chord reading (duh)

dogwhisperer · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 9:33 pm Post subject: chord reading (duh)

ok guys, i've been working through my songbook, and one one of the songs (here i am to worship) it has all the cords on the last page of the song...one of them (B) is exactly the same as another one they've put there (B/E)...the only difference is that above the top (or should i say lowest sounding string) is a little 'o'...i take that 'o' to mean to leave that string open, but the otherone doesn't say that...does that mean it's optional? i mean, why would they put two exactly the same chords in that only the name is different? hope this isn't confusing lol

PunkStar · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 10:46 pm Post subject:

Ok, basically the B chord is just your normal B. The B/E actually means to play the B but to add an E as a bass note. So if you are playing B, you just make sure you play the bass E string open. And yes, the 0 means you play the string open.

It probably won't make too much difference which B you use, but the open E just adds a different sound.

Heres a tab illustration, this is in bar chords.

B
e|---2---
B|---4---
G|---4---
D|---4---
A|---2---
E|---2---

B/E
e|---2---
B|---4---
G|---4---
D|---4---
A|---2---
E|--------

The B/E is just says to play the B as normal, but to add an E as a bass note. Which is achieved by playing the bass E string open in this case.
Although theoretically you could also use another E if you could find a way to play it.

dogwhisperer · Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 11:49 pm Post subject:

so does that mean that on the one it's optional to play the bass E and on the other one you definately should? as i said....exactly the same, just one has the 'o' and the other one doesn't...btw if you are NOT to play it, it has an 'x' on top of the string you're not supposed to play.

PunkStar · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 6:21 pm Post subject:

Not really. If you wanna play the chord properly, it isn't optional. The B/E is a normal B chord but you need to add the E bass. The B is just a normal B chord (without putting in the E bass). Maybe one of the guys who knows their theory can explain it better. But the chord is basically saying that you have to add another a bass note (E in this case) to the chord.

Steve · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 7:42 pm Post subject:

In an ensemble setting figured bass (the letter to the right of the / ) is usually played by the bass player, or piano in a pinch.

But you're right, if it's written B/E the chord being called for has E on the bottom.

Get's really interesting sometimes alone with only guitar.

Some chords w figured bass cannot be played as written on the guitar alone, although B/E can be, as PunkStar shows.

I've also seen poorly written charts where the figured bass is to the left, just to really confuse intrepid guitar players! Rolling Eyes

dogwhisperer · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 5:33 pm Post subject:

excuse me, a poor intrepid guitar player, for going on here Very Happy

...so please explain why on the E chord it doesn't have an 'x' on top of the bass E string? i mean, if your not supposed to play it, why doesn't it say DONT play it with an 'x'?

Steve · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 8:38 pm Post subject:

Because E is in the chord, so an extra E on the bottom is ok. It goes with the other E on the fourth string (second fret), and the high open E on top.

Just extra E notes. OK most of the time. Kinda adds muddiness when you're with other players with chord instruments like piano, other guitars, accordian, etc.