Chords, where to find them, easy

Bengt Erlandsen · Post by **Bengt Erlandsen** » 18 Nov 2000 10:52 am

How to find the relative positions between the chords of the major scale.
First 12 frets shown key of E-major. (strings 10,8,6,5,4,3)

<pre>
P & K key 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
I | | | | | IV | | V | | | | | I |
P1+P2 IV | | V | | | | | I | | | | | IV |
P1 VIm | | | | | IIm | | IIIm| | | | | VIm |
LKR IIIm| | | | | VIm | | | | | IIm | | IIIm|
LKR+P2 V7 | | | | | I7 | | | | | IV7 | | V7 |
LKL | | | I7 | | | | | IV7 | | V7 | | |
LKL+P1 | | | I | | | | | IV | | V | | |
P2+P3 IIm | | IIIm| | | | | VIm | | | | | IIm |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |

For any other key, the relative positions stay the same.
Key of F-major all chords move 1 fret to the right.

TUNING LKL LKR P1 P2 P3
1 F#
2 Eb
3 G# A
4 E F Eb F#
5 B C# C#
6 G# A
7 F#
8 E F Eb
9 D
10 B C#
</pre>

James Winwood · Post by **James Winwood** » 20 Nov 2000 4:29 pm

this stuff is great, but what i really need is the same chart with Major 7th's, minor 7th's, dim. 7th's and maybe major and minor 6th and 9th chords too...chart is great, i really appreciate you putting all the inversions up there. it frustrates me to learn jazz chords (E9th) in only one form.

Bengt Erlandsen · Post by **Bengt Erlandsen** » 21 Nov 2000 1:08 pm

James

I could fill in all possible chords/inversion but that would be missing the point.
It is much better to try to understand actually why the chords are where they are.
And why you get the IIIm in the same position as the I when you lower both E's

There is two things I believe is important.

Knowing the interval structure of the instrument you are playing. (tuning)
Knowing the interval structure of the chord you want to play.

If you want to play a minor7th.
You can play the chord in any tuning if pedals and levers allow it.
That is if you know the two things mentioned above.

On standard E9 a minor7 is possible on strings:
10,9,7,6 (6 raised a half tone)
or 9,8,6,5 (9 lowered a half tone)
or 7,6,5,4 (6 raised a half tone & 5 a full tone)
or 6,5,2,1 (no pedals)

The tuning of the E9 and it's interval structure
<pre>

10 - - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - - 5 - - - 2 4 - 1 - 3 -
B - - D - E - F# - G# - - B - - - Eb E - F# - G# -

O - - - O - - - O = Augmented triad = ( 1 3 #5 )
O - - - O - - O = Major triad = ( 1 3 5 )
O - - O - - - O = minor triad = ( 1 b3 5 )
O - - O - - O = diminished triad = ( 1 b3 b5 )

O - - - O - - O - - - O = Maj7 = ( 1 3 5 7 )
O - - - O - - O - - O = Dom7 = ( 1 3 5 b7 )
O - - O - - - O - - O = min7 = ( 1 b3 5 b7 )
O - - O - - O - - - O = min7b5 = ( 1 b3 b5 b7 )

Compare with the above and you will see the following

3 5 7 of the maj7 = 1 b3 5 of the minor triad
3 5 b7 of the Dom7 = 1 b3 b5 of the dim triad
b3 5 b7 of the min7 = 1 3 5 of the Major triad
b3 b5 b7 of the m7b5 = 1 b3 b5 of the minor triad

C - - - E - - G - - - B - - D - - F - - - A
1 - - - 3 - - 5 - - - 7 - - 9 - - 11 - - - 13

Any Major triad can function as a minor7th
Play strings 8,6,5 at 5th fret, no pedals = Amajor
Slide to 8th fret and play strings 8,6,5 = Am7 ( no root )

Any minor triad can function as a Major7th
Play strings 5,4,3 at 4th fret, w/P1 (B->C#) = Fminor
Slide to 8th fret, play strings 5,4,3 w/P1 = Fmaj7 ( no root )

Any Major triad can function as a Dom9th
Go figure.
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For a whole lot of Dom7th http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum8/HTML/000674.html

Bengt[This message was edited by b0b on 29 June 2003 at 11:18 AM.]