1 Topic by Tenement Funster (edited by Tenement Funster 2019-04-08 10:45:55)

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Topic: The Gmaj7 Chord

This has been a chord I've struggled to play fluently in the conventional way, as I've never been able to get all four fingers in place quick enough so a song can flow. Songs that use it are David Gilmour's beautiful ballad "Where We Start",  Genesis' "Afterglow", etc. The conventional way looks like this:

https://www.scales-chords.com/chord-charts/guitar-Gmaj7-g-n-l-v-x-x-5-4-3-2.png

Fortuntely, there are always several ways to play a chord, and this variation works very well and is easy to get to:

https://www.scales-chords.com/chord-charts/guitar-Gmaj7-g-n-l-v-x-x-5-7-7-7.png

What are chords you struggle with? Have you found a variation that works better than what the traditional chord charts show you?  This website has been a real gold mine for me, instead of taking the time to work out the variations for other places on the fretboard, and admittedly lazy approach:

https://www.scales-chords.com/

  • From: Probably Somewhere
  • Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 2,446

Re: The Gmaj7 Chord

I don’t care for either of the voicings you list above, so I too struggle with those because of how they sound.  I prefer this
E 2
B 0 (or 2)
G 0
D 0
A 2
E 3

That open voicing is my favorite and works particularly well on acoustic.

On electric I would play g maj 9:
E x
B 3
G 4
D 4
A x
E 3

Just a thought!     

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,862

Re: The Gmaj7 Chord

Baldguitardude wrote:

I don’t care for either of the voicings you list above, so I too struggle with those because of how they sound.  I prefer this
E 2
B 0 (or 2)
G 0
D 0
A 2
E 3
I use this good info BGD
That open voicing is my favorite and works particularly well on acoustic.

On electric I would play g maj 9:
E x
B 3
G 4
D 4
A x
E 3

Just a thought!

This is a very handy voicing especially if alternating with Gmaj6 for a nice dowop feel as in the song Moments to remember     

"Growing old is not for sissies"

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4 Reply by Baldguitardude (edited by Baldguitardude 2019-04-09 15:19:19)

  • From: Probably Somewhere
  • Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 2,446

Re: The Gmaj7 Chord

Thinking more about chord variations, I do a lot of string muting and play many partial chords, rootless chords, and passing chords. Some of my favorites are

G/F#
3
3
0
0
x
2
or D/F#
x
3
2
0
x
2
while moving from G to em

G/b
3
0
0
0
2
x
instead of regular ol' G whilst playing a song in the key of C, or whilst moving from C to am. (This is also a nice voicing for Em7)

I use dm7/G (Which is enharmonic to G7 sus 4)
1
1
2
0
x
3
in the first two beats of songs in C, before resolving to G. (dm7/G is my very favorite chord to play on acoustic guitar. It sounds lovely.)

My problem chords:  "A" shaped barre chords, esp on acoustic. Always seems to sound muddy to me and it's hell on the ring finger.

  • From: West Georgia
  • Registered: 2006-10-14
  • Posts: 2,557

Re: The Gmaj7 Chord

If we had Pierre Bensusan's fingers, none of those voicings would be a problem. smile (referencing TF's latest "Flying Fingers" contribution).

I have many problem chords - many of which I have gotten help for here on Chordie - so I won't bother mentioning them, but the "B" family remains my nemesis. smile

Bill     

Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Fender GDO300 Orchestral - a gift from Amy & Jim
Rogue Beatle Bass
Journal: www.wheretobud.blogspot. com
  • TIGLJK
  • Honoured Member
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  • Registered: 2010-05-11
  • Posts: 3,166

Re: The Gmaj7 Chord

MY NEMESIS IS  BARRE CHORDS -  MY HAND IS ALWAYS ACHING AFTER I ATTEMPT THEM

sad     

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  • From: West Georgia
  • Registered: 2006-10-14
  • Posts: 2,557

Re: The Gmaj7 Chord

Unless I can do a whole song in barre chords, I avoid them. Up & down the neck with a barre "E" - that's me. smile     

Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Fender GDO300 Orchestral - a gift from Amy & Jim
Rogue Beatle Bass
Journal: www.wheretobud.blogspot. com
  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: The Gmaj7 Chord

Making barre chords comfortably (and quickly) may be as easy as changing the way a person holds the guitar. Personally, I've found them much easier with the neck tilted up at a 35 to 40-degree angle, and having it tilted back a bit so it's slightly facing me. I find this requires a lot less wrist / finger contortions for making regular & barre chords. Here's a pic of the great Andre Segovia demonstrating:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fe/ff/fc/fefffc1fb6f6045de52d642ac39fbfae.jpg

A rounder neck radius may also help, like a 14" instead of a 12".