What is this chord?

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zbert

zbert

In the swamps of Jersey
I need help from the experts. I'm working with a young female singer songwriter. Nice stuff. One of her songs, I asked her the chord progression and she had no idea what one chord was in the song. She just played it and it fit in the song. I've looked at the web sites that help you with chords but none of them ever have an answer. I know a little about chords and guitar (I'm a drummer but I play some keyboards) Anyway the chord is played like an A7 but at the 5th fret. Actually the song is capoed at the third fret and the this chord is played 5 frets up from that. If it helps the verse goes between a C and this unknow chord. Can anyone be of help?
Thanks
 
So its an A7 bar chord on the 8th fret? That'd make it a F7 if you're playing it with the root on A, or C7 if the roots on E?
 
I think they mean it's like an A7 shape, but the fretted notes are moved up to the 5th fret instead of the 2nd fret, and the 5th, 3rd, and 1st strings are still played open.

If this is what you mean, this would be an A7(no3rd). Of course, with a capo at the fifth fret, it would sound like C7(no 3rd)

If you mean it's exactly an A7 shape (based off the fifth-string root) and all of the notes are moved up five frets (including the open strings), it would be a D7. With the capo at fret 3, it would sound like F7.

In order to be sure, we'd need more information.
 
zbert said:
I need help from the experts. I'm working with a young female singer songwriter. Nice stuff. One of her songs, I asked her the chord progression and she had no idea what one chord was in the song. She just played it and it fit in the song. I've looked at the web sites that help you with chords but none of them ever have an answer. I know a little about chords and guitar (I'm a drummer but I play some keyboards) Anyway the chord is played like an A7 but at the 5th fret. Actually the song is capoed at the third fret and the this chord is played 5 frets up from that. If it helps the verse goes between a C and this unknow chord. Can anyone be of help?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Assuming that the chord shape you're describing is the A7 shape that has fingers behind the second fret on the 2nd and 4th strings, the actual notes you're playing, from low to high, are: C, Bb, Bb, G, G. Both Bbs and both Gs are the same note, so it's really just a three-note chord with two notes doubled. Since the C is the basenote, let's assume it's a C chord of some type. I think I'd call this a C7(no 3rd).

To Beagle: it can't be a D7 because there's no D in the chord.
 
JTC111 said:
Assuming that the chord shape you're describing is the A7 shape that has fingers behind the second fret on the 2nd and 4th strings, the actual notes you're playing, from low to high, are: C, Bb, Bb, G, G. Both Bbs and both Gs are the same note, so it's really just a three-note chord with two notes doubled. Since the C is the basenote, let's assume it's a C chord of some type. I think I'd call this a C7(no 3rd).

To Beagle: it can't be a D7 because there's no D in the chord.
Click to expand...

I meant D7 relative to the guitar, not standard pitch. I said relative to the capo, it would be F7.

Like I said, I wasn't sure what the OP was asking. If he/she is saying only those two fretted notes are moved up, and the open strings are still allowed to ring, then it would be A7(no 3rd) in guitar thinking, but the sounding chord with a capo on fret 3 would be C7(no 3rd).

But if the OP meant that all five of notes are moved up five frets (including the open strings), then it would be a D7 barre chord shape in guitar thinking, but a capo on fret 3 would make it sound like F7.

This info is in my first post.

I'm just not clear on what the OP is asking.

[Edit] I'm thinking the OP means that the open strings are still ringing, which would make it A7(no 3rd) relative to the guitar and would sound like C7 (no 3rd) with the capo.
 
Everyone seems to assuming also that the root notes being played on either the A or E string, we need this info...
 
zbert said:
I need help from the experts. I'm working with a young female singer songwriter. Nice stuff. One of her songs, I asked her the chord progression and she had no idea what one chord was in the song. She just played it and it fit in the song. I've looked at the web sites that help you with chords but none of them ever have an answer. I know a little about chords and guitar (I'm a drummer but I play some keyboards) Anyway the chord is played like an A7 but at the 5th fret. Actually the song is capoed at the third fret and the this chord is played 5 frets up from that. If it helps the verse goes between a C and this unknow chord. Can anyone be of help?
Thanks
Click to expand...

As you can see, there are a lot of opinions, but due to the sketchy info you posted, there is no definitive answer. Like an A7 at the 5th fret? Which A7? There are a lot of them.

What are the exact notes in your chord? If you don't know the fretboard at least give us which fret on each string. Keep in mind that a chord can have as many names as there are different notes in the chord.

Lastly, if we tell you that it's an A flat diminshed thirteenth with a sharp 9 (or whatever), what difference does it make? ;^)
 
What difference does the name make? Either the chord works in the song or it doesn't. Is knowing the exact name of every chord going to make them sound any different? Quit over ANALyzing and go play something. ;)
 
zbert said:
I need help from the experts. I'm working with a young female singer songwriter. Nice stuff. One of her songs, I asked her the chord progression and she had no idea what one chord was in the song. She just played it and it fit in the song. I've looked at the web sites that help you with chords but none of them ever have an answer. I know a little about chords and guitar (I'm a drummer but I play some keyboards) Anyway the chord is played like an A7 but at the 5th fret. Actually the song is capoed at the third fret and the this chord is played 5 frets up from that. If it helps the verse goes between a C and this unknow chord. Can anyone be of help?
Thanks
Click to expand...

So it's x05050 (relative to the capo) is that correct?
 
I had to run out for a couple of hours so I didn't have a chance to post till now. OK so starting with the low E string the notes to this mystery chord (in open position) are
E A G(5th fret) G E (5th fret) E As i said she is playing this with the capo on the 3rd fret.
I agree it might be some C7 with no E in the capo position.
 
zbert said:
I had to run out for a couple of hours so I didn't have a chance to post till now. OK so starting with the low E string the notes to this mystery chord (in open position) are
E A G(5th fret) G E (5th fret) E As i said she is playing this with the capo on the 3rd fret.
I agree it might be some C7 with no E in the capo position.
Click to expand...

Then, with a capo at the third fret, it's a C7(3rd in the bass) if you're hitting the open low E string, or a C7(no 3rd) if you're not.
 
zbert said:
I had to run out for a couple of hours so I didn't have a chance to post till now. OK so starting with the low E string the notes to this mystery chord (in open position) are
E A G(5th fret) G E (5th fret) E As i said she is playing this with the capo on the 3rd fret.
I agree it might be some C7 with no E in the capo position.
Click to expand...

Then yes, the sounding chord is a C7 (no 3rd) because of the capo.

In guitar thinking, it's an A7 (no 3rd) shape.
 
JTC111 said:
Then, with a capo at the third fret, it's a C7(3rd in the bass) if you're hitting the open low E string, or a C7(no 3rd) if you're not.
Click to expand...

Nope ... remember, the capo at the 3rd fret would make the low E string a G note, not an E. So it would be a 5th in the bass.
 
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