Andrew:
I Really am enjoying your tutorials on theory- I've studied a bit of theory previously but you present it in a simple and comprehensive way. I have a question that may seem a bit weird.
Does the lowest note of a particular chord define what chord it is?
Let me explain why I ask and give an example.
I am trying to find new shapes of chords - I have been stuck mainly on open chords and E and A string Barre shapes, and am trying figure out easy alternate voicings. I really only know some major and minor chords, and a few sevenths, and feel I am lacking and need to expand my chord choices, but not sure how to go about it
Lets say I am looking at an open voicing of a D Major - which consists of the D(root on the open D string), an A on the G string(2nd Fret), another D on the B string(3rd Fret), and a F# on the high E string(2nd fret), so we have the I III V triad (D F# A notes). Now lets say I play the same shape but without playing the open D string, so I am just playing the top 3 strings (G B E Strings) I still have the same 3 notes(D F# A), but now the A note(G string 2nd fret) is on the lowest string in my chord shape. Is this still considered a D major , or would it be something else because the A is like the root note now.
I have seen guitarists just play the upper strings(In Funk for example) and Im wondering how they figured out these chords. I have also seen chords made with just 2 notes on high strings that are not necessarily power chords as far as I can tell. I guess what I am tring to determine is if there is some standard shapes other than barre chords(Such as the C A G E D shapes) that I don't know about, are moveable and are easy to finger togive me some other voicings.
Secondly, besides the major, minor and seventh chords, what are the most important chord variations to know typical for Rock and Blues.
Tnnaks for your help.
Michael