Chord names separated by a /

[rick-slo]

Mainly to help you read the score, and as a guitarist to help finger it. To the right of the slash could be any other note (other than the root note).

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by tdq

Technically it means the first inversion of the Dm chord.
i.e Dm is D, F, A - the root position.
1st inversion is F, A, D.
2nd inversion A, D, F.
On a guitar the root inversion often isn't the easiest or most common way to play a chord (Dm, for example!), so I usually take Dm/F to mean a Dm (in whatever form) with an F bass. At least, this is how I understand it.
I think it can also be an instruction for the bass player to play an F while the guitarist/keys is playing a Dm - but I'm not sure about this.

nothing personal but if i was just starting out and read this, all the fun would go out of my balloon.

[DupleMeter]

Originally Posted by JonPR

It's also worth bearing in mind (confirming tdq's point) that if you see such a chord in a chart of a rock song (or a jazz tune), it means the guitar (and/or keys) plays the chord (before the slash) and the bass player plays the bass note.
I.e., if there's a bass player playing that bass note, you can (and probably should) just play the normal chord. (It's usually a good idea not to double up what the bassist is doing.)
Of course if you're on your own - then you do it yourself (if you can)!

I respectfully disagree. I think changing the chord voicing to match what's written, even with a bassist, adds texture to the changes that would otherwise be lost. Keep in mind that 9 times out of 10 the bass will be an octave lower than the low notes on the guitar chord anyway.

At least that's my take. I do a lot of music direction and when I write a chart out for a guitar player I expect them to play the inversion written because it changes the feel of the song & the motion of the harmony. Some people may differ on that opinion...but I don't think I would say it is something one should avoid.

Originally Posted by DupleMeter

I respectfully disagree. I think changing the chord voicing to match what's written, even with a bassist, adds texture to the changes that would otherwise be lost. Keep in mind that 9 times out of 10 the bass will be an octave lower than the low notes on the guitar chord anyway.

At least that's my take. I do a lot of music direction and when I write a chart out for a guitar player I expect them to play the inversion written because it changes the feel of the song & the motion of the harmony. Some people may differ on that opinion...but I don't think I would say it is something one should avoid.

It depends on the song and on the band, and, if the band, which bass player is playing that day. With the band I play with I would forget the /F because I know our powerhouse bass player is going to carry the day, and wrapping my thumb would just be redundant. But in other settings, other bands, other circumstances you are right.

So when playing solo I just play the normal schnormal Dm and wrap my thumb to get the F note; when I'm playing with the band I let the bassist do his thing.