Help me with Sus, add, and other things!

[JeremyT]

I think I dug myself a little deep. I have been practicing about 4 hours a day and writing my own music and am very proud of what I have written... I started to learn some songs today from an Acoustic Guitar magazine... Problem is that I have been learning songs by tab and just memorizing where chords are.... Ok here is what I need explained.. Keep in mind I know all of the basic chords A-G....

Sus chords - why are they called suspended?

Add Chords - what does that mean?

chords like g5, Dsus4, Csus2, Dadd9 - What do these numbers mean

I hope I havent dug a grave for my playing by not learning this.... any help would be greatly appreciated

[LChance]

Sus chords - why are they called suspended?


Generally, we build chords by using the 1st, 3rd & 5th degree notes of a given scale. Well, if you remove the 3rd and replace it with the 2nd (sus2) or the 4th (sus4) degree notes, you get a suspended chord.

Let's look at the C major scale, for example. The C major scale is comprised of the C (root or tonic/1st), D (2nd), E (3rd), F (4th), G (5th), A (6th), B (7th) and then back to the C again (the root - one octive higher). Now, if we wish to make a open C chord from that scale, we need the 1st, 3rd & 5th notes of that scale (C, E & G). Those notes comprise the open C chord.

Now let's remove the 3rd note (E) and add the 2nd (D) in its place. Now you have a Csus2. Similarly, if we again remove the 3rd note (E) and add the 4th (F) in its place, we get a Csus4.

Add Chords - what does that mean?

Adds are simply notes of the scale added to an existing chord.

A Cadd7 for example, would be the same C, E and G notes that make up our C chord, but we'll add the 7th interval of the C major scale (B). Now we have C, E, G and B (Cadd7).

Now if you were paying attention, you noticed there are only 7 notes in the C major scale (with the 8th being an octaved root note). So, you must be wondering how we get a 9th interval or degree. Well, if the 8th note is an octaved root note, then the 9th degree must be an octaved 2nd interval. In the case of the C major scale, our Cadd9 chord is now comprised of C, E, G and an octaved D.

I hope this helps.

[MadTaco]

Above explanation is pretty much perfect about the suspended and add chords. As for your question about the G5 and stuff, that just means it's a typical power chord. You're playing the root note and the fifth. These are not considered "true" chords, for they're not a triad (three notes). They're two notes played together, which just happen to sound awesome. The first and fifth together create a powerful sound.

Using C as an example, you'd be playing a C and an G note together. This makes a C5 power chord. Try this out on your guitar. Form the well-known power chord shape, and the note below your root will always be the fifth.

Example - (Badly written tab)

E - 8
A -10
D - x
G - x
B - x
E - x

The 8th fret is a C and the 10th fret is a G. G is the fifth is the key of C (C, D, E, F, G, A, B) You can also add another C note by fretting the 10th fret on the string. This comes down to personal preference. There's a different sound between the two.

Or, we'll do an A5 for another example -

E - 5
A - 7
D - x
G - x
B - x
E - x

The fifth fret on the low E is your A note, and the seventh fret on your A string is your E note. E is the fifth in the key of A (A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G# - If you're not sure why those sharps are there, feel free to ask. For the sake of my post though, they're not critical to understand). Handy way to learn your notes on your fretboard if you remember that little technique.

Another helpful thing to mention is something that I've only recently figured out for myself, and if I'm wrong, then someone better come in here and flame me and correct it. I'm referring to power chords again, but this time, they're inverted.

An inverted chord simply means that the root note of the chord is NOT the first note played in the sequence. Say for example we take the C5 chord again (C, G). You can also play that chord like this, but in an inverted form -

E - 3
A - 3
D - x
G - x
B - x
E - x

The 3rd fret on the E gives you a G note. The 3rd fret on the A gives you a C note. This means that you're playing G and C, in that order. This is still a C5 power chord, but the C note is NOT the first note that you're playing, giving it the "inverted" title. You're playing G-C, instead of C-G, like the example earlier. Usually these inverted power chords come in the form of double stops, which are easy to pull off and sound slick. To me, they usually sound a little darker and build a bit more tension than a standard power chord (just me, it's all in your ear, of course).

All in all, a power chord is basically like a major chord (1st, 3rd, and 5th), but you're stripping out the 3rd entirely.

Share what you've written with us, if you've got any recordings. I'm in a creative AND technical rut right now. Keep at it, man. Post back if anything is unclear or you're wondering about other things in the world universe of music.

MadTaco

[LChance]

All in all, a power chord is basically like a major chord (1st, 3rd, and 5th), but you're stripping out the 3rd entirely.

Not just major chords but minor chords too.

In case JeremyT doesn't already know, the difference between a major chord and a minor chord is the 3rd interval or degree of the scale (major 3rd or minor 3rd). Let's stick to the C major scale....

It's no accident that the first chord we build from that scale is a major chord. :)

What makes a chord a major or minor when you build it from the scale? You have to take into account the distance or interval between the 1st and 3rd degrees of the scale. The first note of the C major scale is a C, so lets look at that chord. C is the 1st note, D is the 2nd note and E is the 3rd note of the C major scale. On the fretboard, the distance between the 1st and 2nd scale degrees, in the case of the C major chord, is 2 frets or 1 whole step. The distance between the 2nd and 3rd scale degrees is 2 frets or 1 whole step (major 3rd). This is why the C chord from the C major scale is a major chord.

D is the 2nd degree note of the C major scale. So if we build an open D chord from the C major scale, will it be a major or minor chord? Let's look at it. The D now becomes the 1st degree, E is the 2nd and F is the 3rd. On the fretboard, the distance between the 1st and 2nd scale degrees is 2 frets or 1 whole step. The distance between the 2nd and 3rd scale degrees is 1 fret or 1/2 step (minor 3rd). This makes the D chord from the C major scale a minor. D (1st), F (3rd) and A (5th) - D minor.

This formula holds true on every note of the C major scale until you get to the B (7th) note. It is neither a major or minor chord. It will be a diminished chord.

[JeremyT]

Wow. Those are exactly the answers I wanted.... But that was so over my head that it isnt even funny. The only schale that I learned was the E Major schale and I didnt learn it by notes. I memorized it as to where to notes were onthe fretboard. It does indeed look as If I have dug a hole that I am gonna have to fill...

Where should I start? Learning the notes of the board?

[LChance]

Where should I start? Learning the notes of the board?
In my opinion, The first thing you should learn are the 12 notes of western music. They are A, A# (or Bb), B, C, C# (or Db), D, D# (or Eb), E, F, F# (or Gb), G and G# (or Ab). It is important that you take note that there is only 1/2 step (1 fret) between the B-C and E-F. All the other notes are a full step (2 frets) apart, with flats (b) or sharps (#) between them. Memorize these notes. Burn them into your memory. Once you've accomplished this, all the rest will fall into place (learning the notes of the fretboard, the notes of all the scales, etc). ;)

If you know all the note names of the open strings (E, B, G, D, A, E), and have the above 12 notes memorized, you can identify any fretted note on the fretboard. Speed will come with practice. There are 12 notes in western music. There are 12 frets between the open chord name and its octive. Coincidence? I think not. ;)

I am from the school that says, learning music theory is so very important in making you a better musician, faster.

[jdawest]

wow, thats alot of info to take in. thanks for posting that. As soon as my head stops spinning, I'll try to focus on it some more.:D

[LChance]

wow, thats alot of info to take in. thanks for posting that. As soon as my head stops spinning, I'll try to focus on it some more.:D
Hahaha! Not a problem man. If you have any questions, please ask. If I don't know the answer, I'll find out and we will both have learned something. ;)

[JeremyT]

Yes thank you... I feel like I should be putting an apple on your desk... That was an excellent bit of information! Im gonna get on learning the notes right away... Thaks a lot!

[LChance]

Yes thank you... I feel like I should be putting an apple on your desk... That was an excellent bit of information! Im gonna get on learning the notes right away... Thaks a lot!
No problemo.... Just remember A, B, C, D, E, F & G. B & C and E & F are right next to each other. The others have sharps (or flats) between them.