What chord is this ?

[lowplaces]

12th fret on A string
11th fret on D string
13th fret on G string

Or

A C# G#

 

[buldog5151bass]

A major 7, no fifth.

 

[lowplaces]

A major 7, no fifth.

Okay thanks.

Is it considered an A major 7th Triad ?

 

[buldog5151bass]

It's an A major chord without the fifth, but with a major 7th (EDIT) added. A triad is root, third and fifth.

 

[lowplaces]

Ok got it.

Sweet sounding chord.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Especially with ballads, filling in chords with 7the, 9ths, etc. can add a lot. It's easier with a keyboard to fool around.

 

[old spice]

The open A string with 10th fret on D string and 13th fret on G is nice, too.
Mysterious.
You could play the open E, too.

 

[lowplaces]

The open A string with 10th fret on D string and 13th fret on G is nice, too.
Mysterious.
You could play the open E, too.

I'll try that when I get home !

 

[Elfsocks]

The open A string with 10th fret on D string and 13th fret on G is nice, too.
Mysterious.
You could play the open E, too.

That is effectively a two note G# Major chord but you are playing an inversion (e.g. The lowest note is the third rather than the root.)
If you play 11th fret on the D and 13th on the G, then slide your finger down to the 10th fret on the D whilst holding that 13th on the G, you will effectively transition between a C# chord and a G# chord in quite a nice way. You can move that pattern around anywhere to change pitch (A to E, D to A, C to G etc).

 

[mambo4]

Is it considered an A major 7th Triad ?

Just to clarify the terminology:
Even though A C# G# is 3 notes, it's not generally considered it a triad.
triad specifically implies that those 3 tones are Root, 3rd, 5th. (or R, b3, 5)

 

[lowplaces]

Just to clarify the terminology:
Even though A C# G# is 3 notes, it's not generally considered it a triad.
triad specifically implies that those 3 tones are Root, 3rd, 5th. (or R, b3, 5)

Ok, so the A triad is A C# D# and a Am triad is A C D# ?

 

[Mushroo]

Ok, so the A triad is A C# D# and a Am triad is A C D# ?

A major triad = 1 3 5 = A C# E
A minor triad = 1 b3 5 = A C E

E is the 5th of A because it is 5 letters away (A B C D E). Specifically in this case a "perfect" 5th.
D# can't be the 5th of A because it is only 4 letters away (A B C D) so it is a 4th, not a 5th (and specifically, A to D# is an "augmented" 4th).

Also, another clue that D# is the wrong note is that there is no D# in the keys of A major (3 sharps: F# C# G#) or A minor (no sharps).

 

[mambo4]

Ok, so the A triad is A C# D# and a Am triad is A C D# ?

The perfect 5th of A is E, not D#
so A major triad A C# E
A minor Triad A C E

oops @Mushroo beat me to it

A handy way to keep your chord spelling straight is to memorize the cylce of thirds
C E G B D F A (C E G B D F A ...)
since chords are built of 'stacked thirds', the always spell out in that order, with 2 considerations:

1. the sharps or flats , if any, depend on key signature
2. you spell the chord in that order, but you can voice the notes in any order

 

[lowplaces]

A major triad = 1 3 5 = A C# E
A minor triad = 1 b3 5 = A C E

E is the 5th of A because it is 5 letters away (A B C D E). Specifically in this case a "perfect" 5th.
D# can't be the 5th of A because it is only 4 letters away (A B C D) so it is a 4th, not a 5th (and specifically, A to D# is an augmented 4th).

Also, another clue that D# is the wrong note is that there is no D# in the keys of A major (3 sharps: F# C# G#) or A minor (no sharps).

The perfect 5th of A is E, not D#
so A major triad A C# E
A minor Triad A C E

oops @Mushroo beat me to it

A handy way to keep your chord spelling straight is to memorize the cylce of thirds
C E G B D F A (C E G B D F A ...)
since chords are built of 'stacked thirds', the always spell out in that order, with 2 considerations:

1. the sharps or flats , if any, depend on key signature
2. you spell the chord in that order, but you can voice the notes in any order

Okay thanks to both for explaining it.

 

[lowplaces]

I'll sit down and write out some Triads starting with different roots till it sinks in.

 

[Mushroo]

I'll sit down and write out some Triads starting with different roots till it sinks in.

A really simple way to visualize it is to write out the scale, and then highlight or circle the 1st, 3rd, and 5th note of the scale.

A Major scale = A B C# D E F# G# so A Major triad = A C# E
A Minor scale = A B C D E F G so A Minor triad = A C E

(I am assuming you've memorized all the major and minor scales. If you haven't, then stop whatever else you are practicing, and make that your number one priority.)

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

That is effectively a two note G# Major chord but you are playing an inversion (e.g. The lowest note is the third rather than the root.)
If you play 11th fret on the D and 13th on the G, then slide your finger down to the 10th fret on the D whilst holding that 13th on the G, you will effectively transition between a C# chord and a G# chord in quite a nice way. You can move that pattern around anywhere to change pitch (A to E, D to A, C to G etc).

No. A - C - G# is better understood as A minor with major 7th (still no 5th, but it's usually implied). A - C# - G# is A major 7th, no 5th, as others have explained.

 

[lowplaces]

A really simple way to visualize it is to write out the scale, and then highlight or circle the 1st, 3rd, and 5th note of the scale.

A Major scale = A B C# D E F# G# so A Major triad = A C# E
A Minor scale = A B C D E F G so A Minor triad = A C E

(I am assuming you've memorized all the major and minor scales. If you haven't, then stop whatever else you are practicing, and make that your number one priority.)

I have the natural minor scale intervals memorized as well as the major scale intervals. (The whole- step half-step patterns)

I'll go ahead and memorize the terms as well. Perfect, major, minor, etc.

 

[Mushroo]

I have the natural minor scale intervals memorized as well as the major scale intervals. (The whole- step half-step patterns)

I'll go ahead and memorize the terms as well. Perfect, major, minor, etc.

I meant memorize the notes, like for example knowing that Bb Major = Bb C D Eb F G A Bb. Sorry for not being more specific.

 

[THUNDERGODX]

I meant memorize the notes, like for example knowing that Bb Major = Bb C D Eb F G A Bb. Sorry for not being more specific.