Cowboy Chords

[guitar george]

I hear the term "cowboy chords" being used quite often in this forum. Can someone please tell me which chords are the cowboy chords or what is meant by the cowboy chords? Is this meant to be a derogatory phrase? I rather like cowboy music.

[AllThumbsBruce]

I like cowboy music too! I think the term refers to open chords in the first position.

[littlewing1208]

Open CAGED chords.

[music2myears]

This site explains it.

https://deftdigits.com/2011/07/26/8-...w-to-use-them/

[zmf]

Originally Posted by guitar george

Is this meant to be a derogatory phrase?

Yes. But there's a lot of good music there. If it embarrasses you, you can always barre a G someplace in the song.

Originally Posted by guitar george

I hear the term "cowboy chords" being used quite often in this forum. Can someone please tell me which chords are the cowboy chords or what is meant by the cowboy chords? Is this meant to be a derogatory phrase? I rather like cowboy music.

These are your normal first position chords played up on frets 1-4 (or maybe to 5). I'm not sure it's a derogatory term though. Maybe it is in some minds.

[guitar george]

Originally Posted by zmf

Yes. But there's a lot of good music there. If it embarrasses you, you can always barre a G someplace in the song.

Good to hear. I can do that! I small step up from open chords.

[littlewing1208]

Derogatory might be a bit aggressive but I’d say there is sometimes a sentiment in the musician community that open CAGED chords are for noobs or too simple. This is despite the fact that the vast majority (probably in the realm of 99%) of guitar based music uses open chords. Think of all the capoed songs that as such to allow the guitarist to use ‘cowboy chords’.

[guitar george]

Originally Posted by music2myears

This site explains it.

https://deftdigits.com/2011/07/26/8-...w-to-use-them/

Thanks, m2me, that really explains it well.

I wish people wouldn't use that term, however.

[Seagull S6]

Originally Posted by guitar george

Is this meant to be a derogatory phrase? I rather like cowboy music.

Not at all. You have to remember that when a cowboy is out righting wrongs, saving the "ranch" from evil doers and winning the girls heart, he doesn't have a lot of time to work on the technical aspects of his playing as he is riding off into the sunset.

Oh I have heard than sometimes if a cowboy has a spare moment they also heard cattle..........

[1neeto]

I’m curious of the backstory of why they’re called cowboy chords. My guess back in the day, everyone bought a guitar and were trying to make it on Nashville while strumming the same 5 open chords?

[champ0608]

The singing cowboys essentially invented guitar as we know it today. God bless 'em and their chords

[Lee Callicutt]

I'll take those and some truth.

[RP]

I imagine that you'll find many more guitar players who use them than disparage them....

[Big Band Guitar]

I first heard the term in the movie Inside Llewyn Davis.