WTF: Drunken bar band close-enough-for-rock-n-roll Chord theory...

[baimun]

I may be alone on an island waving one direction at the guys who just follow the online tabs (Which I feel like are 90% complete garbage and don't capture the tone or feel of a song)....
... while the guys who understand theory are more like "don't look... oh gawd... he's looking this way... Oh Hi Anthony... yes... that's called an Amaj7#9, not a 'James Brown' chord"



When I listen to a song I want to transcribe(ish) and then arrange for use with my trio, I'm usually incorporating the guitars, keys, or anything melodic into the chords moving underneath the vocal, but I also have a tendency to percussively strike the strings at least once per bar to create a high-hat or snare feel since our drummer uses a conga which sits in this "not quite a kick, not quite a tom" part of the frequency.

Which brings us to Usher: DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love

Two of my relatives coming to our gig this weekend requested this song so I figured it out Sunday and was practicing last night.

Capo at the third fret... Pulsing the rhythm on the lower strings, accenting with the F and Bb on top that I hear in the keys.

While singing the lyrics, my brain tells my fretting hand, Em7 D C ... but when describing the chords to others I'll say Gm7, F, Eb


But this is the point where my limited knowledge of theory turns into a shopping cart with one wonky wheel....

Reverse chord lookup calls the chords....

Gm7

Bbmaj7sus2/A

F9sus4/G


So... a little clarification @Mark Wein without breaking the part of my brain I need to remember lyrics....

(and this is an easy one... next up I inverted the chords from Mr. Brightside because I can't easily get high enough on the neck, so I transcribed using a capo at the 4th fret, but shifted down to the 3rd fret so I can go directly into it from the song above. )

 

[mongooz]

I may be alone on an island waving one direction at the guys who just follow the online tabs (Which I feel like are 90% complete garbage and don't capture the tone or feel of a song)....
... while the guys who understand theory are more like "don't look... oh gawd... he's looking this way... Oh Hi Anthony... yes... that's called an Amaj7#9, not a 'James Brown' chord"



When I listen to a song I want to transcribe(ish) and then arrange for use with my trio, I'm usually incorporating the guitars, keys, or anything melodic into the chords moving underneath the vocal, but I also have a tendency to percussively strike the strings at least once per bar to create a high-hat or snare feel since our drummer uses a conga which sits in this "not quite a kick, not quite a tom" part of the frequency.

Which brings us to Usher: DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love

Two of my relatives coming to our gig this weekend requested this song so I figured it out Sunday and was practicing last night.

Capo at the third fret... Pulsing the rhythm on the lower strings, accenting with the F and Bb on top that I hear in the keys.
View attachment 98309
While singing the lyrics, my brain tells my fretting hand, Em7 D C ... but when describing the chords to others I'll say Gm7, F, Eb


But this is the point where my limited knowledge of theory turns into a shopping cart with one wonky wheel....

Reverse chord lookup calls the chords....

Gm7

Bbmaj7sus2/A

F9sus4/G


So... a little clarification @Mark Wein without breaking the part of my brain I need to remember lyrics....

(and this is an easy one... next up I inverted the chords from Mr. Brightside because I can't easily get high enough on the neck, so I transcribed using a capo at the 4th fret, but shifted down to the 3rd fret so I can go directly into it from the song above. )

hey bro....that's cool.....whatever.....i'm gettin' a beer.

 

[baimun]

Just found a piano tutorial... and it looks like the left hand goes....

G G G... Bb... F F F... Bb... Eb Eb Eb... Bb... Eb Eb Eb... Bb...

So I don't think I'm too completely fucking lost.

 

[Peen Simmons]

I think you should introduce the song as yr guests’ special request and then just launch into “Wonderwall” instead.

 

[baimun]

I think you should introduce the song as yr guests’ special request and then just launch into “Wonderwall” instead.

I have figured out when someone yells "FREEBIRD..."

...I start with this (including the lyrics) slowed a bit and transposed down a step and half...


Then from that little solo piece, transition directly to:

 

[baimun]

Think I came up with another at lunch time (yes, when I have new songs to learn for a gig, I put the Taylor in the back seat to practice during lunch).

Last night “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims came up on my playlist, so I started mucking my way through it today.

I am starting with the capo at the 2nd to get some cool chord voicings by integrating the new open strings, especially that low F# on the open 6th before playing the high F#m chord up at the 9th fret.

 

[Mark Wein]

I may be alone on an island waving one direction at the guys who just follow the online tabs (Which I feel like are 90% complete garbage and don't capture the tone or feel of a song)....
... while the guys who understand theory are more like "don't look... oh gawd... he's looking this way... Oh Hi Anthony... yes... that's called an Amaj7#9, not a 'James Brown' chord"



When I listen to a song I want to transcribe(ish) and then arrange for use with my trio, I'm usually incorporating the guitars, keys, or anything melodic into the chords moving underneath the vocal, but I also have a tendency to percussively strike the strings at least once per bar to create a high-hat or snare feel since our drummer uses a conga which sits in this "not quite a kick, not quite a tom" part of the frequency.

Which brings us to Usher: DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love

Two of my relatives coming to our gig this weekend requested this song so I figured it out Sunday and was practicing last night.

Capo at the third fret... Pulsing the rhythm on the lower strings, accenting with the F and Bb on top that I hear in the keys.
View attachment 98309
While singing the lyrics, my brain tells my fretting hand, Em7 D C ... but when describing the chords to others I'll say Gm7, F, Eb


But this is the point where my limited knowledge of theory turns into a shopping cart with one wonky wheel....

Reverse chord lookup calls the chords....

Gm7

Bbmaj7sus2/A

F9sus4/G


So... a little clarification @Mark Wein without breaking the part of my brain I need to remember lyrics....

(and this is an easy one... next up I inverted the chords from Mr. Brightside because I can't easily get high enough on the neck, so I transcribed using a capo at the 4th fret, but shifted down to the 3rd fret so I can go directly into it from the song above. )

Sorry Im just seeing this. I haven't been on in a while.

Gm7

Bbmaj7sus2/A - I look at this and think WTF because it is the most literal and confusing way to name this chord. IN reality and in function it is an Fsus4/A. In the open position it is Dsus4/F#.




F9sus4/G - also Ebadd9/G. I just wouldn't play the G and consider it Ebadd9. IN the open position we are thinking Cadd9 like all good Bon Jovi songs.

 

[baimun]

Sorry Im just seeing this. I haven't been on in a while.

Gm7

Bbmaj7sus2/A - I look at this and think WTF because it is the most literal and confusing way to name this chord. IN reality and in function it is an Fsus4/A. In the open position it is Dsus4/F#.




F9sus4/G - also Ebadd9/G. I just wouldn't play the G and consider it Ebadd9. IN the open position we are thinking Cadd9 like all good Bon Jovi songs.

So Gm7 , Fsus4, Ebadd9

 

[jbj]

I mean you're a DJ, you do realise there are easier ways to handle requests for Usher than transposing multiple parts to a single guitar don't you?

 

[baimun]

I mean you're a DJ, you do realise there are easier ways to handle requests for Usher than transposing multiple parts to a single guitar don't you?

Haven't stopped to think about it in a while... but I really haven't DJ'd much since starting my bands. I think I filled in on a couple weddings a few years back and a house party... but the last 3 weddings I did were with band members.