Sometimes, figuring out “What Guitar Chord Is This” can be more complex than it initially seems. A single guitar chord shape can be interpreted in various ways depending on the musical context and which note you perceive as the root. Let’s break down a common chord form to illustrate this.
Consider a chord shape played (with standard tuning) as follows: leaving the low E and A strings unplayed (muted or not strummed), and then playing the open G, D, A, and high E strings. This can be represented as (X, X, Open G, Open D, Open A, Open E). At first glance, identifying “what guitar chord is this” might lead to different answers, and here are a few valid interpretations.
One straightforward way to approach “what guitar chord is this” shape is to think of it starting from the E string, even though it’s not played in this voicing. If we consider E as the root, and imagine fretting notes on the low E string at fret N, playing (N, X, N, N, N, N) creates a movable minor 7th chord shape. In our open string example, extending this to include the open A string, we introduce the 11th. Therefore, one interpretation of this voicing is E minor 11th (Em11). This is because, relative to E, the notes are (Root, X, b7, b3, 5, Root) for the minor 7th shape, and adding the open A string adds the 11th degree. The notes present in this Em11 voicing become (1, b3, 5, b7, 11), omitting the 9th.
However, “what guitar chord is this” could have different answers if we shift our root note. If we consider the open A string as the root, the situation changes. With A as the root, we no longer have a 3rd present in the chord. This absence of the 3rd often suggests a suspended chord or a 9th chord (major or minor), but in this case, it leans more towards a sus chord quality due to the open and airy sound.
Alternatively, let’s consider the open G string as the root when asking “what guitar chord is this?”. Thinking of G as the root unveils another possibility. The open G chord itself incorporates three open strings. Analyzing our voicing with G as root reveals: Root (G), 3rd (B – on the open high E string if we consider the E string in a full G chord context, though implied here), 5th (D – open D string), 6th (E – open high E string), and 9th (A – open A string). This combination constructs a voicing of G(69). G69 is known for its beautiful and rich sound. While perhaps not a standard or common voicing of G69, all the essential notes are present, making it a complete and valid chord. A typical G69 voicing often used is (1, 3, 6, 9, 5, 1) in terms of degrees, which translates to a common fingering pattern (3, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) frets starting from the low E string.
In conclusion, when faced with the question “what guitar chord is this?”, it’s important to remember that a single chord shape can have multiple interpretations based on the perceived root and musical context. In the example of the (X, X, Open G, Open D, Open A, Open E) voicing, we’ve seen valid interpretations as E minor 11th and G69, and even a sus-like chord with A as root. Understanding chord voicings and their potential interpretations enriches your guitar playing and musical understanding. The context and the surrounding music often dictate the most appropriate answer to “what guitar chord is this?”.
