What is this chord?

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

Grateful if anyone can help me with a chord I've put in a song I am working on. As is probably obvious I am not musical trained...... I am struggling to find the root note for the chord which I need for the baseline. I only use the chord twice in the song - as a kind of drone to move from quite a driving verse to a more floaty, dream like intermission and back again..... if anyone can tell me what the root note and chord is I'd appreciate it....

1 2
2 0
3 3
4 4
5 x
6 x

I think it might be a B? Thats the closet I can get....

thank you

Jonathangus · September 2023

I'll take a stab at Bmaj7.

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

Jonathangus said:

I'll take a stab at Bmaj7.

Thank you @Jonathangus - I am going to push my luck a bit further and ask another question if you don't mind..... does that means playing a B on the bass should be ok?

Brad · September 2023

It could be many things… depending on what is before and after it, will determine what might be right.

As @Jonathangus said, can quite happily be Bmaj7.

Stick G# in the bass and it could be a G#-9

or F# in the bass it could be F#add11

or E in the bass is could possibly be named Esus2#11

Eb in the bass you’d get Ebm(add13)

Those are just off the top of my head. Can be many more

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

Brad said:

It could be many things… depending on what is before and after it, will determine what might be right.

As @Jonathangus said, can quite happily be Bmaj7.

Stick G# in the bass and it could be a G#-9

or F# in the bass it could be F#add11

or E in the bass is could possibly be named Esus2#11

Eb in the bass you’d get Ebm(add13)

Those are just off the top of my head. Can be many more

Thanks for sharing some of your sizeable knowledge with me @Brad - like most things thats well above my comprehension lol......

Would it help it i sent you or posted an abbreviated video of the part of song I use the chord in?

Jonathangus · September 2023

I was going to say - wait for one of the proper theory gurus to chip in! But I think the bass line will depend on how it fits into the overall chord sequence.

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

ah ok - well I appreciate you helping. It actually isn't part of a sequence - it's a bridge between two separate parts....if I do a quick video on my phone how can I post it on here?

viz · September 2023

Placidcasual79 said:

Brad said:

It could be many things… depending on what is before and after it, will determine what might be right.

As @Jonathangus said, can quite happily be Bmaj7.

Stick G# in the bass and it could be a G#-9

or F# in the bass it could be F#add11

or E in the bass is could possibly be named Esus2#11

Eb in the bass you’d get Ebm(add13)

Those are just off the top of my head. Can be many more

Thanks for sharing some of your sizeable knowledge with me @Brad - like most things thats well above my comprehension lol......

Would it help it i sent you or posted an abbreviated video of the part of song I use the chord in?

yeah go on

- you'll have to upload it to something and share the link. Youtube?

Brad · September 2023

I should add, Eb in the bass should probably be Ebm(add b13)

viz · September 2023

You said that, didn't you though?

Brad · September 2023

viz said:

You said that, didn't you though?

I did… and maybe it’s the heat pickling my head?

My rationale being that any kind of chord (Eb in the case) with a 6th/13 would be a maj6/13. So in the case of Eb13 or Eb6, Ebm6 etc that 6th/13 would be C natural.

As the 5th (Bb) is already present and C (the 13th), isn’t in the chord I’m calling that B note (well Cb) a flat 13.

If it’s being looked at as strictly from Eb minor, then yeah it’s still a 13th.

It’s too hot for this today

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuIdQj5DQro

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

@Brad @viz @Jonathangus ;

I've just recorded a little condensed version - its at 18 seconds and again at 42 seconds - I'd apologise for the poor quality of the recording, but then I'd have to apologise for the poor quality of the musicianship and then the poor quality t-shirt...... and it would go on and on - instead I'll say thank you for help!

viz · September 2023

Yeah it's an F# like Brad said, with an 11th (or 4th) in it.

You often see something similar played as 244300, ie an F# barre chord with the top two strings ringing. The top open E introduces a 7th. It's a nice chord.

One nice thing you could do if playing 244300, is oscillate that bass note between the 2nd fret and the zero fret (in other words 044300), so three quick chords with the 2, and one with the 0. Or give that to the bass line to do.

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

viz said:

Yeah it's an F# like Brad said, with an 11th (or 4th) in it.

You often see something similar played as 244300, ie an F# barre chord with the top two strings ringing. The top open E introduces a 7th. It's a nice chord.

One nice thing you could do if playing 244300, is oscillate that bass note between the 2nd fret and the zero fret (in other words 044300), so three quick chords with the 2, and one with the 0. Or give that to the bass line to do.

thank you @viz so I'd play an F Sharpe? Dam - I was on a B - it didn't sound terrible - but not quite right either..... you're right though @Brad it is TOO HOT almost anything lol

viz · September 2023

Yup. I mean, making it into a B does work (anything works!) but it’s more natural and musically predictable to move from your key of A down to F#. Still gives the plot a twist, but not totally bizarre.

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

viz said:

Yup. I mean, making it into a B does work (anything works!) but it’s more natural and musically predictable to move from your key of A down to F#. Still gives the plot a twist, but not totally bizarre.

thank you @viz - that does sound better - the B sounds almost right - but the F Sharpe is right. Much appreciated.

sev112 · September 2023

F#sus4

goldtop · September 2023

sev112 said:

F#sus4

Can't be a Sus4 if it also has the 3rd in it though, right? (Sus chords are meant to be major/minor neutral, I think.)

I was going for F#add4

Ddigger · September 2023

You could try Oomilo, Guitar Chord Analyser. It gave 5 possible suggestions for this.

https://www.oolimo.com/en/guitar-chords/analyze

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

Ddigger said:

You could try Oomilo, Guitar Chord Analyser. It gave 5 possible suggestions for this.

https://www.oolimo.com/en/guitar-chords/analyze

Thanks - I'd never heard of Oomilo. That would come in handy - and thank you @goldtop - I feel very pleased with myself as an entirely basic guitar player to have come up with such a fancy chord and to have fit it into a song. I am going to choose to forget that I didn't arrive at this chord through design and take it as a sign of my importance as an artiste.

nero1701 · September 2023

Gb with an added 4th?

thisisguitar · September 2023

F# add 11 - You wouldn't ordinarily consider it to have a 4th (over an 11th) once a 3rd is in there. Usually an 'Add' chord would have the 5th too. If your bass line contains an F# at the same time as that chord, then it's definitely F# add11, I think too many people are trying to confuse things by adding a bunch of different bass note options for you, which will give entirely different names.

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

thisisguitar said:

F# add 11 - You wouldn't ordinarily consider it to have a 4th (over an 11th) once a 3rd is in there. Usually an 'Add' chord would have the 5th too. If your bass line contains an F# at the same time as that chord, then it's definitely F# add11, I think too many people are trying to confuse things by adding a bunch of different bass note options for you, which will give entirely different names.

In fairness @thisisguitar it does not take much at all to confuse me when it comes to guitar theory...... I had no idea what the chord was when I put it in a song - I literally just moved my fingers till I found the sound - to me it sounds 'open' and 'droney' so I use it transition in and out of a. more 'driving' verse and chorus into a sort of 'floaty' bridge/interlude - The chord is a. drone - and I just use one bass note underneath it - F sharpe seems to work (I was going with a B before I got help on here lol). I know nothing about theory - but it's interesting to me to see that there isn't one definitive answer - in my mind it's cool that there are lots of things that could work.

thisisguitar · September 2023

Placidcasual79 said:

thisisguitar said:

F# add 11 - You wouldn't ordinarily consider it to have a 4th (over an 11th) once a 3rd is in there. Usually an 'Add' chord would have the 5th too. If your bass line contains an F# at the same time as that chord, then it's definitely F# add11, I think too many people are trying to confuse things by adding a bunch of different bass note options for you, which will give entirely different names.

In fairness @thisisguitar it does not take much at all to confuse me when it comes to guitar theory...... I had no idea what the chord was when I put it in a song - I literally just moved my fingers till I found the sound - to me it sounds 'open' and 'droney' so I use it transition in and out of a. more 'driving' verse and chorus into a sort of 'floaty' bridge/interlude - The chord is a. drone - and I just use one bass note underneath it - F sharpe seems to work (I was going with a B before I got help on here lol). I know nothing about theory - but it's interesting to me to see that there isn't one definitive answer - in my mind it's cool that there are lots of things that could work.

I do have an over-arching rule in music: If it sounds good, it is good. I have studied a moderate amount of theory, and it can be very helpful for problem solving, and giving a basis for things, but I do trust my ear.

Another way I think about chords and melody, is more like a patchwork quilt. You can have a bunch of different colours and materials, but as long as the thread (melody) is strong enough you can pull all the pieces together.

I would consider learning the basics of theory, though it's often frowned upon by creatives I think it makes some things much easier, and opens up avenues you would be unlikely to find by chance.

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

thisisguitar said:

Placidcasual79 said:

thisisguitar said:

F# add 11 - You wouldn't ordinarily consider it to have a 4th (over an 11th) once a 3rd is in there. Usually an 'Add' chord would have the 5th too. If your bass line contains an F# at the same time as that chord, then it's definitely F# add11, I think too many people are trying to confuse things by adding a bunch of different bass note options for you, which will give entirely different names.

In fairness @thisisguitar it does not take much at all to confuse me when it comes to guitar theory...... I had no idea what the chord was when I put it in a song - I literally just moved my fingers till I found the sound - to me it sounds 'open' and 'droney' so I use it transition in and out of a. more 'driving' verse and chorus into a sort of 'floaty' bridge/interlude - The chord is a. drone - and I just use one bass note underneath it - F sharpe seems to work (I was going with a B before I got help on here lol). I know nothing about theory - but it's interesting to me to see that there isn't one definitive answer - in my mind it's cool that there are lots of things that could work.

I do have an over-arching rule in music: If it sounds good, it is good. I have studied a moderate amount of theory, and it can be very helpful for problem solving, and giving a basis for things, but I do trust my ear.

Another way I think about chords and melody, is more like a patchwork quilt. You can have a bunch of different colours and materials, but as long as the thread (melody) is strong enough you can pull all the pieces together.

I would consider learning the basics of theory, though it's often frowned upon by creatives I think it makes some things much easier, and opens up avenues you would be unlikely to find by chance.

thats so true - if it sounds right it must be right........ I agree about the theory too - I really wish I'd learned a bit more theory when I started out and was a bit longer. When I joined bands in later years it would have been a lot easier if I'd have had a bit more knowledge. Some kind band members helped me pick up bits and pieces - but there is an enormous amount I don't understand. I make and record my own music at home and that would be a lot easier if I understood a but more about theory.

I would like to learn some theory and how to operate a DAW..... they'll go on the to do list

thisisguitar · September 2023

Placidcasual79 said:

thisisguitar said:

Placidcasual79 said:

thisisguitar said:

F# add 11 - You wouldn't ordinarily consider it to have a 4th (over an 11th) once a 3rd is in there. Usually an 'Add' chord would have the 5th too. If your bass line contains an F# at the same time as that chord, then it's definitely F# add11, I think too many people are trying to confuse things by adding a bunch of different bass note options for you, which will give entirely different names.

In fairness @thisisguitar it does not take much at all to confuse me when it comes to guitar theory...... I had no idea what the chord was when I put it in a song - I literally just moved my fingers till I found the sound - to me it sounds 'open' and 'droney' so I use it transition in and out of a. more 'driving' verse and chorus into a sort of 'floaty' bridge/interlude - The chord is a. drone - and I just use one bass note underneath it - F sharpe seems to work (I was going with a B before I got help on here lol). I know nothing about theory - but it's interesting to me to see that there isn't one definitive answer - in my mind it's cool that there are lots of things that could work.

I do have an over-arching rule in music: If it sounds good, it is good. I have studied a moderate amount of theory, and it can be very helpful for problem solving, and giving a basis for things, but I do trust my ear.

Another way I think about chords and melody, is more like a patchwork quilt. You can have a bunch of different colours and materials, but as long as the thread (melody) is strong enough you can pull all the pieces together.

I would consider learning the basics of theory, though it's often frowned upon by creatives I think it makes some things much easier, and opens up avenues you would be unlikely to find by chance.

thats so true - if it sounds right it must be right........ I agree about the theory too - I really wish I'd learned a bit more theory when I started out and was a bit longer. When I joined bands in later years it would have been a lot easier if I'd have had a bit more knowledge. Some kind band members helped me pick up bits and pieces - but there is an enormous amount I don't understand. I make and record my own music at home and that would be a lot easier if I understood a but more about theory.

I would like to learn some theory and how to operate a DAW..... they'll go on the to do list

Never too late to learn mate, if the internet doesn't have it just bite the bullet and find a good teacher. My oldest student is in his 70s, and there are a few in their 60s too. The a-ha moments will come quite quickly with a bit of work, it'll be about joining up the things you already know and then pushing forward. Funnily enough I'm starting to use Logic now for the same purposes, having had experience with Cubase and a little ProTools over time. Though I'm lucky that my writing partner is a music production lecturer at a Conservatoire, and he's shit hot :-)

Placidcasual79 · September 2023

I learn best with someone I can talk to and can show me..... it'd be a lot easier to know this goes with that and that goes with this etc - I have to try everything by ear - thats resulted in me learning patterns and shapes and numbers that I know go together. There are a couple of people in. the band I play in who are trained and they are very patient with me luckily - but it would be best if I knew a bit more. I actually have Logic - it came pre installed on my Mac - but I still use an old 8 track digital. recorder lol.... it really limits what I can. I live in north Wales. I think I could find music tuition - it's harder to find training for Logic. Appreciate your advice and encouragement.

roberty · September 2023

I would call this F#11 too

digitalkettle · September 2023

roberty said:

I would call this F#11 too

I'll only give you that if you hum a b7 when you play it

thisisguitar · September 2023

Placidcasual79 said:

I learn best with someone I can talk to and can show me..... it'd be a lot easier to know this goes with that and that goes with this etc - I have to try everything by ear - thats resulted in me learning patterns and shapes and numbers that I know go together. There are a couple of people in. the band I play in who are trained and they are very patient with me luckily - but it would be best if I knew a bit more. I actually have Logic - it came pre installed on my Mac - but I still use an old 8 track digital. recorder lol.... it really limits what I can. I live in north Wales. I think I could find music tuition - it's harder to find training for Logic. Appreciate your advice and encouragement.

No worries, good luck with the journey mate.

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What is this chord?

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