What's this guitar chord?

[scott petito]

ok here comes the Berklee answer:)

it is an E/A which is know as a hybrid structure ...
also know as an upper structure triad (because it contains the upper partials , tensions etc)
the function of the chord is more important than it's name for instance in the Key of A this would indeed function as a I chord A maj9( no third....)
it could of course function differently in another key... in Ab it might function as a bII major 9 etc...( which would function as a Lydian chord)
by omitting the third you create an ambiguous harmony

Another Famous example of Hybrid Structures would be the famed steely dan Moo Majors:
F/C for instance this are particularly useful when not used in functional harmony ie they are often used as Parallel Structure moving the same voicing around maybe scalar maybe not F/C to Eb/ Bb to G/D etc....

remember that we mostly deal with tercial harmony ( chrds build on thirds) but quartel chords build on forths and other forms are used in pop music...

ok now back to your regularly scheduled progressions

cheers
SP

[Outlaw Hans]

For the original poster: E/a, Amaj7 9 ommited 3, or Asus2 maj7.
E/A is the clearest of the bunch. Stick to it. Just remember it's all about context. Now go and write some tunes.

[tropicalhotdog]

There's no intelligent answer to this question with knowing the context. What key is the song in, what's happening in the melody, what's happening in the bass, how are these notes functioning? Chords are harmonies, so what is this chord harmonizing?

You can look at most chords from a number of different angles and legitimately call them different things. I remember in school studying a piece that modulated to E sharp -- in the context of the piece, it made sense.

[The dman]

Originally Posted by Outlaw Hans

For the original poster: E/a, Amaj7 9 ommited 3, or Asus2 maj7.
E/A is the clearest of the bunch. Stick to it. Just remember it's all about context. Now go and write some tunes.

That's what I took it as, I've played some JT songs that use that chord and that's what they always called it. But then again it all depends what key your in.

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by tropicalhotdog

There's no intelligent answer to this question with knowing the context. What key is the song in, what's happening in the melody, what's happening in the bass, how are these notes functioning? Chords are harmonies, so what is this chord harmonizing?

You can look at most chords from a number of different angles and legitimately call them different things. I remember in school studying a piece that modulated to E sharp -- in the context of the piece, it made sense.

Hey tropical...

Just wanted to give you the Captain's Secret Handshake on your handle.

[PatrickWasTaken]

I thought I answered this post 2 pages ago, what's the deal? So much riff raff for just one chord....now go put your theory into practice!

[fuzznuts]

this thread is even funnier than the $125,000 guitar for sale you'll never play one.

[travisbrown]

67 posts about the third chord I stumbled on as an acne-faced teenager.

68 posts including this one, I guess.

[vernier]

"If its not in the archives, it doesn't exist".

'

[inthemix]

By it's self its an E/A. Period.

In context of the Nashville Number System:

Key of A: 5/1
Key of E: 1/4
Key of B: 4/7b
Key of Gb: 2/3b
Key of Db: 3b/6b
Key of Ab: 6b/2b
Key of Eb: 2b/5b
Key of Bb: 5b/7
Key of F: 7/3
Key of C: 3/6
Key of G: 6/2
Key of D: 2/5

I guess that's what people are talking about context for....funny how many names 1 chord can have.

It's just an E over an A in reality.

[dbbubba]

Originally Posted by Quint

The two songs I listed above aren't heavy or distorted and I think that chord sounds just fine in those songs. But to each their own.

I wasn't referring to that specific chord.
I was referring to other "incomplete" and "odd" chords that metal guys used.

[tropicalhotdog]

Originally Posted by theblue1

Hey tropical...

Just wanted to give you the Captain's Secret Handshake on your handle.

Thanks. And I dig your tweed coat.

[Unclenny]

Originally Posted by theblue1

Me... I never know the name of the chord I'm playing and seldom care

For me........it usually either:

Originally Posted by travisbrown

A two finger farmer chord

.....or a one finger landscaper chord.

Come Away With Me

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by tropicalhotdog

Thanks. And I dig your tweed coat.

Not bad for $5 at the Goodwill, huh?




(Took me a while to figure that 'tweed coat' reference out, actually. I'd forgotten that the tkmajor.com link in my sig was to the business site, rather than my hidden 'afterhours' page that it's normally linked to (and is again). On the business pages, I decided to make a concerted attempt to look like an affable, approachable, friendly businessman. So much for truth in packaging. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do to get over. )

_____________

Hey, Uncle Lenny -- lovin' "Come Away with Me"...

One finger chords... let's not forget, one finger can hold down 6 strings.

[Unclenny]

Originally Posted by theblue1

let's not forget, one finger can hold down 6 strings.

My secret is out.

Thanks TK (and kind regards to Christine).

[guitarwes]

E/A?! Come on, who in their right mind thinks of it in this context? I wouldn't call that a I chord in a song, as he's probably hearing it. The A Maj9 people have it nailed... for general pop/ rock/ jazz stuff. If you really want to have fun (it's a gorgeous voicing when played right), take that chord, slide it up and turn it into a barre! Instantly you now have 12 Maj9 chords!

If you want to start a theory war, what chord is this:
-----3-----
-----3-----
-----5-----
-----6-----
-----x-----
-----x-----

I can think of at least 4 including E Hendrix... and no, you don't HAVE to have a root or 3rd in it to qualify-- that's what the bass player's for!

Music lessons, music degrees, and general musical knowledge in more than one genre help alot! Ask a jazz player about harmony, then ask a classical player, then finally ask a rocker. We all approach these things differently, but in the end musical knowledge gives you faster, more pleasing results, and namely the approach to different styles.

"Those fingerings don't make a chord?"

"Fmaj7b5/E???"

Umm... how about simplicity... let's just think of it as a pretty A chord!

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by guitarwes

E/A?! Come on, who in their right mind thinks of it in this context?

depends what everyone else in the band is playing at that point - if they're all hitting straight E's with the bass player on an A, it's E/A!

[guitarwes]

Ahh... but if he's building the song from that chord, then why would he put the fourth in the bass of a I chord?
Personally, I don't like my bass players hitting the fourth while the band lands on the tonic at the end of a song.

I understand E/A, which is the next most useful answer, but it wouldn't work well for a I chord.

Finally, why not call it an A Maj9? It's a lesson in Upper-tertian harmony!

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by guitarwes

E/A?! Come on, who in their right mind thinks of it in this context? I wouldn't call that a I chord in a song, as he's probably hearing it. The A Maj9 people have it nailed... for general pop/ rock/ jazz stuff. If you really want to have fun (it's a gorgeous voicing when played right), take that chord, slide it up and turn it into a barre! Instantly you now have 12 Maj9 chords!

If you want to start a theory war, what chord is this:
-----3-----
-----3-----
-----5-----
-----6-----
-----x-----
-----x-----

I can think of at least 4 including E Hendrix... and no, you don't HAVE to have a root or 3rd in it to qualify-- that's what the bass player's for!

Music lessons, music degrees, and general musical knowledge in more than one genre help alot! Ask a jazz player about harmony, then ask a classical player, then finally ask a rocker. We all approach these things differently, but in the end musical knowledge gives you faster, more pleasing results, and namely the approach to different styles.

"Those fingerings don't make a chord?"

"Fmaj7b5/E???"

Umm... how about simplicity... let's just think of it as a pretty A chord!

Me... I don't know, personally. But this appears to be the way it calculates out...

Possible chord names: G#maj7b5, Gsus4/G#, Csus2/G#

Chord Designer - reverse chord generator


I do know I could most easily imagine myself using that chord in C harmonic minor (although, being lazy I would likely transpose down to A harmonic minor or use a capo to get up to C and then use more or less traditional cheezeball pseudo-flamenco fingering to get to the tired rehashing I would be likely to do. )

[skythemusic]

I call this one Amaj.7 add 9. A cool chord and, actually, very easy to play. Major 7ths are my favorite. I taught myself so I'm sticking to it.

[Outlaw Hans]

I believe that E/A isn't really a valid name for a chord without context. It would be the same as saying Dm7 is F/D . It would be if it were part of a progression. But without context I think it´s best to take the lowest note as the Key and start from there. Even though in this case it will be E/A most of the time in a song. So on a second thought I´ll stick to what I said earlier: Amaj7 9 ommited 3 or A sus2 maj7.

[guitarwes]

Sorry for sounding like chord Nazi in this thread-- it's actually something many of us did during college... have a heated theory debate on the different pseudonyms of different clusters of notes. It's the music geek inside coming out...

As for the mystery crazy chord I posted earlier, I'd like to think a sweet voicing of E Alt (aka E7#5#9 or E Hendrix... the first chord in "Purple Haze")
, G# Maj7 #11 (or Ab Maj7 b5 for the old school cats), C9#5, and finally D7#5. That chord's weird because it's shape morphs up the neck but remains the same possible chords.

[kittyboy]

Depends on context of course. When I played it with the preceding chord I was immediately reminded of the Beatles "I need you", only the next chord would be asus.

I hear it as having an A root for sure. It's A major with a little appagiatura to the 9th...

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by mister-newb

Not sure if I have the right forum, but I need help. I was looking at online charts and couldn't find it.

1st fret, 4th string from top
2nd fret, 3rd string from top

Play from A string down

Anyone??

It would help to know the key of the song, but it's likely an Amaj9 although if you wanted to be very accurate, it's an Amaj9/no 3rd. For notation purposes, you might also list it as an E/A because this would probably be easier for many guitarists to remember. You could try adding a D note to the chord by lifting off the finger on the D string and that would make the chord an A11 without a 3rd. It's fairly common to leave the 3rd out of an 11th chord to avoid the harshness caused by having both the 3rd and 4th present.