[allthumbs]

I have been playing around with the chord numbers lately and found an interesting quirk on adding a more interesting chord to progressions.

This is where it gets interesting. Bare with me about this statement. There is a way to get the flavour of a minor chord, at times, while playing it as a major chord.

This is how it works. As you know from the lessons, a minor chord is made up of a 1,b3 and 5. The chord numbers are roman numerals but share many of the characteristics of the note numbers.

You can flatten the III chord to a bIII. If the III chord happens to be a sharp, then you flatten it to a natural. An example is the Key Of E. The III chord is a #G. You flatten that to a G and play it as a major chord. Therefore even though you are playing a major chord, within the Key of E it has the context of a minor chord.
Try it. Instead of playing E,G#,B. Play E,G,B or E,G,A or E,G,A, B etc.

An easier way to demonstrate this would be to play with open strings so play in the Key of C. C,E,G. Now Play the progression as C, bIII or Eb, G. To play the Eb just play E minor on the first fret with the 3 string open. Remember to play only the 5,4,3 strings for the Eb chord though.

Hear how it changes the feel of the progression. Cool huh. You may need to refer to chord charts so that you know what you need to do to the III chord to move it down a half step. I think this is called a parallel minor but, fret would have to pipe in to confirm that.

Hope that gives you more ideas for choosing chords when your crafting a tune.

[eddiez152]

allthumbs, pretty neat !

[Rockerbob]

Which one of the three chords I use would work here?

[Fretsource]

Yep - You're bringing in chords from the parallel minor key. Even when the chords are major, they have a minor sound about them in that context, because they're built on minor scale roots.
Another good example in the key of C is Ab major (Ab C Eb) converted from of A minor (A C E).

[knight46]

Thanks guys now I am completely confused ...just kidding this is great stuff thanks AT and Fretsource.

[SportyGRocks]

I dont' Get it

[allthumbs]

You need to delve into some basic theory lessons on chords in different keys as well as basic scale and chord construction to be able to make sense of this thread sporty. There are lessons on this stuff in lessons forum.