[NoQuestion]

I'm learning Wade in the Water in standard notation right now, and I'm kind of puzzled about something. There are multiple chords with separate notes directly above them on the music measure. How am I supposed to play that? Someone else said that I should just play the chord first and let it ring out while I play the other note above it. But another chord has a note directly below it. For that, do I just play the note and let it ring out when I play the chord?

[Kirk Lorange]

Sorry, NQ, I don't quite understand the question ...

[allthumbs]

I can't visualize it. Do you have a link to a tab site where we could take a look or could you type in an example of what you mean?

[737blues]

When you say standard notation, is that, as in pianoforte? If so you would probably need to arrange it for guitar. If it's TAB and the gap between groups of notes is only one string, it may just be that the writer intended you to mute that string or it could be simply badly written TAB. (Hopefully not if it's a commercial product) Now I'm out of ideas, Difficult without seeing it.

[NoQuestion]

This would be a lot easier if I knew TAB. Hm. Well, because of that, I can't give you an example, sorry. And 737blues, this song was in my guitar book that I'm learning out of, and my book didn't explain this part of the song to me.

Should I try to explain again? Ok, let's say I have Am chord and there is a separate note (not connected to the chord) directly above it on the measure. Well, since it's not connected to the chord, I can't play it with the chord, can I? There have also been chords with a separate note not connected to the note directly below the chord on the music measure. So how should I play that?

(I'm sorry, I tried explaining it the best I could...)

[tcliff]

I think he may be talking about this:

Wade In The Water


Capo: 1

Am G F E
|-------------------------------|| Repeat three times. The rest of the song is
|---1-1---0-0---1---1----0---0--|| picked/strummed as in this intro riff. You
|---2-2---0-0---2---2----1---1--|| have to listen to the CD to get the idea.
|---2-2---0-0---3---3----2---2--||
|-0-----------------------------||
|-------3-----1---1---0----3----||

[gravitas]

I think I see what he means. Here is a link to a site that has some sheet music. Not piano music, not guitar music, just sheet music (10 lines, treble 'n bass).

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/...14 83&page=01

This being in standard notation, I'm not sure if this is the best place to be asking a question anyway, as even the intrepid Captain Kirk doesn't read standard notation. I might be able to help you out, but take it with a grain of salt, bud.

To adress your first question: when you say that your chord has "a note directly above it", I'm assuming that you mean that music you are reading has the chord and said note written as if they are stacked on top of one another. This can mean one of two things: either the chord has a different voicing (ie, one (or some) of the notes in the chord are written an octave up) OR (and this may not be the case) you are dealing with "stacked chords".

Do not let the name "stacked chords" confuse you. It doesn't refer to the way the notes appear on the staff, but by the way the chords themselves are arranged. All "stacked chord" means is that you're playing a normal chord (let's say, A Major) but you have a note "stacked" on top of it (the 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths seem to be the most popular). You can generally see this in standard notation just by looking at the note intervals. Does one on top seem to jump up with an odd space between it and its partners below? Well, chances are you're dealing with a stacked chord.

However, regardless of whether or not you're simply dealing with an odd chord voicing or a stacked chord, if the notes are written in unison they are to be played in unison.

If the notes seem to be floating away from the chords, then you're not dealing with chords anymore, bud. You're dealing with either the melody or the bass. Generally, the melody is restricted to the upper (treble) clef, and the bass to the lower (creatively enough, bass) clef, but there are instances where that will differ.

Just remember: if the note isn't written with the chord, don't play it at the same time. I hope this helps, if not, feel free to ask more.

[allthumbs]

Well said Gravitas. That strikes a chord(groan) from what I can remember from my piano lesson days.

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by gravitas

I think I see what he means. Here is a link to a site that has some sheet music. Not piano music, not guitar music, just sheet music (10 lines, treble 'n bass).

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/...14 83&page=01

This being in standard notation, I'm not sure if this is the best place to be asking a question anyway, as even the intrepid Captain Kirk doesn't read standard notation. I might be able to help you out, but take it with a grain of salt, bud.

To adress your first question: when you say that your chord has "a note directly above it", I'm assuming that you mean that music you are reading has the chord and said note written as if they are stacked on top of one another. This can mean one of two things: either the chord has a different voicing (ie, one (or some) of the notes in the chord are written an octave up) OR (and this may not be the case) you are dealing with "stacked chords".

Do not let the name "stacked chords" confuse you. It doesn't refer to the way the notes appear on the staff, but by the way the chords themselves are arranged. All "stacked chord" means is that you're playing a normal chord (let's say, A Major) but you have a note "stacked" on top of it (the 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths seem to be the most popular). You can generally see this in standard notation just by looking at the note intervals. Does one on top seem to jump up with an odd space between it and its partners below? Well, chances are you're dealing with a stacked chord.

However, regardless of whether or not you're simply dealing with an odd chord voicing or a stacked chord, if the notes are written in unison they are to be played in unison.

If the notes seem to be floating away from the chords, then you're not dealing with chords anymore, bud. You're dealing with either the melody or the bass. Generally, the melody is restricted to the upper (treble) clef, and the bass to the lower (creatively enough, bass) clef, but there are instances where that will differ.

Just remember: if the note isn't written with the chord, don't play it at the same time. I hope this helps, if not, feel free to ask more.

Ok. That does help, yes. But I still have a question.

So a stacked chord is a chord with a note above it on the very next line up? And how do I play a stacked chord?

And when you say "floating away" you mean when the note isn't on the very next line up from the chord, right? And how do I play that part when the note is "floating?"

Oh, and, this isn't really very important, but I'm a "she" not a "he."

[gravitas]

Originally Posted by NoQuestion

Ok. That does help, yes. But I still have a question.

So a stacked chord is a chord with a note above it on the very next line up? And how do I play a stacked chord?

And when you say "floating away" you mean when the note isn't on the very next line up from the chord, right? And how do I play that part when the note is "floating?"

Oh, and, this isn't really very important, but I'm a "she" not a "he."

My bad

Yes, you hit the floating the nail right on it's whimpering head.

A stacked chord is made up of the three notes that make the chord. Strip it down to the triad: the E Major chord at its most basic is an E, a B, and a G#. TO make it a stacked chord as, you'd be adding a note that goes into the next octave of the scale added note. If it were the 11th (which is the 4th an octave up) it would be the A note in the E Major chord played on the high E string.

On the staff, it would appear as if you are playing four different notes at the same time.

Playing a stacked chord is like playing a normal chord... you strum it.