[defanoob]

i know what chords are and how to practice them, and switching from one to another.

but...
when they show the songs with different chord names over certain measures of the song it confuses me...
because if i want to play a note thats in the song whats the purpose of playng the chord?

i dont know im so confused

its like this

C G7
g, g, a, c D, g, g, a, c, g, ,g

C

c, c, c


i dont get it

please help

[johnnydoxx]

Not sure I understand the question. I presume the notation got shifted in the post, so the G7 is probably meant to be over some other note than the 'g'.

Anyway, here's a response based on my guess of the question:

If you are playing the lead guitar parts only (I.e., only the melody), then you might not play the chord, you might play only the notes. Someone else would be playing the chords, to make your notes fit into them, maybe a keyboard player or another guitar.
But if you are playing the rhythm, say for a singer, then you would play the chords and the singer would sing the notes.
The notes are related to the chords, that's what makes the song 'work'.

Hope I'm on the right track for the question.

[defanoob]

so you only play the chords not the notes? i thought you were supposed to try to play the chords and try to play the notes at the same time?

ahh

[johnnydoxx]

There are many situations, depending on the role you have and what you feel is proper for that role.

If you are in the 'rhythm guitar' role for a song (or part of the song) then you generally play mostly chords, perhaps a few passing notes between chords. This would be how you back up a singer.

If you are in the 'lead guitar' role, then you might play only the notes, or at other times play some chords and some/all the notes, or at other times play all the chords and some notes. The notes will often be within the chords.

If you are playing solo (such as a ballad) then you would have some combo of chords and notes. Like something James Taylor might play.

You can also look for some thing Kirk's done called 'chord tones' - search the forum for those. He plays both chords and notes.

I thought of another example - the old song 'Love Me tender'. Chords - upper case, notes lower case.
So you might play LOVE me tender LOVE me true TAKE me in your HANDS

And there are more roles, slide guitar for example and finger picking.

[tomg123]

If your just starting out just strum chords and hum or sing, trying to combine notes and chords while keeping a rythem is for later

[karcey]

When you are playing the melody notes, it can be very difficult to work out which fingers to use for each note. Often you can look at the chord above the part and see that the notes of the melody are actually part of that chord. Forming the chord first is a good way to see which fingers to use. Have I confused you yet? Give it a try ... it may help you to move quicker between your melody notes. If you can get someone else to accompany you, get them to strum the chords while you pick the melody.