Identifying Chords
steve25
Feb 23 2009, 12:41 AM
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I've been trying to score some of my favourite songs on guitar but also at the same time some of my favourite soundtracks and stuff as i'm interested in lots of different styles. However i find it very difficult to identify chords on any instrument. With guitar in a way it's slightly easier but when there is a chird spread across 4 different instruments (double bass, cello, viola, violin) for example i find it much more difficult. Any advice for finding out what chord is used on any instrument basically even piano? If you know the sound of the chord it might be easier but if you don't know any tips to break it down?

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Muris Varajic
Feb 23 2009, 12:53 AM
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Do you mean recognizing extended type of chords like
sus4, add 11, maj7 etc or just simple stuff in progression
like Am, E, F, Dm and something like that?

Anyhow, for both cases the only thing you need
is well trained relative pitch and you can really practice it,
there are many drills and exercises for that,
even dozen of softwares with nice exercises.

Finding simple type of chords in simple progression
is probably easiest by thinking of degrees.
But of course you need to know how each degree chord sounds like.
Per example, hit C chord and take it as a root., listen to it.
Now play F chord and try to realize it's relation to C chord you had before.
That is sound of 4th degree chord in any major key.
So lets say that you are learning song in key of A major
and you got the first chord which is A major.
Then you HEAR 4th degree later on in progression which is D major.
You can try same thing with all 7th degrees, major and minor keys.

As for hearing extended chords, it's also relative pitch thing in a way
but more like being able to recognize "color" of maj7, dim7, sus4 etc.
You need to play and listen to everything you play, every single chord,
after some time your ears will do rest of the job and send
correct information to your brain. smile.gif

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steve25
Feb 23 2009, 12:57 AM
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I mean more about finding out which chord they hit. For example say that i didn't know Em9 (i do but pretend i didnt), how would i work out what the notes were. Because if you're trying to figure out something and you don't know what that chord is you'd have to find out what notes were played and from there you could then find out what chord it is

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Muris Varajic
Feb 23 2009, 01:02 AM
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QUOTE (steve25 @ Feb 23 2009, 12:57 AM) *
I mean more about finding out which chord they hit. For example say that i didn't know Em9 (i do but pretend i didnt), how would i work out what the notes were. Because if you're trying to figure out something and you don't know what that chord is you'd have to find out what notes were played and from there you could then find out what chord it is


Well, that might be pretty hard road!
I mean, you can eventually find all notes of Em9 chord by ear
but if you don't have enough knowledge of that kind of chords
it just might take you too long I'm afraid, which sometimes isn't bad tho,
figuring things out by ear always brings progress.
But I would first learn more about those chords,
play them in many tunes, got used to them in a way
and then try to find them in music by ear, has more sense to me. smile.gif

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steve25
Feb 23 2009, 01:05 AM
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I can see what you're saying, i only know how to play the chords i know on guitar, maybe other instruments would help with that. I guess i'll just start with the easy ones, as in the ones i learned at the start (major and minor).

Relative pitch you say? I'd be interested to improve that. I've been trying to improve my ear for identifying notes which is coming along slow but sure.

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Pedja Simovic
Feb 23 2009, 01:07 AM
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Sounds like you need to sort your chord knowledge first.
Structure of Major, Minor triads is essential ! After knowing that add Augmented and Diminished triads as they have very recognizable sound to them. After you are done with that start working on 4 note chords like Major 6, Major 7, Minor 6 , Minor 7, Dominant 7 , Diminished 7th , Augmented 7th etc

I posted a website where you have awesome tools for ear training - have you checked that out ?

To answer your other question... First you learn sounds of the chords on your main instrument since you play on it 99% of the time , so your ears absorbs that frequency and sound sooner. When your ear nails the sounds and can recognize on spot aw that was Dom7 or Diminished 7th chord etc, then you need to do training with other instruments - piano is a must and it will unlock the ability further to here things like orchestra or brass sections.

Hope that helps.

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steve25
Feb 23 2009, 01:11 AM
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From: Wiltshire, England
QUOTE (Pedja Simovic @ Feb 23 2009, 02:07 AM) *
Sounds like you need to sort your chord knowledge first.
Structure of Major, Minor triads is essential ! After knowing that add Augmented and Diminished triads as they have very recognizable sound to them. After you are done with that start working on 4 note chords like Major 6, Major 7, Minor 6 , Minor 7, Dominant 7 , Diminished 7th , Augmented 7th etc

I posted a website where you have awesome tools for ear training - have you checked that out ?

To answer your other question... First you learn sounds of the chords on your main instrument since you play on it 99% of the time , so your ears absorbs that frequency and sound sooner. When your ear nails the sounds and can recognize on spot aw that was Dom7 or Diminished 7th chord etc, then you need to do training with other instruments - piano is a must and it will unlock the ability further to here things like orchestra or brass sections.

Hope that helps.


Yeah i think that's what i'm just realising. I've been using a lot of chords that i know and scales but not really been expanding that. I'm determined to become a better musician/composer as best i can but sometimes i get a bit confused as to where i need to go next. Yeah i've seen that website there are some good tools on there i agree smile.gif

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Pedja Simovic
Feb 23 2009, 01:28 AM
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Posts: 8.109
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From: Nis, Serbia
QUOTE (steve25 @ Feb 23 2009, 01:11 AM) *
Yeah i think that's what i'm just realising. I've been using a lot of chords that i know and scales but not really been expanding that. I'm determined to become a better musician/composer as best i can but sometimes i get a bit confused as to where i need to go next. Yeah i've seen that website there are some good tools on there i agree smile.gif


I must say I like your thinking a lot smile.gif
You are determined to improve in great area and I give you my full support and help with whatever you may need to reach next level. First step - go to website - choose harmonic ear training - select major and minor triads only and do tests on that. If you get 100 % out of 100 examples, move on , add another chord (diminished) - now do 100 examples on that etc
Its a process , it doesn't happen in one day ! Ear takes time to develop - but not years or months - it can take couple of weeks if you do it every day. I've seen it happen, just be determined and it will happen for you I am positive on that.

smile.gif

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