charts seems a big turning point to me so I want to make sure I understand it :-)

[BillMason]

Originally Posted by KidFunky

Good question as I have similar problems :-)

If it is written to play: major 7th chord Does that mean that during that bar I should play all of these notes?:


(If that makes sense)

No - it means you can play any note in that major scale, but the best ones for the bass will be, in order of choice or how often they should appear in what you play, 1) the root and/or fifth, 2) the third and seventh (try to not play them on beats 1&3), 3) any other notes in the key as passing tones between chord tones, or even off-key notes as passing tones between chord tones - like a chromatic walk between chord tones - chromatic means every note, rather than just the ones in the scale. Like in Blues when you end the last bar of the 12-bar progression with a little walk from the I to the IV to the V and throw a bV in between the IV and the V.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by KidFunky

Good question as I have similar problems :-)

If it is written to play: major 7th chord Does that mean that during that bar I should play all of these notes?:


(If that makes sense)

The Major scale will work, but you have two notes that require special handling. They are the perfect 4th and the major 6th. The 4th is a half-step way from the chord identity note the major 3rd. Some call the 4th in this situation an Avoid note. They would only play it on a weak beat or as a passing tone. This is why many use the Lydian mode that has a sharp 4 that doesn't require special handling. The major 6 is less of an issue it just such a different color unless play up as a 13th. Probably not a note you'd sit on during Ma7 chord. Best to record some Ma7 chord and play around with each note of the major scale to get a feel for how each note sounds.

As Victor Wooten says any note can work depending on how you articulate it. The key is learning the notes you need to articulate and ones you can use any way you want.

[KidFunky]

Time to start trying it (when I get home)
Anybody reccomend a chord chart with a doable progression for beginners? :-)

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by KidFunky

Time to start trying it (when I get home)
Anybody reccomend a chord chart with a doable progression for beginners? :-)

You can just loop a single chord or what I do a lot is take two or three chords so I can work on getting in and out of the scale or whatever I'm working on. You know best what chords or situation you want or need to work on. Take a piece of a song that has what you need. I tend to use the first eight bars of All The Things You Are. Gives me a varitry of chords/scales and a key change all in eight bars.

| Fmi7 | Bbmi7 | Eb7 | AbMa7 | DbMa7 | G7 | CMa7 | CMa7 |

There is a lot of things that you can do with those chords. Of course if you are into other styles of music then pick a piece of a song in that style. I like taking pieces of songs because I hear the song in the back of my mind and it make me think more musically than if I just take some chords. Too many people work on exercises and there playing sounds like an exercise. Let the music you play show you what you need to work on and extract that part and work on it. Once you're past the beginner stage the music you play or try to play is the best teacher. If you have trouble with something then use that piece of music as your exercise. Even technique use songs. Want to build right hand speed and control, play of Tower of Power. That way you will develop it musically with dynamics, changing chords, and notes. It gives you a target tempo and a duration to shoot for. When done you have a new tune in your back pocket.

[98dvl]

Keep in mind...

Anywhere you play on your bass (on the E-string in the example below), your fingerings for the root, 3rd, and 5th have this basic pattern:

G:---|-(2)-|-----|--3--|--4--|-----|
D:---|-(6)-|-----|--7--|--R--|-----|
A:---|--3--|-(4)-|-----|--5--|-----|
E:---|--7--|--R--|-----|-(2)-|-----|

You can even shift up to the A string, and the pattern will be the same (starting from the root):

G:---|-(6)-|-----|--7--|--R--|-----|
D:---|-(3)-|-(4)-|-----|--5--|-----|
A:---|--7--|--R--|-----|-(2)-|-----|
E:---|-----|--5--|-----|-(6)-|-----|

You can also shift up to the D and G strings, the pattern's still the same... That's the easy thing about bass.

You get the idea... hopefully.

[KidFunky]

Thanks guys, I am trying to get my theory and chops up to where they were after a long hiatus. I stopped when I had just learned the modes and was about to learn how to comfortably read and play changes/chord charts. A huge thing for me as it takes me away from remembering lines, to playing music :-)

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by jpark369

everything helps. thanks. im getting it more. i just get confused as where i use a scale in reference to the guitar playing. i know how the roots work, but the rest of the scale should be used when?

Depends on the function of the chord at that particular point!

And don't forget you can play non-scalar notes if you can resolve them!