Magic Chord #1

The chord below is built with 4ths and a 2nd. G-C is a 4th, C-D is a 2nd and D-G is a 4th This means there is no 3rd present in the chord so it is neither major nor minor. The chord can be named relative to the bass note. With C in the bass, it is a C2 (or Cadd9). It could also be Cmi9 or C9.

C2 contains C E G D C9 contains C E G Bb D Cmi9 contains C Eb G Bb D Our magic chord contains C G D G. So it can function as any of the above chords. Project 1: Analyse and play each chord with all possible bass notes. Listen for the chord quality (major, minor, dominant etc) For example; this chord with an E bass sounds like a C major chord. It is actually C2/E. It is also Em7#5. Both chord types are useful. Place your answers below. The first few are done for you. Bass Note E F F# G Ab A Chord name 1 Em7#5 F69 F#b9#5b5 Gsus4 Abma7b5 Ami11 Chord name 2 C2/E Gsus4/F Gsus4/F# Gmi11 Fmi69/Ab Gsus4/A

Bb B C Db D Eb Circle the chord sounds that you like and make a note of the fret position and name of the chord. This is a moveable chord shape so when you take it up to the next fret and figure out the chord/bass note combination, you will have another group of chords. Project 2: Move the chord 1 fret higher and play and analyse. Bass Note E F F# G Ab A Bb B C Db D Eb Chord name 1 Emaj7 6 9 Fmi7#5 F#69 Chord name 2 G#sus4/E Db2/F G#sus4/F#

Move the chord 1 fret higher and play and analyse. Continue this process up and down the neck and you will notice that at various fret positions, similar chord sounds can be found. For example: the first shape we used (at the 3rd fret) can be moved to the 5th fret using a C bass note. If you alternate between the 2 positions, the resulting sound will be C2 and C69. These are both major sounds. Look for ways of using this chord instead of the basic C chord.