Help me settle a bet. What chord do you hear?

[Axtman]

This is one of the songs that my band covers. I have a disagreement between the keyboard player and guitar player versus me (bass player). They hear one chord I hear another.

Here is the song. Telling Stories by Tracy Chapman:

Here is the tab for the bridge. It starts at about 2:05.

[Bridge]
D C G
Feel the pity and the pain for the ones who do not speak
D C (G or Em)?
Back the words you get respect and compassion and for posterity
C Em G D/F# Em
Spread the words and make believe there is truth in the space between.

Please listen, play along and tell me what you think. Thanks!

FYI: I am not affiliated with Tracy Chapman.

 

[Winslow]

The chord is a blue dress!

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

 

[Jeff Scott]

You mean I have to pull out a guitar and actually compare the two?

 

[Axtman]

You mean I have to pull out a guitar and actually compare the two?

Or just play bass. ;-)

 

[Jeff Scott]

Definitely G on the first line, and Em on the second one.

The bill is in the mail....................

 

[Jeff Scott]

Or just play bass. ;-)

Not as fun, though, for something like this.

 

[mark286]

I hear the bass playing an E on "posterity." Of course E minor is the relative minor to G major, so both chords share the same notes. So you're all in agreement after all, and therefore one happy band

 

[cattrax]

Definitely hearing an Em chord on the word "posterity". I have the score and just double checked. One of my favorite artists (and songs)!

 

[LightForce104]

Em for sure. Also, those D chords are D7s.

 

[40Hz]

E minor on the last chord of the second line.

 

[Reedt2000]

Yup, Em. That COULD be the bass playing the E with a G major chord in the guitar making it Em7

 

[Jeff Scott]

Em guitar chord.

 

[JimmyM]

Em totally.

 

[JimmyM]

Yup, Em. That COULD be the bass playing the E with a G major chord in the guitar making it Em7

Whatever note the bass player plays, that is the root note. It's law. The guitar player can play G-B-D all day long and never play an E, but if the bassist plays an E, it's an Em7. Sounds to me like the guitarist is playing a straight up Em, though, until the last beat of that bar, then I hear a D. Probably Tracy doing it...sounds like an acoustic.

It's a great power we yield, but with great power comes great respo...eh, pfft responsibility...start screwing your bands up!

 

[Reedt2000]

Whatever note the bass player plays, that is the root note. It's law. The guitar player can play G-B-D all day long and never play an E, but if the bassist plays an E, it's an Em7. Sounds to me like the guitarist is playing a straight up Em, though, until the last beat of that bar, then I hear a D. Probably Tracy doing it...sounds like an acoustic.

I get that. It could be (and I put could in caps to really hedge my bet ) that if the guitarist wants to play a G chord voicing and the bassist an open E they might both be right

 

[JRA]

it's an Em. on purpose. the guitar's chord/notes don't matter on this one. no bets to hedge. use your ears ---

 

[JimmyM]

I get that. It could be (and I put could in caps to really hedge my bet ) that if the guitarist wants to play a G chord voicing and the bassist an open E they might both be right

Nope, that's impossible, bro. I guess you missed the part where I said it was law

 

[Erithon]

I voted Em. Not only is the chord quality different from the first line, but the bass note is clearly lower (the interval from the C is larger) and the same pitch as the harmony under "make" which everyone agrees is Em.

Of course E minor is the relative minor to G major, so both chords share the same notes. So you're all in agreement after all, and therefore one happy band

Not quite: "relative minor" applies to scales, not chords. In this case both chords share 2 of 3 notes, not all 3 notes

 

[40Hz]

It's a great power we yield, but with great power comes great respo...eh, pfft responsibility...start screwing your bands up!

Yep. Chord reharmonization is a favorite way for a savvy bass player to piss guitarists off.

Oh? You say G? Well I say Em. So let’s come to an accommodation - and say Em7.

Bwahahahahaha!

 

[Kmonk]

Em.