What is the missing chord?

LPManic · November 2020

I am writing a Christmas song for our Zoom party and I can hear a missing chord in a run but I can't work out what it is!

The song is in G. The verse and chorus are cool open versions of G, Am7, C.

Then the break is Em, D with F# bass and then back to the G, Am7, C.

Now, to build a bit of tension later in the song, I go back into the Em, D/F#, but then extend the sequence more. From what I am hearing in my head, it is again Em, D/F# - then the missing chord (but has a G bass note) - and then a final D. Then back into the G, Am7, C.

This is the tab of the break or run or whatever it's called (all fingerpicked):

----------------------------
---0----3----- ?------3---
---0----2----- ?----—--
--(2)-----------?------4---
--(2)-----------?------5--
---0-----2-----3-----------

Em D/F# ? D

Any ideas? I have used versions of just a G chord, but there is a tension that I think should be there that is not there by just playing D and B notes on the 2nd and 3rd string.

Any help appreciated!

(EDIT to correct the final chord. It is a D, not a D7)

guitartango · November 2020

What about A7 which gives you B D C# D on the B string ?

Stuckfast · November 2020

You could try substituting a G minor for the obvious G major there?

BahHumbug · November 2020

As GuitarTango said, A7/G, is an obvious one, especially as it has that secondary dominant thing going on:

x
2
0
2
x
3

or, a bit more fruity, this, which I think might be Gdim:

x
2
3
2
x
3

viz · November 2020

I’d just move that D/F# up to a Gsus2:

20023x -> 30023x

if you’re playing thumb over for the D/F#, then just slip the thumb up a fret.

I think the more difficult chord is that 2nd D (or D7). I prefer a C chord there. And then at the beginning of the next measure you could have a D chord like your x5453x. And after that you could even try a naughty augmented thing with x5433x. Or x5435x. Or a hendrix x5456x. To keep the thing moving.

But it’s your song not mine - I just feel the D as chord 2 and chord 4 drags the momentum a bit.

guitartango · November 2020

Or add the C/D 9th?
330030 but I would drop the top G 030030

LPManic · November 2020

Thanks for all these fantastic ideas. I had a quick try of shifting to C as @viz suggested and I like that as an idea to extend the progression even further on the third turnaround. But I’ll get more time this morning to work through it.

Hopefully I’ll get the chance to post a quick audio of it up here after I get it done.

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What is the missing chord?

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