“Easy G#m” ?

[SKYHIGH]

Anyone care to comment if way this person plays G#m starting :30 seconds in the video is correct in theory? Couple comments people made on the video seems to have problems with way he plays it. Regardless will it pass for G#m?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=29WcL6ltWMM

Thanks

[Nymuso]

Pretty common approach, essentially leaving the first two strings open; I use it a lot. You can hear it on several of David Gates' hits from the seventies; I think it's pretty prominent in I'd Like to Make it With You.

BTW, If you're interested in the names of the resulting chords (with the inclusion of the open strings), take a look at this site. Some interesting results appear. https://jguitar.com/chordname

[Dog Shape Cloud]

Originally Posted by Nymuso

Pretty common approach, essentially leaving the first two strings open; I use it a lot. You can hear it on several of David Gates' hits from the seventies; I think it's pretty prominent in I'd Like to Make it With You.

BTW, If you're interested in the names of the resulting chords (with the inclusion of the open strings), take a look at this site. Some interesting results appear. https://jguitar.com/chordname

Interesting how that site doesn't consider it a G# at all with the D# in the bass. Wouldn't it also be a first inversion of a G#m add6? Though I've not much of a head for theory... I always thought of this as one of the "Melissa" chords.

[rick-slo]

Emaj7th chord

[12barBill]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Emaj7th chord

Yep.
Notes of Emaj7th chord are the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th of the E major scale.
E major scale is E F# G# A B C# D# E
Emaj7th chord is E G# B D#
The notes played with that shape are E D# G# B B E
Emaj7th

[Brent Hahn]

G#m/E, sure. Plain ol' G#m, no.

[12barBill]

I would add that you can play that chord shape as an inside chord (don't play the first string and sixth string, play four inside strings with B string open) and it is a G# min with the root on the fourth string.

And the three fretted strings in that shape make a minor triad that can be moved up and down the fret board (root on fourth string).

[rick-slo]

2 to 5 strings could be called G#m/Eb. For a movable chord I would most likely be using the Em chord shape, so for G#m 4-6-6-4-4-4

[jojobean39]

Depending on the song, it works for a G#m.

[Wyllys]

Originally Posted by SKYHIGH

Anyone care to comment if way this person plays G#m starting :30 seconds in the video is correct in theory?

It's not correct in theory or under any other heading. YouTube is full of great players along with a great number of idiots like this guy.

[jseth]

Well, regardless of the "theory" involved, you can definitely use that shape as a G#-7; as many have noted, it is actually an E maj7, but when heard "in context" with a progression using diatonic chords in the key of E, it will work...

Check out this version: (low to high strings - I can never remember which is 1 or 6!)

4 - x - 4 - 4 - o - o
(G#) (x) (F#) (B) (B) (E)

Gives a nice "open tuning" sound - works very nicely at the second fret for an F#7 of sorts... can be "moved around" and employed at other positions on the fretboard.

The "true" name of the chord is a bit involved, but trust your ears; if you like it, use it! You can always figure out "what chord is this?" at a later date!

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by jseth

Well, regardless of the "theory" involved, you can definitely use that shape as a G#-7; as many have noted, it is actually an E maj7, but when heard "in context" with a progression using diatonic chords in the key of E, it will work...

Check out this version: (low to high strings - I can never remember which is 1 or 6!)

4 - x - 4 - 4 - o - o
(G#) (x) (F#) (B) (B) (E)

Gives a nice "open tuning" sound - works very nicely at the second fret for an F#7 of sorts... can be "moved around" and employed at other positions on the fretboard.

The "true" name of the chord is a bit involved, but trust your ears; if you like it, use it! You can always figure out "what chord is this?" at a later date!

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".

[Dog Shape Cloud]

I'd been assuming the guy was skipping the low E, which would give it less of an Emaj7 flavor, but not only is it a serviceable (depending on context) G#m variant, that chord shape (as well as the major form) is pretty much ideal for looping your thumb over to the bass note, if desired.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by SKYHIGH

Anyone care to comment if way this person plays G#m starting :30 seconds in the video is correct in theory? Couple comments people made on the video seems to have problems with way he plays it. Regardless will it pass for G#m?

Nope. It's Emaj7, no contest. Calling it G#m is ignoring the E's - he's playing both 6th and 1st strings open. (The B string just doubles the 4th fret on 3rd string.)

Even if he was muting the low E, it would still be technically Emaj7 ("3rd inversion"), although you could just about make a case for "G#m(b6)".

The dumb thing is, it's easy to play a pure G#m like that and mute both E strings. Or fret the 6th with the thumb on 4th fret. I.e., you don't need the barre, but you do need to mute the E strings.

[12barBill]

Originally Posted by JonPR

Nope. It's Emaj7, no contest. Calling it G#m is ignoring the E's - he's playing both 6th and 1st strings open. (The B string just doubles the 4th fret on 3rd string.)

Even if he was muting the low E, it would still be technically Emaj7 ("3rd inversion"), although you could just about make a case for "G#m(b6)".

The dumb thing is, it's easy to play a pure G#m like that and mute both E strings. Or fret the 6th with the thumb on 4th fret. I.e., you don't need the barre, but you do need to mute the E strings.

Exactly. Perfectly stated. Thank you.
And when I referred to the three fretted strings in that shape as a moveable minor triad with root on the fourth string I was not suggesting to commonly use that as a moveable "chord" shape; just a useable minor "triad" when wanted.