What chord is this ?

[AngelCrusher]

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

Or

A C# G#

This is an Amaj7 with no 5. A very common chord voicing on Bass.

 

[lowplaces]

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.

Gotcha

I just figured that if I memorize the interval patterns I can still identify which notes are in a particular scale if I get stumped.

 

[THUNDERGODX]

You can get any triad just by using any note as a root, then going to next string down and back a fret, and then going two frets up on that string from the root fret.

 

[mambo4]

You can get any triad just by using any note as a root, then going to next string down and back a fret, and then going two frets up on that string from the root fret.

That's a fingering pattern for any major triad. There are 3 other species of triad.
minor, augmented and diminished triads will of course be a different shape on the fingerboard. And there are multiple ways to finger any of them.

 

[lowplaces]

You can get any triad just by using any note as a root, then going to next string down and back a fret, and then going two frets up on that string from the root fret.

Yes, I have that down.

I can find any particular note anywhere on my neck, and I can figure out most songs by ear in 30 minutes or so but I figured it's time to learn some Theory.

I can't count the times of picked up a theory book, but got bored with it. I think I finally found one that will work for me though. Edly's MusicTheory for Practical People. It's not so dry as others I've read. Plus it has examples written in the bass clef as well as treble clef.

 

[Drucifer]

It's an A major chord without the fifth, but with a major 8th added. A triad is root, third and fifth.

Typo, you meant major 7th added. Don't want to confuse anyone.

 

[thewildest]

Ok got it.

Sweet sounding chord.

If you want sweeter, bring the chord one tone down (so you’d play a GM7) and also play the open E string. That will result on a very nice voicing of Em7/9. If you then play an A7 there is a nice Pink Floyd tune right there...

 

[tekhedd]

The answer is, as always, "it depends what bass note I choose to play alongside it. Mwa ha ha haaaa etc". ; )

I mean, if you're playing it on bass, well, if you read the previous two pages you already have your answer.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

That is effectively a two note G# Major chord but you are playing an inversion

transition between a C# chord and a G# chord in quite a nice way.

A very unusual point of view, among the rest of the standard answers.
Over the weekend, I'll check on your idea.

 

[Spin Doctor]

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).

What about that open "A" mentioned in the original post? Where does that fit in to this whole G# major idea?

 

[AngelCrusher]

If you want sweeter, bring the chord one tone down (so you’d play a GM7) and also play the open E string. That will result on a very nice voicing of Em7/9. If you then play an A7 there is a nice Pink Floyd tune right there...

Or resolve it to an F# and suddenly it's an F#min9.

There are a lot of ways to use this chord shape, but in it's basic form, I prefer to look at it as an Amaj7.

 

[MVE]

Yes, I have that down.

I can find any particular note anywhere on my neck, and I can figure out most songs by ear in 30 minutes or so but I figured it's time to learn some Theory.

I can't count the times of picked up a theory book, but got bored with it. I think I finally found one that will work for me though. Edly's MusicTheory for Practical People. It's not so dry as others I've read. Plus it has examples written in the bass clef as well as treble clef.

If you want to start learning theory, start with the C Major scale.

Everything starts with the Major scale and C is the easiest to comprehend simply because there are no sharps.

Number the notes of the scale 1-8. 1 being the root “C” and 8 being the octave “C”.

All chords are described by flattening one or more notes by number. (Ie. 1-3-5 is Maj and 1-3b-5 is now min.)

Once you grasp that you can figure out any chord simply by knowing the root and construction.

Chord names can sound all aristocratic and esoteric, like “diminished 7th” but when you see the construction is 1-3b-5b-6, it’s like “ok, that’s just a C-Eb-Gb- and a A” - not too scary after all.

 

[Duanestuermer]

Boz Scaggs - HARBOR LIGHTS (Live)
Above is some good use of that Maj 7th chord (here in the key of C).
And tastful bass work by Matt Bissonette

 

[Mushroo]

Chord names can sound all aristocratic and esoteric, like “diminished 7th” but when you see the construction is 1-3b-5b-6, it’s like “ok, that’s just a C-Eb-Gb- and a A” - not too scary after all.

To play devil's advocate: Shouldn't a "diminished 7th" chord contain some type of 7th?

 

[MVE]

To play devil's advocate: Shouldn't a "diminished 7th" chord contain some type of 7th?

Ok, its technically a Bbb, I actually thought about that after I had typed the whole thing out on my iPhone. I thought about going back and using a different example but I was too lazy to start over. Lol

 

[lowplaces]

Boz Scaggs - HARBOR LIGHTS (Live)
Above is some good use of that Maj 7th chord (here in the key of C).
And tastful bass work by Matt Bissonette

Thanks for providing that example ! I like Boz Skaggs but I'm only familiar with his earlier material.

I've only listened once but did I hear it during the vocals and the instrumental section leading up to the clarinet solo ?

 

[lowplaces]

To play devil's advocate: Shouldn't a "diminished 7th" chord contain some type of 7th?

Aw, the enharmonic biz

Made me figure out what you two were talking about. Cool

 

[Mushroo]

A and Bbb are written differently but sound like the same pitch. Notes with the same pitch but different names are called "enharmonic equivalents" (like C# and Db just to name another example).

C to A has to be some type of 6th because C and A are 6 letters apart (C D E F G A). Specifically, C to A is a major 6th interval.

C to Bbb has to be some type of 7th because C and B are 7 letters apart (C D E F G A B). Specifically, C to Bbb is a diminished 7th interval.

Some composers and arrangers will use the enharmonic spelling (A instead of Bbb) to make the sheet music easier to sightread. So it is good to be familiar with both ways to spell diminished 7th chords. Then you will not be surprised either way.

 

[Elfsocks]

I

What about that open "A" mentioned in the original post? Where does that fit in to this whole G# major idea?

It doesn't particularly. The G# is the 7th note of the A Major Scale. If you a playing a simple A Major chord you could just play the root note (A) and the Major 3rd (C#). Generally as well you would add the 5th (E) but this doesn't give you any "colour" (that's my personal term - 4ths, 5ths and Octaves are the same whether you are in Major or Minor generally speaking, so don't give you much musical information) The chord you were playing is effectively a "fancy" version of an A Major where you are playing the 7th note of the scale instead of the 5th. I always advocate learning scales to students as it allows you to build chords forwards and backwards and upside down. I might make a quick video of this tomorrow just because typing it out is hard to describe. I'll post a link on here at some point.

I play jazz on piano and a lot of the standards are full of really f*cked up chords (Like "F#minor Dim 5 Aug 9" or whatever) that sound great in context.

 

[Elfsocks]

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 tend to think of everything by shape, rather than by the notes the scale contains. I could play you an F# Mixolydian in a second, but would have to think through my fretboard to tell you the notes in it.