Toughest Guitar Chord To Play

**whatswisdom** · 07-19-2011, 02:26 PM

What's the toughest chord you've had to master? I don't mean some insane unplayable chord that's unfeasible. Talk about a chord that's part of the jazz tool kit and tell me how you approach executing it smoothly, as in smoothing it out in a progression. I'll kick off by showing one that's been a long time challenge for me to nail consistantly. Minor-6th, root position. (Root on 5.)

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[/chord]

**Kman** · 07-19-2011, 02:52 PM

That's a tough one. I just do this on a min 6th chord because

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I use this a lot on min 7 chords.

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**whatswisdom** · 07-19-2011, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Kman

That's a tough one. I just do this on a min 6th chord because

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I use this a lot on min 7 chords.

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Shell voicings, I guess. Nifty ... Thanks...

**beasleybubba** · 07-19-2011, 03:18 PM

I was just up the street picking around a bit at the music store during my lunch break and ended up messing around with an idea I recently got from Django. It involves this chord (D6/9 with the 5th on the bottom):

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Not a difficult chord to play if you mute the low E string, leaving out the low A, and play it with the root on the bottom, but throwing the fifth on the bottom with the second finger AND covering the root with the same finger is tough to nail fluidly with speed. But it sounds boss!

**mr. beaumont** · 07-19-2011, 04:02 PM

Django might have used his thumb on those bass strings.

**beasleybubba** · 07-19-2011, 04:34 PM

True. From what I've read, it does seem that Django would have used his thumb on those lower strings. But that's even less comfortable for me than the way I've written it out above.

TH · 07-19-2011, 04:39 PM

**Vihar** · 07-19-2011, 04:44 PM

Yeah that's one helluva chord.

**whatswisdom** · 07-19-2011, 05:14 PM

[chord]
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That's a tough one.[/chord]

Yeah! But I still persevere because it sounds so great when voice led as follows: Minor > Minor-Major 7th > Minor 7th > Minor 6th

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 07-19-2011, 05:55 PM

There are much nastier ones than this, but I've made it my pet chord:

Code:

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It could be any of:
Dmin11b5
AbMaj13#11
Bb13
E7#5b9#9

**kenbennett** · 07-19-2011, 06:07 PM

There's always an easy way. That's what I shoot for.

**pingu** · 07-19-2011, 07:41 PM

Cmaj7 ist inv top 4 strings
8
6
9
7
x
x

bastard

**whatswisdom** · 07-19-2011, 10:15 PM

Can someone give me a name for this one? It's an awesome chord but drives me crazy when I have to play it higher up the fingerboard. [CHORD]

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[/CHORD]

**mr. beaumont** · 07-19-2011, 10:19 PM

Well, if you name it from the lowest note, it's a 7#11.

I use that chord up the neck all the time, but I'll either leave out the root or third if I need to get into it fast...great chord.

**whatswisdom** · 07-19-2011, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

Boy, you are evil...

**whatswisdom** · 07-19-2011, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Well, if you name it from the lowest note, it's a 7#11.... I'll either leave out the root or third if I need to get into it fast...great chord.

Yeah, I thought it was 7#11. Thanks, and also for the speed tip...

**voelker** · 07-20-2011, 02:19 AM

Fmaj7 with the 5th in the bass, I can just barely finger this on the 3rd fret as a Gmaj7, but the F is just beyond my reach for now.
[CHORD]

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[/CHORD]
easier version as a Cmaj7

[CHORD]

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[/CHORD]

**AlohaJoe** · 07-20-2011, 02:40 AM

John Miller at the Acoustic Blues Workshop in Port Townsend.

Even the toy on the table was amazed!

**Marto** · 07-20-2011, 03:03 AM

chords with a flat 2nd interval are always a stretch. this one is a maj7 #11 off the 3rd

[CHORD]

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[/CHORD]

This guy here is a 7#9 chord off the flat 7. It sound nice with a flat 9 too.

[CHORD]

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[/CHORD]

**Gerard45** · 07-20-2011, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by whatswisdom

Can someone give me a name for this one? It's an awesome chord but drives me crazy when I have to play it higher up the fingerboard. [chord]

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[/chord]

C9#11

TH · 07-20-2011, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by whatswisdom

Can someone give me a name for this one? It's an awesome chord but drives me crazy when I have to play it higher up the fingerboard. [CHORD]

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[/CHORD]

I LOVE this chord!!! D9 b13 with the 7 in the bass. Resolve it to a G/B

I really like the Bb lydian augmented with the 9 in the bass Bb#11#5/C resolving to a G-7.

David

TH · 07-20-2011, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by whatswisdom

What's the toughest chord you've had to master?

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This was the toughest for me to master, but that was a very long time ago.
David

**Kman** · 07-20-2011, 08:40 AM

A7b9#11 (symmetrical like diminished)

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**oldane** · 07-20-2011, 08:48 AM

Barry Galbraith had his chops together - both as a player and as a teacher. One of his students told that he (the student) would sometimes show Galbraith a new and intricate voicing he had cooked up since the last lesson. More often than not Galbraith would turn it down with the words "Nah, too hard!".

**JohnW400** · 07-20-2011, 08:59 AM

Kmans voicing. (Actually Bill Evans from Very Early) Ab13b9

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[/CHORD]

Or this Ami11 from The Two Lonely People

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[/CHORD]

For Ami I usually cheat and use the open A . However in Funkalero he uses Bbmi11 and he moves the alto voice (1st finger) up in 1/2 steps