Organisation: European Space Technology Centre (E.S.T.E.C)
Date: Wednesday, 27 Jan 1993 18:23:06 CET
From: <IBRUNTON@ESTEC.BITNET>
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.tab,rec.music.makers.guitar.tablature
Subject: Re: Chord (was Choard) Formations...
 <C1HDs3.E34@watcgl.uwaterloo.ca>

fjhenigm@watcgl.uwaterloo.ca (Frank J. Henigman) writes:
>
>So mate... tell us some more!

Here we go. Remeber, a bad habit learned early enough is very hard
to get rid of. Therefore learn to play this way, and make the proper
way into a habit. :)

1. D Maj.
The proper way (to the left, below) is usually quite adequate, even
if you strum the open A string by mistake, but if you curl your
thumb around onto the fretboard, (the classically trained may now
take a heart pill), you can strum all six strings, and it's one
tiny step on the way to playing "More than Words". Remember though
that having the third at the bass doesn't sound as good as the root
or fifth.

  ||-|2|-|                                 ||-|2|-|
  ||-|-|3|         BCSFH version ->        ||-|-|3|
  ||-|1|-|                                 ||-|1|-|
 o||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|
 x||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|
 x||-|-|-|                                 ||-|T|-| T=thumb


2. G Maj.
The alternate version of G Maj has two D's and one B rather than the
other way around, it's more treble-y sound, very well suited
to a twelve string. Most importantly, the transition to D Maj
is considerably easier.

  ||-|-|3|                                 ||-|-|4|
 o||-|-|-|         BCSFH version ->        ||-|-|3|
 o||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|
 o||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|
  ||-|1|-|                                 ||-|1|-|
  ||-|-|2|                                 ||-|-|2|


3. A 7
The alternate version of A 7 basically only takes half the fingers
and is therefore faster to get into and out of (especially from
A Maj). Much beloved of Raymond Douglas Davies (The Kinks). Note
the open bottom E, It's a fifth, so OK in my book. You can also
add the high G with your 4th finger to spice things up if you're
holding this chord for a long time. This, and the next chord are
easilly barre'd


  ||-|-|4|                                o||-|-|-|
  ||-|3|-|         BCSFH version ->        ||-|3|-|
  ||-|2|-|                                o||-|-|-|
  ||-|1|-|                                 ||-|1|-|
 o||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|
 x||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|


4. E 7
Much the same as above.

 o||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|
  ||-|-|3|         BCSFH version ->       o||-|-|-|
  ||1|-|-|                                 ||1|-|-|
  ||-|3|-|                                o||-|-|-|
  ||-|2|-|                                 ||-|2|-|
 o||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|


Minor sevenths, can almost always be played instead of minors,
and be done with less fingers. Two important ones (because they can
be barre'd) are:

5. E Min7
Yep that really is only one finger. Try to get into the habit of
using your third finger 'cos then you can use your second finger
to 're-inforce' your barre'. Sounds better than E Min especially
when followed by a chord with an E in it somewhere.

 o||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|
  ||-|-|4|         BCSFH version ->       o||-|-|-|
 o||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|
  ||-|3|-|                                o||-|-|-|
  ||-|2|-|                                 ||-|3|-|
 o||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|


6. A Min7
Again you can use this in place of most instances of A Min.

  ||-|-|4|                                o||-|-|-|
  ||1|-|-|         BCSFH version ->        ||1|-|-|
  ||-|3|-|                                o||-|-|-|
  ||-|2|-|                                 ||-|2|-|
 o||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|
 x||-|-|-|                                o||-|-|-|

Diminshed chords, are real gems. The notes in them are evenly spaced,
so one chord counts as the correct diminished for four keys. If you
are stuck for the right chord, stick in a diminished containing the
note you're singing (if you've got a strong enough voice - mine's
no good for this, or any kind of singing for that matter). Augumented
chords work in a similar manner, but are less important harmonically.

>Speaking of bar chords, I have a couple questions.  First of all why
>does everyone here call them "barre" chords.  They weren't invented
>by Martin Barre, were they?  (^:

I have a lot of respect for Martin Barre because he was the
long-standing lead guitarist in a band where the lead singer was
an obviously better guitarist than he was. I'm suprised that
anyone knows who he is! Perhaps we should start the M.B. award
for the overlooked, overshadowed lead-axeman,... Ace Frehley step
forward...

Barre (I can't get an e-acute on this keyboard), phonetically -
bah-ray, is a French word. It means bar. Streching your fingers
over all of the strings is called a 'Grand Barre' grand means big.
Streching over the B & E strings only, and this is dissapointing,
is called a small barre. I've often wondered why not 'petite',
c'est la vie.

Having exhaused my command of the French language, back to chords.

7. C Maj
It's our old friend again. Remember:

> o||-|-|-|      but for most purposes,     ||-|-|-| real name:
>  ||1|-|-|      the superior, but less     ||1|-|-| Cmaj(G bass)
> o||-|-|-|      correct fingering is:      ||-|-|-|
>  ||-|2|-|                                 ||-|2|-|
>  ||-|-|3|                                 ||-|-|4|
> x||-|-|-|                                 ||-|-|3|

                                            p.s. I'm sure it's a 4

well, C to G (BCSFH) transitions can be simplified by using the
following C Maj:

                                           ||-|-|4|
                                           ||-|-|x| <- Muted here with
                                          o||-|-|-|    finger 3
                                           ||-|1|-|
                                           ||-|-|2|
                                          x||-|-|-|

Not a real strummer's chord, but handy if you're picking (Try Kathy's
song), and makes the three chord trick in the key of G really easy
if you're using the recommended G Maj shape (2.).

This post is getting way too big therefore why not try for yourself
to liberate your thumb to the freedom of the fretboard and turn a
small barre F Maj into a grand barre F Maj, without the barre. I've
never managed it, (small hands - honest), but I've seen it done
by a fifteen-year-old playing a BIG twelve string.

Cheers,

IAn Brunton.    <><

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