Which major chord shape sounds the best?

yakbutter · #1 July 17th, 2006

When you are first learning guitar, all the major chord shapes sound alike. But as you play more and more, you will prefer certain shapes to others.

Personally, I think the basic D major shape is my least favorite, because it not only misses the first F# after the root, but it only has 2 D's, 1 A, and an F# in the treble.

My favorite is the C major because all the notes are as close together as possible and it sounds just...pretty!

Teddy Madison · #2 July 18th, 2006

I like G Major (2). It's full and brighter than (1). I actually use both when playing Mother from Pink Floyd. I use 1 for the standard verse and then 2 for the response from mother, the "Hush now baby baby..." part.

The other advantage is switching from G to D, my ring finger is an anchor.

Wayne

WernHalen · #3 July 18th, 2006

Depending on the music you play and the guitar the chords have different qualities... I chose the E chord because of the powerfull hard rock rythms you can play just using the top three or four stings...

Otherwise on the acoustic I would prefer the G6 or Gmajor (2) as you called it...

wjp01908 · #4 July 18th, 2006

I`m a D major man - can`t say why for certain - it just seems to me to have a happy quality.

Is dropping the low E to D cheating?

Will

Teddy Madison · #5 July 18th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by WernHalen

Depending on the music you play and the guitar the chords have different qualities... I chose the E chord because of the powerfull hard rock rythms you can play just using the top three or four stings...

Otherwise on the acoustic I would prefer the G6 or Gmajor (2) as you called it...

See, now I new it had to have a name and G6 even came to mind. Before I said anything I figured I would check first. Not one of the 5 or 6 sites I checked showed a G6 in this fingering. I'm not doubting you, just confused that the most natural progression from a G to a G6 is not depicted on these sites?

Wayne

D-Dawn · #6 July 18th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne LaBanca

See, now I new it had to have a name and G6 even came to mind. Before I said anything I figured I would check first. Not one of the 5 or 6 sites I checked showed a G6 in this fingering. I'm not doubting you, just confused that the most natural progression from a G to a G6 is not depicted on these sites?

Wayne

I've been confused about this at times also.(calling a Gadd5 a G...or a Cadd9 a C)...different sites and books naming the same chords different names...confusing to a noob...Now I am a bit more confused as the fingering I believed to be called Gadd5 you are calling a G6! ARRRGGGGHHH!

allthumbs · #7 July 18th, 2006

I remember doing a lot of party chords when I used to drink.

allthumbs · #8 July 18th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Dawn

I've been confused about this at times also.(calling a Gadd5 a G...or a Cadd9 a C)...different sites and books naming the same chords different names...confusing to a noob...Now I am a bit more confused as the fingering I believed to be called Gadd5 you are calling a G6! ARRRGGGGHHH!

I can understand your confusion. The second G chord in the poll is just a variation of a G. It can be called G add 5 because the added note on the second string is the five interval. There is no 6 to be found in that chord. From bass to top string the intervals are 1,3,5,1,5,1. Your adding a 5 to the treble part of the chord which is why it sounds so much brighter. Pretty chord isn't it. You could however play a G6 by just playing the top4 strings open giving you the intervals 5,1,3,6.

How can the same chords have different names? The answer is that while the notes stay the same, the intervals change. A simple example is an Am7 chord at the fifth fret.From 4th string to first sting, the intervals are. b7,b3,5,1. which can be barred with one finger. Handy that. The exact same notes in the same place can also be considered a C6 chord From fourth string to first string the intervals are 5,1,3,6.
Naming the chords is a matter of how they fit logically into a tune depending on the key. As you can see, knowing intervals makes understanding this stuff a bit easier. That is one of the many things Plane Talk will teach you when your ready.
Hope that helps.

BigG · #9 July 18th, 2006

Eb15dim7sus4 major minor party edition. Hey it was quite a party. I'm the first one to recognize a joke when I see one. Doesn't happen too often to a lowly accountant cum programmer.

allthumbs · #10 July 18th, 2006

I want to see someone play an Eb15

let alone the rest of it.

WernHalen · #11 July 19th, 2006

Sorry about the typo on that one.... I see I created a lot of confusion... The 5 and 6 is too close together on my keyboard for my fingers...

actually all the keys are too close togehter... I make alot of typos... Sorry again...

AT is right there are a lot of chords out there that could have two different names... two that comes to mind is the F#/D or Bm7... or the E/C or Am7... etc.

Lcjones · #12 July 20th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjp01908

I`m a D major man - can`t say why for certain - it just seems to me to have a happy quality.

Is dropping the low E to D cheating?

Will

Yep. D is it for me too. And you can ask Neil Young if it's cheating!

Musicians don't cheat they improvise and improve.

**
Les
Cheer Down

mrshred123 · #13 July 27th, 2006

g major (2)

hatifant · #14 August 4th, 2006

My favourite is G Major (2). I like it's sound a lot

marinoFret · #15 September 29th, 2006

My favourite chord is G, both shapes... It sounds full......can't explain.