View Full Version : Minor chord help...
bkhooper
Mar-27-2008, 7:57am
I have tryed doing a search for this question but couldnt really get a good answer so I thought I would ask folks who are much more knowledgeable than myself. When chopping rythm to a song in the key of G with the standard 4 finger (Bill Monroe) shape, what is the best way to get the Em and does it work to just stay on the G rather than making the switch (I have seen people do this on stage). Also, when capoeing the guitar to the 2nd fret to go to the key of A, what chord is played for the Em. Thanks for answering an elementary question....
ken
Walter Newton
Mar-27-2008, 8:06am
One Em shape to try from a G chop is 4223.
On a guitar capoed at the 2nd fret, if you play a Dm shape (XX0231) it will sound as Em, if that's what you're asking...if what you mean is you're going to transpose a song from G to A and want to know what the Em chord changes to, it is F#m (which is what you would play on the mandolin).
mandocrucian
Mar-27-2008, 8:15am
4-2-2-3 Em
6-4-0-2 F#m (guitar Em shape at capo 2)
bkhooper
Mar-27-2008, 9:20am
thanks guys for the feedback.. So I guess the theory is the same regarding the chord shapes for minor chords as major chords and being able to walk them up the neck. For example the Em shape with everything moved up one fret is Fm, one more fret is F#m, one more is Gm, G#m, etc....?
mando.player
Mar-27-2008, 9:28am
I've always found the 4-2-2-3 Em I bit difficult to grab. I use 4-5-7-x for Em.
Walter Newton
Mar-27-2008, 9:30am
thanks guys for the feedback.. So I guess the theory is the same regarding the chord shapes for minor chords as major chords and being able to walk them up the neck. #For example the Em shape with everything moved up one fret is Fm, one more fret is F#m, one more is Gm, G#m, etc....?
Yes exactly...and it's true for not just basic major and minor chords but for closed forms of any of the many other chord types as well (like 7th chords, for example).
mandroid
Mar-27-2008, 10:02am
kind of with Charlie J, though, a pinky barre adds another b, 4577 bgeb then,
4677 Emaj bg#eb is right there too.
SGraham
Mar-27-2008, 10:32am
IMHO, the 4-5-7-x shape that Charlie and Mandroid mentioned makes a better chop chord than the other shapes. Running a close second is 4-5-2-0. Better yet, use them all and switch 'em around every couple beats.
Steve
Geoff B
Mar-27-2008, 10:44am
A little off topic, but the coolest Em chord has to be 9-5-2-0, stretch like crazy but if you let it ring... then again, it's not much for chopping....
But another good Em chop chord would be the 9-9-10-12.
Alex Orr
Mar-27-2008, 10:54am
I've always found the 4-2-2-3 Em I bit difficult to grab. #I use 4-5-7-x for Em.
I prefer this shape when playing out of the four-finger G "chop" chord.
bkhooper
Mar-27-2008, 11:04am
This is one of the reasons I love!!! the Mandolin. Everything is so logical.
bkhooper
Mar-27-2008, 11:07am
One more question....what are your opinions on the easiest and best sounding Am to chop?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif?
jefflester
Mar-27-2008, 11:12am
2235
mandroid
Mar-27-2008, 11:23am
ditto jeffster heres how it works:
Em> Bm[that 4577 to 4457] minus a whole step/2 frets=2235.
ala the Gm, with middle finger on the Bb, pinky on the G 0013.
index finger barre : Abm 1124, etc.
ring finger raises the 3rd to major [the A string]
mando.player
Mar-27-2008, 11:39am
Ditto on the 2235 Am.
ffpizza5
Mar-27-2008, 1:27pm
maybe a little off target but,...
i find for the most part 4 note chord chopping is a pain and gets too muddy. #double stops and 3 note chords work much crisper. # they free you up to add other scale notes and easier movement. #
maybe try the below example without over thinking the chord subs. #just know the boom is a note in the G scale moving to the next chord. #you're more than a high hat! #
a smooth boom chuck--G chop to Em to G to C ... # #
<span style='font-family:Courier'>G # # # | # # # | # # # | # # # #Em # # #| # # # | # # # | # # # #
|--------3---------------3-------|--------3---------------3-------|
|--------2---------------2-------|--------2---------------2-------|
|5-------5-------4-------4-------|2-------2-------4-------4-------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G # # # | # # # | # # # | # # # #C # # # | # # # | # # # | # # # #
|--------3-----------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------2---------------2-------|--------3---------------3-------|
|5-------5---------------5-------|--------2---------------2-------|
|----------------4-------4-------|5-------5-------2-------2-------|
G # # # | # # # | # # # | # # # #D # # # | # # # | # # # | # # # #
|------------------------3-------|--------2-----------------------|
|--------2---------------2-------|--------5---------------5-------|
|--------5-------5-------5-------|4-------4---------------4-------|
|4-------4-----------------------|----------------7-------7-------|
G # # # | # # # | # # # | # # # #| # # # | # # # | # # # | # # # #
|--------3-----------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------2---------------2-------|--------5---------------2-------|
|5-------5---------------5-------|--------5---------------5-------|
|----------------4-------4-------|7-------7-------4-------4-------|</span>
this is not to say don't use 4 note chords
CHEERS
tkdboyd
Mar-27-2008, 2:05pm
For certain tunes like Rocky Top
[Em]Down in the [D]Tennesse [G]hills
4520 for the Em then drop to X(7)452 for the D chord. It doesn't always work with all songs and it may depend on with who you are jamming with as to its effectiveness. But makes for a fast and good sounding chord
This is one of the reasons I love!!! the Mandolin. #Everything is so logical.
Amen to that.
lmartnla
Mar-27-2008, 9:10pm
For Em the 957x works good changing to the chop B at the 7th fret (G-chop form) and also with changing to or from the 7910x G chord.
I think it sounds good if you have a whole measure or more of Em to start with a 1/2 measure of one of the ones shown above then switch to another for the 2nd 1/2 measure. This can lead to some nice transitions of positional chords. i.e. G-chop at the 3rd fret to the 4223 Em to 457x Em to the 7910x G (or the 455x G chord), and vice versa for another pass.
Lou Martin
SGraham
Mar-28-2008, 9:40am
2-2-3-3 chops nicely too. I know it has a seventh in it, but try it and see what you think. Another cool one is 5-2-0-0 if you want to let it ring for a few beats before closing it up for more chopping.
Steve
Ctone
Mar-28-2008, 10:14am
Conrad. I really like your voice leading! Thanks for the new tricks. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Philphool
Mar-28-2008, 8:59pm
For Em, I default to the 957x shape most of the time, unless it just sounds out of place. My fingers are so familiar with this shape that I can get to it faster even though it's a shift.
For Am, it's a 50/50 split between 2235 and 5200. (and occasionally 9735)
Phil
lmartnla
Mar-29-2008, 11:53am
For Am 9778 puts a little life into it if you're in the neighborhood.
Mattg
Mar-30-2008, 10:42pm
If the key is Em, I like the 0223 position because it is lower on the neck and sounds darker. It helps the mood of the minor song. I tend to play the G string open cause it gives two G's (flatted 3rds) and adds to the minorness. If the Em is part of a major key (5th of G), it can sound cool to play it further up the neck for an up beat song or to play the B on the G string (4223) to lift it up a bit.
I had to comment on the 2233 shape. I've been learning Take 5 and that shape is all up and down the neck for the B part. Very versitile chord the Minor 7th. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif
seanonabutton
Mar-31-2008, 12:12am
there is also a cheater version which is easiest which is 0220