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

The chord that is played at the end of the second line is:

  • G

    Votes: 10 14.5%

  • Em

    Votes: 59 85.5%
  • Total voters
    69
#42
Robscott said:
You're wrong, it's G6
Bwahahahahaha!
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31C49C9F-DE55-4939-B4FC-8732023ADF12.gif
 
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#46
Jim H said:
I gotta strongly disagree with this. The root of the chord is not determined by what note the bass player plays, and conversely, the bass does not play only the roots of chords. If that was the case a walking bass line would change chords with every note, and it does not. If the chord is G and the bass player plays B, the chord is still G, its just an inversion with the 3rd on the bottom. Basic classical music theory teaches it this way.
However if the chord is G and the bass player plays an E, the chord is heard as Em7, because the bass is adding a new note to the chord that does not fit a G. But that same E added as a higher note, perhaps in the guitar chord (or perhaps as part of a bass run) it might just color the chord to a G6. There are no hard and fast rules, but consider this: a good guitar player rarely plays full block chords, and frequently omits the root leaving it for the bass player to provide.
In jazz, the guitar (or keys) frequently plays chords made up of the notes that most define the extended chord function, playing mostly the 3rd, 7th, 6th, and 9th of the chord. The root and 5th are the same note for most chord functions and do little to defining the function so they are usually left out.
The perceived chord is dependant on the context, the key, the scales being used, the surrounding chords, etc. Given the right context, a chord is heard clearly without the root being played at all by anyone.
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Congratulations, you, sir, are a musician!
 
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#50
To actually answer the question.. To me the song is in the key of Em, the bridge brings in a G tonality to break things up, but at the point in question it is part of a modulation back into Em. The chord is a definite Em sound.
 
#55
Jim H said:
I gotta strongly disagree with this. The root of the chord is not determined by what note the bass player plays, and conversely, the bass does not play only the roots of chords. If that was the case a walking bass line would change chords with every note, and it does not. If the chord is G and the bass player plays B, the chord is still G, its just an inversion with the 3rd on the bottom. Basic classical music theory teaches it this way.......... In jazz, the guitar (or keys) frequently plays chords made up of the notes that most define the extended chord function, playing mostly the 3rd, 7th, 6th, and 9th of the chord. The root and 5th are the same note for most chord functions and do little to defining the function so they are usually left out.
The perceived chord is dependant on the context, the key, the scales being used, the surrounding chords, etc. Given the right context, a chord is heard clearly without the root being played at all by anyone.
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:thumbsup: you're correct, of course, but the OP just wanted to know the chord --- which was not that complicated/difficult.

OP: you have the answer! collect your money! good luck 'training those ears' in your band! :thumbsup:
 
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#56
SteveHeissner said:
Sometimes its easier to just play the chord they're playing. However, there is something to be said for doing any job correctly. Good luck herding the cats. :)
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So true. I play Harvest Moon (Neil Young) with two different bands. The verse is half Em>D and half G>D. One band plays it right. The other just uses G>D the whole time. I play whatever they play. I'm just the bass player.
 
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#60
cattrax said:
Definitely hearing an Em chord on the word "posterity". I have the score and just double checked. One of my favorite artists (and songs)!

View attachment 3491630
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Though he says "second line" the highlighted chord in question appears to be "do not speak" at the end of the first line, which I think he was calling the second line because there is a pause. I hear a G there and an Em over "posterity" which is what you have provided the section of score for.


Editing as I later saw his post 30 that appeared to align with your post, so I went back a re-examined the first post and realized I was reading the Chords as under instead of over the respective vocal line. In which case I hear the Em that corresponds to the score section you provided.
 
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