r/guitarlessons • u/Lord_Reddit12 • 2d ago
Lesson Absolute difficulty with this one chord, tips, advices I’m all ears if any
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u/Adventurous_Sky_789 2d ago
Make it an octave. Move the bass note (6th string E) to the red circle
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u/RhoOfFeh 2d ago
That was my first thought as well, just wondering how important that is for voicing in context with surrounding chords.
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u/CharlehPock2 2d ago
I dunno man, on electric seems pretty easy to grab.
I dunno where you'd play this as it sounds like shit though.
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u/Inevitable-Copy3619 2d ago
Resolve it to a Bmaj.
Stick it in a ii V I (jazz!). C#m F#7 Bmaj
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u/CharlehPock2 2d ago
That's not my bag, I'm sure it might sound great in the right context... I just don't think I've ever played it before 😂
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u/Inevitable-Copy3619 2d ago
Yeah I get that. It’s basically a dom7 with some color notes on top. That almost always leads back to the root chord (Bmaj for F#7). And yeah it’s an acquired taste like most tensions in music are.
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u/XanderBiscuit 1d ago
Sounds pretty to me. It’s interesting that you think it sounds like shit. Are you playing the open strings?
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u/CharlehPock2 1d ago
Aye, I was kinda making a point playing the open strings because the chord diagram doesn't exclude them...
Maybe that's the OPs problem.
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u/XanderBiscuit 1d ago
Yeah it’s a bit confusing but those notes definitely aren’t in there based on the chord spelling. It does sound quite gnarly with the open strings.
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u/Beautiful-Cycle-253 9h ago
A and D strings are meant to be muted or just not played
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u/CharlehPock2 5h ago
Aye, but if you look at the chord diagram, it doesn't say to mute/not play them.
If you want some real dissonance you should play it as per the diagram. I'm sure all the kids are doing this in their deathcore/djent bands these days.
If I wanted to mute I'd just use my index for that and prob tip of my middle finger for insurance.
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u/Brox42 2d ago
Use your thumb
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u/Defconwrestling 2d ago
This is the answer, should be top comment.
Learned this from Live’s Lightning Crashes
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u/Giuseppe_LaBete JazzTheoryur 2d ago
That doesn't look like a great voicing. What are you playing? There are probably several different shapes you could use depending on the context.
2-x-2-3-4-x (F#13) might be a viable substitute. 2-x-2-3-x-4 keeps the 9 on top but slightly more awkward grip than the former.
Or x-9-8-9-9-x is still F#9 but up the neck.
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u/Vaan0 2d ago
A voicing this weird is usually intentional, could be important for the melody that the bass F# and the high G# are played. Chords a little weird but probably fine with some practice
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u/Giuseppe_LaBete JazzTheoryur 2d ago
Possibly but I doubt it. Considering that the chord symbol is not the best convention either (/ should be followed by bass notes, not extensions) I think this could be some app spitting out notes. In either case, this is why it's always important to provide context with your questions!!
R T (T) /B
Root, Tonality, (Tensions), / Bass
A7(b9)/C#The chord symbol should be: F#9
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u/erikdstock 2d ago
For a beginner I personally would say don’t bother learning really specific 9+ chords as it will be weird, frustrating and counterproductive (in spite of the many publishers happy to sell you fat chord dictionary books). I would say ignore any 9, 11 etc and focus on the F#7 or even a normal f# first. Get those foundations in to the point you can find chords like this at or near the neck.
After that apply the caged system to find your chords in different shapes up the neck. This will lend itself to learning scales and triads in those new positions. At that point these chords will make themselves more apparent- and your hands will be ready. This is just how I would do it and may not apply to you.
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u/lincruste 2d ago
If you don't use your thumb and don't play that bass with an octave, which are two very good pieces of advice from previous posters, get used to play the three last strings with your three last fingers. In mean fret that chord without your index, then remove your hand from the fretboard and do it again to practise until your 3-4-5 fingers are easily placed. Then your index finger will easily fret the bass.
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u/InDeathWeEvolve 1d ago
Shouldn't that read 2xx354? 200354 is a F#aug#9/2 I believe
But honestly for that exact Chords tone there are not really any substitutions that have a identical sound
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u/vonov129 Music Style! 1d ago
The chord isn't really hard to play at all, maybe check the way you place your hand on the fretboard. If youru thumb is too high on the back of the neck or if the base of your fingers is close to the edge of the fretboard then lower your hand a bit
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u/ByteMyHardDrive 1d ago
As others have said, I would probably move the bass note to the octave on the 4th fret of the D string. On one hand, some chords can be managed with practice over time; your fingers will stretch and your muscle memory can do wonders with repetition. On the other hand, sometimes you just have to call it quits if it really does not work out or causes pain. Some players, like Allan Holdsworth, just have freaky hands and even freakier chords.
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u/Beautiful-Cycle-253 9h ago
OP you can try to bar the 2nd fret with your index and don’t play the A string
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u/Snap_Ride_Strum 2d ago
Lots of chords are theoretically possible on guitar but completely impractical in practice. This one of them.
There are plenty of other - easier - ways to voice a 9 chord. Google them.
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u/InBlurFather 2d ago
Going to echo the “just practice” notion
Index on E, middle finger on G, pinky on B, ring finger on high E.
You’ll eventually build the strength and flexibility to play that properly. I would not use your thumb as others have suggested, that’s a niche technique that is better suited for specific cases down the road after you’ve learned proper technique
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u/Impressive_Plastic83 2d ago
Practice is the answer. Spend 5 mins a day for 2 weeks on this chord, and you'll have it burned into your muscle memory.
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u/TheBrutevsTheFool 2d ago
Use your thumb
I won’t address the voicing but it’s helpful to practice using the thumb for bass notes
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u/Jalatiphra 2d ago
its a d with a thumb. where is the issue ?
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u/jaylotw 2d ago
Thats definitely not a D.
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u/royalblue43 2d ago
Stop going with the autogenerated chords spit out by websites like ultimate guitar
They're very often not practical and just make beginners feel like guitar is much harder than it should be