Help identifying chords?

astrozombie

KatyPerryologist
I am trying to name the chords my band uses and so far I've come up short, this kind of thing isnt my forte.

here are some examples.



standard tuning:

e
B
G 4
D 4
A x
E 3




G 7
D 7
A x
E 7



any help naming these shapes is appreciated!
 
Re: Help identifying chords?

Fisrt one could be E minor add9, or G major 13, or various other things ( C Maj7#11 ?) depending on what you want the root note to be.

Second one could be B minor 7 or D6, although I'd call that one 'BAD' cos that's the notes.
 
Last edited:
Re: Help identifying chords?

Fisrt one could be E minor add9, or G major 13, or various other things ( C Maj7#11 ?) depending on what you want the root note to be.

Second one could be B minor 7 or D6, although I'd call that one 'BAD' cos that's the notes.

the root in the first one is G.

the second one IS b minor! I can't believe i didnt realize it. i guess im used to identifying chords by hand positions, not the actual notes. :(
 
Re: Help identifying chords?

You could just call the first one 'G Major 7', because the bottom four strings are exactly that. It's just a classic guitar thing of playing a chord fragment on lower strings against the open B and high E string. 'G Major 13' is technically more accurate taking those top two notes into account (actually only the E string, the B is a duplicate and is already a part of the G Major triad).
 
Re: Help identifying chords?

There is an app out there called "what chord am I playing?"
You put the dots on the fret board and it gives you all the different chords that are being fretted. Really helps If you are unsure on some strange voicings.

Not sure how perfectly accurate it is but it might help you. Have a look here:-> Link
 
Re: Help identifying chords?

GAF#BBE
=G69 or Gmaj13 (its only missing the D but theres nothing wrong with omitting notes from any voicing). Essentially 69 and maj13ths are made up of the same notes.
G(root)B(3rd)D(5th but missing in the voicing you chose)E(6th/13th)F#(maj7)A(9)

Second one is BAAD.
=Bm7.
B(root)D(m3rd)F#(5th but missing again)A(m7)
 
Last edited:
Re: Help identifying chords?

I'd call the first one Gmaj7 add 13. The intervals are 1-7-10(3)-10(3)-13(6). No 5, no 9, no 11. Because of that, it's potentially confusing to the reader to call it a maj13th chord IMO; it's just missing too much the way you play it. Do you want the reader looking at it and trying to figure out how to put a 5, 9, or 11 in (which you don't play)? That is how most people figuring it out would play it if they saw Gmaj13; they'd try to put a 9 or an 11 in there, and it would sound totally different. Changing it to "add 13" lets them know to skip the 9 and 11. If they saw the "add 13," most would probably play it just like you, except that instead of having the two B notes, they'd fret the 5 on the 3rd fret of the B string, out of instinct to 1) have a 5, and 2) not have two identical notes. The added 5th on the B string woudl not be as you play it, but it would sound closer than what someone would come up with if you wrote Gmaj13 on a chord chart. I'm not sure what the chord notation is for leaving out the 5th, or if there even is one. Stuff like this is why standard notation along with the shorthand helps.

I'd call the second one a Bm7, though out of context, I could be wrong as to what the root is. It goes 1-b7-b3.

The reason you're having trouble naming these chords is the lack of a 5th in either of them. The root and the fifth form a highly discernible "unit," "anchor," "framework," or whatever you want to call it. They provide a glaringly obvious reference point in the audible "blueprint" of the chord. A chord without one of them sounds very ambiguous, and feels as if it is just a transitional chord.
 
Last edited:
Re: Help identifying chords?

HINT - Do not automatically assume that the lowest note being sounded is the root of the chord.
 
Re: Help identifying chords?

I'd call the first one Gmaj7 add 13. The intervals are 1-7-10(3)-10(3)-13(6). No 5, no 9, no 11. Because of that, it's potentially confusing to the reader to call it a maj13th chord IMO; it's just missing too much the way you play it. Do you want the reader looking at it and trying to figure out how to put a 5, 9, or 11 in (which you don't play)? That is how most people figuring it out would play it if they saw Gmaj13; they'd try to put a 9 or an 11 in there, and it would sound totally different. Changing it to "add 13" lets them know to skip the 9 and 11. If they saw the "add 13," most would probably play it just like you, except that instead of having the two B notes, they'd fret the 5 on the 3rd fret of the B string, out of instinct to 1) have a 5, and 2) not have two identical notes. The added 5th on the B string woudl not be as you play it, but it would sound closer than what someone would come up with if you wrote Gmaj13 on a chord chart. I'm not sure what the chord notation is for leaving out the 5th, or if there even is one. Stuff like this is why standard notation along with the shorthand helps.

I'd call the second one a Bm7, though out of context, I could be wrong as to what the root is. It goes 1-b7-b3.

The reason you're having trouble naming these chords is the lack of a 5th in either of them. The root and the fifth form a highly discernible "unit," "anchor," "framework," or whatever you want to call it. They provide a glaringly obvious reference point in the audible "blueprint" of the chord. A chord without one of them sounds very ambiguous, and feels as if it is just a transitional chord.

i understand, it makes total sense, it also explains why they dont sound thick to my ears, these are the chords the singer uses most of the time to write.

I've come up with some different chords I need help with..
 
Re: Help identifying chords?

it's usually what the bass is also playing, that's why I tend to think that way.

I tend to think the other way about. To me, the original post question is two basic chords with something interesting going on in the bass. e.g. Bm/G.

The traditional way to work these things out is on a piano.

If your songwriter colleague is restricted to the cowboy chords and a few simple suspensions, it might be time to try something else. I suggest open tunings. I particularly suggest the ones to be found on the official Joni Mitchell website.
 
Re: Help identifying chords?

They look like a Gmaj7 and Bm7 to me, both without the 5. Assuming you're *only* playing the three notes shown for each chord, anyways.

EDIT: Just realized you're including the open B/e strings on the first chord. So you're doubling the 3rd, and adding a 6 (13), which someone already covered.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top