Advice for learning new chord voicings?

[guitarrob]

Hey guys, just looking for some tips or suggestions from those that are further along.
Do you guys have any suggestions for learning new voicings?
I am a lead player but lately I have been moving back towards a more acoustic, fingerpicking type direction so I am constantly learning new aspects.

I mean, I have my majors, minors, 7's....but what about voicings beyond those?
Do you take the time to learn them or just construct them as needed?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Advice for learning new chord voicings?

Learn the theory behind how the chords are built, then it's easy to move around to other inversions.

One exercise my instructor has me do is to play a "standard" D chord on the G-B-E strings. Identify the 1, 3, and 5. Then, on the same strings, move up to the next inversion. Move the 1 up to the next 3, the 3 to the next 5, and the 5 to the next 1. Then keep going.

Do this to a metronome and eventually you'll be flying around between inversions. You can do this for any triad, really.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Advice for learning new chord voicings?

That is not really what I asked. I understand how chords are built and inversions but that is not what I am talking about. Atleast I don't think that is the same idea here

I am asking about different voicings that people use in place of more "traditional" ones.
If they take the time to learn the various voicings for the scale degree or do they just construct them as required. When I refer to voicings, I mean using a C add9 in place of a C or a Em6 in place of an Em...A7,A13..etc.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Advice for learning new chord voicings?

That is not really what I asked. I understand how chords are built and inversions but that is not what I am talking about.

I am asking about different voicings that people use in place of more "traditional" ones.
If they take the time to learn the various voicings for the chord # or do they just construct them as required.

Maybe I don't understand what you're asking then. I've always understood "voicing" to mean "inversion". Are you talking about adding extensions? (e.g. 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, etc)

 

[FretFire]

Re: Advice for learning new chord voicings?

When I refer to voicings, I mean using a C add9 in place of a C or a Em6 in place of an Em...A7,A13..etc.

Gotcha. You usually use extended chords when you're trying to hit a particular melody note or to do some voice leading with your progression.

The first response to this question posted on another forum is very well put.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Advice for learning new chord voicings?

Maybe I don't understand what you're asking then. I've always understood "voicing" to mean "inversion". Are you talking about adding extensions? (e.g. 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, etc)

I always learned that the word "voicing" is used to indicate which notes are used in the chord construction aside from the required notes, extensions are part of what I am referring to.
Perhaps I am not explaining it properly, it was just a question though.
Nevermind, I will just work at it as I go along.

Thanx.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Advice for learning new chord voicings?

Gotcha. You usually use extended chords when you're trying to hit a particular melody note or to do some voice leading with your progression.

The first response to this question posted on another forum is very well put.

I think that is on the track of what I am talking about.

Thanx for the info.

Edit, I guess I am just looking for more insight on chords and using different types of chords instead of more traditional "voicings".