What notes can I play around any chord?

[Toby267]

Recently, I read in a book about how we can add and subtract notes from a chord to create a melody. For example the C chord. Releasing and hammering on the 2nd fret 3rd string changes the chord sound and creates a kind of melody. This seem especially true when we do it with the higher strings. My question is, when we release the string it is no longer a C chord, so why is that ok to do that? And can we, for examle, take our pinky and hit notes outside the chord to create a melody? If so, when is it ok and when is it not ok?

Also, if we are doing a 12 bar blues in a certain key, how do we know which scale to choose for the solo?

[Danny Poole]

Have you studied the CAGED pages in the members section yet? If you have then this will make more sence.

Let's look at the "C Shapes Major Scale". Around the "C major CHORD" is all the notes in the C major SCALE. You can add most of these notes in when you are strumming just for some variation in the sound. Yes you are changing the chord name (eg. when playing a "C" chord, putting your little finger down on the 2nd string 3rd fret changes the chord to C9). This is the same thing piano players will do rather than vamping a straight chord. Most of the time these added notes to the chord are quick and sheet music won't bother to show these varaitions. For a good example of this listen to "
Guns & Roses - Patience" the intro to this song is littered with this technique.

Below shows the C Major Chord (in bold) and the notes around it that are good to include when strumming.

C Major Chord Hammer Ons

0||-1-|---|-4-|---
x||-1-|---|-4-|---
0||---|-2-|---|---
x||---|-2-|-4-|---
0||---|-2-|-3-|---
x||---|---|---|---

0||---|---|---|---
x||-1-|---|---|---
0||---|---|---|---
0||-h-|-2-|---|---
x||---|---|-3-|---
x||---|---|---|---


0||---|---|---|---
0|h-1-|---|---|---
0||---|---|---|---
x||---|-2-|---|---
x||---|---|-3-|---
x||---|---|---|---

0||---|---|---|---
x||-1-|---|---|---
0||---|---|---|---
x||---|-2-h-4-|---
x||---|---|-3-|---
x||---|---|---|---


0||---|---|---|---
x||-1-|---|---|---
0||---|---|---|---
0||-h-|-2-|---|---
x||---|-2-h-3-|---
x||---|---|---|---

This is where the CAGED system comes into it. Above is all examples over a C Chord. Now you have to learn the same idea around the A Major, G Major, E Major & D Major..... then the Minors

[Toby267]

Got it. One more...some of the notes that are in the C major scale are not included in your diagram of recommended hammer-ons. For example, the 1st string, second fret. How did you decide that? Just your opinion judging by ear, or is the a rule that I can transfer over to the other scales?


Also, you know I have seen descriptions of chords like "well, this chord has a cowboy character" or "this chord has a sad character" and "this chord has a happy, the future looks so bright, character" or whatever. I am kind of looking for list of all of that kind of stuff. Do you know of any?

[Danny Poole]

Got it. One more...some of the notes that are in the C major scale are not included in your diagram of recommended hammer-ons. For example, the 1st string, second fret. How did you decide that? Just your opinion judging by ear, or is the a rule that I can transfer over to the other scales?

It's all mainly ease of use when it comes to this style. You can still try hammering or pulling away the notes on the 1st string, just see what sound good and is comfortable.

Also, you know I have seen descriptions of chords like "well, this chord has a cowboy character" or "this chord has a sad character" and "this chord has a happy, the future looks so bright, character" or whatever. I am kind of looking for list of all of that kind of stuff. Do you know of any?

What you are describing is a way to remember chord variations (Major, Minor, 7th, diminished and so on). I don't know of any reference material on this but maybe someone else might.

If you want to get use to some of the sounds of these chords then visit this site Music Theory Tuition Site - http://musictheory.net/index.html and use this "Chord Ear Trainer" http://musictheory.net/trainers/html/id92_en.html. Un-tick all but 2 to start off with then as you get better add in some more.