Chord Identification Help

[TNTaylor414]

I ran across this one not too long ago x02223. Some sort of A?

[Mooh]

A7

The notes are A, C#, E, G. (Though from low to high on guitar they are A, E, A, C#, G.)

[Bruce Sexauer]

Number the notes ascending from "a", the root, as:
A-1
B-2
C-3
D-4
E-5
F-6
G-7
A-8(1 octave)
And you will see that the highest note is the 7, in this case not a semitone below the tonic but a full tone, which makes it the "dominant 7th". The chord it therefore called "A dominant 7th" . Were the added note the second fret instead of the third fret, it would be "F#" and the sixth note of the A scale, therefore "A 6th". All chords can be described this way once having identified the root, though the name can get a bit unwieldy.

[TNTaylor414]

Hmmm, lots of ways to play an A7, huh? I always play A7 like this x02020.

[alnico5]

Very handy site:

http://all-guitar-chords.com/chord_name.php

[TNTaylor414]

A7 it is guys, thanks!

I thought you'd have to go up the neck to find another A7. Didn't know you could grab another one so close.

[Monk of Funk]

Originally Posted by TNTaylor414

A7 it is guys, thanks!

I thought you'd have to go up the neck to find another A7. Didn't know you could grab another one so close.

For that shape, there is usually another dom7 shape close by, but for the A, because the root is open, you can't play it.

You can for the B though, and it looks like

2
x
2
1
2
x

Or you could leave the B string open as well. This is a handy shape, no pun intended.

You could also play the A7 with a different root as well.

3
2
2
4
x

Would technically be written as A7/C# though I guess, but it's still an A7.

There are lots of ways of playing lots of chords, but after a while you get to know the positions and it becomes pretty simple. remembering every different one as distinct possibilities is tough. But once you know your way around a little, it becomes more obvious and simple.

[Guitars+gems]

Originally Posted by alnico5

Very handy site:

http://all-guitar-chords.com/chord_name.php

Excellent resource, thanks for posting!

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by TNTaylor414

A7 it is guys, thanks!

I thought you'd have to go up the neck to find another A7. Didn't know you could grab another one so close.

It's a great one for playing blues. John Lee Hooker used it, and watch Big Bill Broonzy exploiting it here (blues in E), eg 0:13.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm1qtX7Mz5w

[SFCRetired]

Originally Posted by TNTaylor414

Hmmm, lots of ways to play an A7, huh? I always play A7 like this x02020.

That's how I play it.

[Monk of Funk]

The common A7 for me, is

5
5
6
5
x
5

Then, probably

9
8
9
7
x
x

Or maybe the open one, or the one like I described earlier but up at the 12th. I don't much like open chords though, really, as a general rule, and around the 5th fret is a nice place to be i find.

[alnico5]

5 A
0 A or 4 for C#
5 G
0 G
5 E
0 E

This give you two roots, two 5ths and two 7ths, or add the C# for the 3rd. I use it in 'Indian Summer" by the Doors

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by alnico5

5 A
0 A or 4 for C#
5 G
0 G
5 E
0 E

This give you two roots, two 5ths and two 7ths, or add the C# for the 3rd. I use it in 'Indian Summer" by the Doors

Aagh that's upside down! all the blood's rushing to my head!

0 E
5 E
0 G
5 G
0 A or 4 for C#
5 A

...phew, that's better.

Without C# it's not A7 of course. Better to lose the 5th than the 3rd, generally speaking (outside of Indian Summer anyway).
In that position - keeping the open string effect - I'd probably choose this for A7:

0 E
5 E
6 C#
5 G
0 A
5 A

but this makes a nice A9:

0 E
0 B
0 G
5 G
4 C#
5 A