What does it mean when you see a '/' on a chord chart?

REDLAWMAN · #1 12-26-2011, 07:54 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm learning a Kris Kristof' song, 'Loving Her Was Easier'.

On the chord chart I have, it goes 'C/G' in a few places.

What does that mean and what do I play, please?

Thanks

inkslinger · #2 12-26-2011, 07:56 AM

after the slash is what the bass note is so you play G

grass132456 · #3 12-26-2011, 08:01 AM

C/G is called "C over G". The bass plays the right note while everyone else plays the left note.

gumbynotpokey · #4 12-26-2011, 08:05 AM

Do a quick google search about chord inversions and check it out.

REDLAWMAN · #5 12-26-2011, 08:07 AM

Thanks everyone; much appreciated.

REDLAWMAN · #6 12-26-2011, 08:08 AM

I clearly still have much to learn....

pedroims · #7 12-26-2011, 08:18 AM

its a chord inversion, C mayor chord is : C E G when the C is the lowest note, in the first inversion is : C/E where the lowest note is E so the bass plays the E, second inversion is C/G where the lowest note is G so the bass plays the G. Now I have a question , In a C/G the bass plays the G but as I understand, guitar and keyboards should play the C/G chord and not only C , is this correct?

Groove Master · #8 12-26-2011, 08:18 AM

here is another helpful tip to know about slash chords:

If the bass note (the one on the right) is in the chord, then it is an inverted chord like this C/G. This mean it is a C chord with the fifth in the bass.

If the bass note IS NOT in the chord like this Bb/C, then the bass IS the root of a new type of chord. If you figure out the interval between each note of the chord on the left compared to the bass note, you'll be able to find the type of chord it is. Like here if I compare C to Bb there is minor 7 interval, between C to D there is a major 9th interval and between C to F there is a perfect eleven. So if I want to notate this chord in a traditional way it could be called C9sus4. The fifth (G) is omitted and the 11 replace the major third.

Of course some jacka$$ here will debate for pages about how it should be notated differently but don't pay attention to them and take my words for granted. You'll avoid a lot of confusion.

REDLAWMAN · #9 12-26-2011, 08:24 AM

I have another question, then, but I'm too scared of not understanding the answer......!

Groove Master · #10 12-26-2011, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedroims

its a chord inversion, C mayor chord is : C E G when the C is the lowest note, in the first inversion is : C/E where the lowest note is E so the bass plays the E, second inversion is C/G where the lowest note is G so the bass plays the G. Now I have a question , In a C/G the bass plays the G but as I understand, guitar and keyboards should play the C/G chord and not only C , is this correct?

Piano SHOULD play the G in his/her left-hand if they are in the same register as you. If not, they just can play a straight C chord. Guitarists should be careful not to play the root on the lower E string also.

A very commun practice with inverted chords is to leave out the bass note out of the chord to produce a very open sound, especially when the first inversion with the third in the bass is played by the band.

Hope this helps,

Groove Master · #11 12-26-2011, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDLAWMAN

I have another question, then, but I'm too scared of not understanding the answer......!

Try me

mrtanner42 · #12 12-26-2011, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDLAWMAN

I have another question, then, but I'm too scared of not understanding the answer......!

Ask it. We all have much to learn.

REDLAWMAN · #13 12-26-2011, 08:33 AM

Elvis: 'I Just Can't Help Believing'.

Gm; Gm7; Fmaj7; (Bbm C7sus).

I think the easiest place to start is the 'm' after a note.......??

Shall I just get my coat and stick to roots/octaves/fifths and the flattened 7 I learned about yesterday, but don't really have a clue how to best employ it yet...??

Zooberwerx · #14 12-26-2011, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groove Master

here is another helpful tip to know about slash chords:

If the bass note (the one on the right) is in the chord, then it is an inverted chord like this C/G. This mean it is a C chord with the fifth in the bass.

If the bass note IS NOT in the chord like this Bb/C, then the bass IS the root of a new type of chord. If you figure out the interval between each note of the chord on the left compared to the bass note, you'll be able to find the type of chord it is. Like here if I compare C to Bb there is minor 7 interval, between C to D there is a major 9th interval and between C to F there is a perfect eleven. So if I want to notate this chord in a traditional way it could be called C9sus4. The fifth (G) is omitted and the 11 replace the major third.

Of course some jacka$$ here will debate for pages about how it should be notated differently but don't pay attention to them and take my words for granted. You'll avoid a lot of confusion.

This is good and pretty much describes the opening chord to "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers.

Or I could be wrong.

Riis

Groove Master · #15 12-26-2011, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDLAWMAN

Elvis: 'I Just Can't Help Believing'.

Gm; Gm7; Fmaj7; (Bbm C7sus).

I think the easiest place to start is the 'm' after a note.......??

Shall I just get my coat and stick to roots/octaves/fifths and the flattened 7 I learned about yesterday, but don't really have a clue how to best employ it yet...??

Now you are talking about chords notation which is a good thing to know. Unfortunately there are no standards yet but a common practice is to use for minor chords the small m or mi or min for triads (3 parts chords). Then add the type of added note like Maj7, or 7 or 6 or add9 for example.

For major chords the big M could be used or Ma or MAJ then add the other note.

The most important thing to know is that on major triads forming a dominant chord, the Maj is left out to indicate that the 7th is minor like this C7. That is the only tricky part. The rest is easy to follow.

Groove Master · #16 12-26-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

This is good and pretty much describes the opening chord to "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers.

Or I could be wrong.

Riis

I don't know that tune but if I have time I'll check it.

One easy song is the opening chord of Taxman from The Beatles if I remember correctly.

REDLAWMAN · #17 12-26-2011, 08:44 AM

And just to throw another spanner in, why do Arpeggios have the third in when it doesn't seem to be a commonly used note in basic bass patterns?

I'm probably wrong, but I'm working up from roots to fifths (low & high); then octaves then this new flattened 7th...

Febs · #18 12-26-2011, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDLAWMAN

Elvis: 'I Just Can't Help Believing'.

Gm; Gm7; Fmaj7; (Bbm C7sus).

I think the easiest place to start is the 'm' after a note.......??

A lowercase "m" such as in your example indicates a minor chord. Thus, for example:

Gm = 1 b3 5 = G Bb D

If you see a 7 after the "min" or "m," that means to add a flatted 7 to the chord. Thus, for example:

Gmin7 = Gm7 = 1 b3 5 b7 = G Bb D F

"Maj7" (or M7) means that the chord is a major chord with an added 7th. Thus, for example:

FMaj7 = 1 3 5 7 = F A C E

(Note: in my opinion, "m" and "M" are too easily confused with each other in handwritten charts or when using certain fonts like Jazz Font. Thus, my strong preference is to use "Maj" and "min" rather than "M" and "m," respectively.)

If you see only a "7" without a "Maj" or "min" indication, then as Groove Master has already indicated, that means that the chord is a major triad with a flatted 7th. Thus,

C7 = 1 3 5 Bb7 = C E G Bb

JimmyM · #19 12-26-2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groove Master

here is another helpful tip to know about slash chords:

If the bass note (the one on the right) is in the chord, then it is an inverted chord like this C/G. This mean it is a C chord with the fifth in the bass.

If the bass note IS NOT in the chord like this Bb/C, then the bass IS the root of a new type of chord. If you figure out the interval between each note of the chord on the left compared to the bass note, you'll be able to find the type of chord it is. Like here if I compare C to Bb there is minor 7 interval, between C to D there is a major 9th interval and between C to F there is a perfect eleven. So if I want to notate this chord in a traditional way it could be called C9sus4. The fifth (G) is omitted and the 11 replace the major third.

Of course some jacka$$ here will debate for pages about how it should be notated differently but don't pay attention to them and take my words for granted. You'll avoid a lot of confusion.

You know, we used to have a guitarist in my band who would get highly irritated if I wrote slash chords instead of notating out the chord like this. He would reverse engineer every slash chord I wrote, then he'd tell me I wrote it wrong and need to change it. I hated when he did that. It's so much easier to think of it as a simple Bb/C. One time I changed a chord like that for him, but after getting complaints from the person I wrote it for that the bands she was working with had no idea what the chord was, I changed it back. No more complaints.

Groove Master · #20 12-26-2011, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDLAWMAN

And just to throw another spanner in, why do Arpeggios have the third in when it doesn't seem to be a commonly used note in basic bass patterns?

I'm probably wrong, but I'm working up from roots to fifths (low & high); then octaves then this new flattened 7th...

Arpeggios are the spelling of a chord. They are very important because a lot of basslines are based on them. Of course the styles of music you play depend on the type of notes you'll use. For example in Rock, the bass might stick 95% of time on roots but in Calypso music most basslines might rely on the triads of the chords while in basic country and western music, the bass will play 1 and 5 most of the time. When you'll get good at playing bass, you'll learn how to enhance your basslines by throwing here and there useful notes like the third, seventh, extensions and passing notes.