Confession #24 - Voice Leading!

In Confession #18 - Slash Chords! we learned the meaning of chord names such as C/G, or D/F#, and learned how slash chords can bring a fresh and interesting sound to chord progressions because they use different chord voicing.

Another application for slash chords is called voice leading.

C-G-Am-G  Chord Progression

Let's take a look at a I-V-vi-V chord progression in the key of C (see Confession #14 - Know What Chords to Play! if you aren't sure what a I-V-vi-V progression is).  Thus, the chords in this progression are: C - G - Am - G.

If we play these chords using standard open chords,  the lowest sounding notes (i.e. the notes with the lowest pitch) will be the root notes of each chord.  Our ear actually distinguishes these low notes from the other notes being played and hears them like a bassline.

The notes of this bassline are: C - G - A - G (i.e. the root notes of each chord).  The movement of this bassline is:

• start on C, 
• down 5 semi-tones,
• up 2 semi-tones, and 
• down 2 semi-tones.

C-G/B-Am-G  Chord Progression

Now let's take this same progression and change the voicing of the first G chord by using a G/B slash chord.  Thus, the chords in this progression are: C - G/B - Am - G.

As we learned in Confession #11 - Learn Root 6 Barre Chords! the notes of a G chord are G, B and D. Here's what a G/B chord looks like:

G/B - Notes shown in order from fifth string to second string
(Click to enlarge)

Putting the B in the "bottom of the chord" (i.e. the lowest pitched note in the chord) in the first G chord   changes the bassline.

Now the notes of the baseline are C - B - A - G (i.e. not all root notes of the chords).  The movement of this bassline is:

• start on C,
• down 1 semi-tone,
• down 2 semitones, and
• down 2 more semi-tones.

As demonstrated in the following example, our ears can hear the difference in the movement suggested by the two different basslines.  The second progression has a different feel than the first because the bass notes descend with each chord change.

You've probably heard songs with a steadily descending movement with each chord change.  This is how that effect is achieved.

Voice Leading

Choosing a chord tone other than the root note as the lowest note in a chord can be used to change the feel and movement of the bassline in a chord progression.  This is called voice leading.

Try experimenting with this technique in your songs.  To use it effectively, you'll need to know the chord tones of each chord in your progression and then look for different ways to voice the chords so that you can get the bass note you want in the "bottom of the chord".

Next Week's Confession - Fret Hand Muting!

Confession #18 - Slash Chords!

By now, you've probably come across some sheet music that calls for chords with cryptic names like C/G or D/F#.  And you've probably wondered to yourself, what the heck does that mean?  Today we'll find out.

SLASH CHORDS

These cryptically named chords are called slash chords.  To understand what they mean, we need to revisit some chord theory (see Confession #14 - Know What Chords to Play! for a detailed explanation of chord construction).

C/G

Let's start with a C chord.  As we learned in Confession #14 - Know What Chords to Play!, the notes that make up a C chord are C - E - G.

If we play a standard open position C chord on our guitar, the notes played are C - E - G - C - E (in order from the fifth string to the first string).  Notice that the note with the lowest pitch (i.e. the C at the 3rd fret of the fifth string) is also the root note from which the chord gets it name.

When you encounter a slash chord such as C/G, it means to play a C chord (i.e. a chord with the notes C - E - G), but instead of using the root note as the lowest pitched note in the chord, use a G as the lowest pitched note in the chord.

Here an example of a C/G slash chord in open position:

You'll here a C/G chord in the first verse of Heart's 'Crazy On You'.


D/F#

Let's take a D chord as another example.  The notes that make up a D chord are D - F# - A.


If we play a standard open position D chord on our guitar, the notes played are D - A - D - F# (in order from the fourth string to the first string).  Notice that the note with the lowest pitch (i.e. the D at the 0th fret of the fourth string) is also the root note from which the chord gets it name.

When you encounter a slash chord such as D/F#, it means to play a D chord (i.e. a chord with the notes D - F# - A), but instead of using the root note as the lowest pitched note in the chord, use an F# as the lowest pitched note in the chord.

Here an example of a D/F# slash chord in open position:

Use your thumb to fret the sixth string and to mute the fifth string.

Here's another way of fingering the same chord:

Use your first finger to mute the fifth string.  Don't worry if the open first string sounds.  I'm not sure of the exact naming convention, but it will turn this chord into a ninth chord and will still sound cool.

You'll here a D/F# chord in the first verse of Tom Petty's 'Yer So Bad'.


Chord Voicing

One of the reasons that people use slash chords is to give their chords a different voicing than the standard chords that we all learned from our beginner guitar books.  Using different voicing can bring a fresh and interesting sound to chord progressions.  Experiment with using slash chords in your chord progressions.

Next Week's Confession - The Secret Strum! (Shhh!)