What is the James Bond chord?

[Coolaid]

I read some where about a famous "spy" chord... also refered to as the "James Bond chord".

Do any of you guys know something about this? I recon it`s a E minor -something ? How to play it ?

And as we are talking about James Bond - Anyone have tabs for the theme instrumental song - not like jazz, but like the original version?

[nomelite]

I read some where about a famous "spy" chord... also refered to as the "James Bond" chord.

Do any of you guys know something about this? I recon it`s a E minor -something ? How to play it ?

And as we are talking about James Bond - Anyone have tabs for the theme instrumental song - not like jazz, but like the original version?

The chord John Barry used extensively in the James Bond scores was the major/minor chord which is quite sinister.

[mr. beaumont]

try 0 10 9 8 7 x (you can also play the high E open, if you choose....)

it's an Em/maj9

[ohlcv]

0 2 1 0 0 2

which I analyse as Em(maj9) is often the last chord in the Pink Panther theme too.

[RyanM]

I always thought it was a maj7#5.. actually, I guess it's the exact same thing though (as a min-maj9)

[Joe Dalton]

RThe james bond thing is more of a groove
Play this Am Am#5 Am6 Am#5 Am

[Claudi]

The chord John Barry used extensively in the James Bond scores was the major/minor chord which is quite sinister.

I can play the intro for A view to a kill in my synthesizer and the chords are simply major and minor.
Also you can play the sinister melody heard in every Bond movie with the notes B, C, C# and C...repeatedly. The thing is to play chromatically.

[Coolaid]

Thanks a lot guys!

[Bluezdog999]

Hi, new here to this forum, the guitarist for the bond films is a guy named Vic Flick, he came up with that chord. He also scored music for the pink Panther films and the Beatles. Check his website out Vic Flick Guitarman.

[ohlcv]

E min maj 9
i.e. it has a min 3 & maj 7 & 9 - no?

[zappafan99]

Minor major seventh chord - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[mr. beaumont]

try 0 10 9 8 7 x (you can also play the high E open, if you choose....)

it's an Em/maj9

I know we've been going on this for almost a year, but really, y'all, you can trust me...this time.

you can also play it like this: 0 x 5 4 4 2

[musicjunkie]

It's also the Dr evil chord...

[Anthony Wakefield]

Someone [edit: Joe - hi Joe] gave the correct counter for this theme, as:
Am Am+5 Am6 Am+5 Am.

The James Bond theme is of course not composed by John Barry, but by Monty (Norman, I think - getting far too old ).

I used to work with an English Pianist/MD/composer/arranger who arr this music for the soundtrack. So the chord sequence you see above was his arrangement for the counter.
Bert Rhodes is now playing piano with the angels, and he tells me that he wasn`t given any credit in any of the end titles for these movies.
I did some cabaret scores when Bert was MD at the `Talk of the Town` restaurant and night spot in London`s West End. It closed down near the end of the `70s.

The Em/maj79 is of course what JB used for all his original Bond music.
I did a small bit of taking down AHA`s tracks for JB for The Living Daylight (Daylights?). JB was too lazy to do it himself.

Best,
A

[mr. beaumont]

nah, bill, sorry, i'm just being a sarcastic ass!

This thread is old, and I always felt I answered the question in post #2! That's what I hear as the "spy chord," the ending of that james bond theme...but people went on to discuss afterwards...

I don't hear a sixth, and definitely hear a m/maj7 sound there. I hear root, minor third, major seventh, and ninth...I just don't think the chord in the graphic is correct.

on the guitar, it could be voiced 0 10 9 8 7 x or 0 x 5 4 4 2

Being that it's a year later, I should probably grab a DVD and take a listen!

[jazzbow]

[CHORD]

||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|-7-|---|---|---|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-8-|---|---|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-9-|---|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-10|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|H-7|---|---|---|---|

[/CHORD]

This is the chord I learned for the last chord in the bond theme in the key of E, I hit the 7th fret harmonic on the bottom E with my thumb, if I can I'll try for the harmonic on the top E with the side of my fretting index finger on the 7th. I don't know the name of this chord, B flat 6 somethng? I call it the 'Bond chord!'
Ignoring the harmonics what is this chord shape called??

[mr. beaumont]

AARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

It's still an Em/maj9! I promise!

[jazzbow]

You seem a little tense...Thanks for the m/maj9 tho'

[mr. beaumont]

I'm better now, thank you...read the whole thread, my "tension" is a longstanding joke in this one...

[jazzbow]

So you're feeling somewhat 'flat' with this topic, due to it's 'diminished' returns
I checked the thread at the very begining but gave up the will to live very quickly so I cut to the end and threw in my 'twa penny!
Sorry if I antagonised, generally fret blind sometimes......

[John Till]

The chord mr. beaumont and jazzbow contributed sounds right to me.
It's a G Major 7th Sharp Five (GM7#5) which is the flat-three chord of E Melodic Minor, the scale I'd play over it.
chord = G B D# F#
E Melodic Minor scale = E F# G A B C# D#

[IAMMRBONGO]

The chord mr. beaumont and jazzbow contributed sounds right to me.
It's a G Major 7th Sharp Five (GM7#5) which is the flat-three chord of E Melodic Minor, the scale I'd play over it.
chord = G B D# F#
E Melodic Minor scale = E F# G A B C# D#

I use mr beumont's second inversion i.e. E,G,B,D#,F#. I've been using it for years and it's one of my favourite chords

The E in the base means that it's probably more accurate to read it as e min / maj 9. Because of the way you have to ommit so many notes on the guitar I suspect it's kind of ambiguous anyway

I often play this kind of chord progression using it

EminMaj9 /// Em6add9 /// Em9 /// Em6add9 /// C# 7(#5,#9)// B# 7(#5,#9) /// EminMaj9 /// Em6add9 ///

mmm melancholy

[mr. beaumont]

It's an Em/maj9, the song is very obviously in a minor key.

[mr. beaumont]

Yeah, sorry if it sounded like I wasn't agreeing with you--I was just trying to back you up--there's no reason to name that chord from the G...

[John Till]

As IAMMRBONGO and mr.beaumont point out, With an E on the bottom, it becomes a very rich sounding 5 note chord containing a 1, b3, 5, 7, 9
After all, if the song is in E, why not put an E on the bottom of the final chord?

But it's not actually there in the Youtube link posted by pingu, nor is it in the MGM Home Entertainment video "The Sound of James Bond", which ends with a close up of Vic Flick playing a solo guitar version of 5 verses, a chorus and the final chord.
In both of those examples I hear a 4 note chord G MAJ 7#5 with a G on the bottom.

Since the low E is available as an open string,
and could have easily been played,
I find it interesting that Mr. Flick chose not to.

He did play much of the melody on the low E string,
so perhaps he wanted to lighten the sound on the final chord.

It's true that sometimes 'less is more"
and what you leave out can be as
important as what you play.

x
7
8
9
10
x

[IAMMRBONGO]

As IAMMRBONGO and mr.beaumont point out, With an E on the bottom, it becomes a very rich sounding 5 note chord containing a 1, b3, 5, 7, 9
After all, if the song is in E, why not put an E on the bottom of the final chord?

But it's not actually there in the Youtube link posted by pingu, nor is it in the MGM Home Entertainment video "The Sound of James Bond", which ends with a close up of Vic Flick playing a solo guitar version of 5 verses, a chorus and the final chord.
In both of those examples I hear a 4 note chord G MAJ 7#5 with a G on the bottom.

Since the low E is available as an open string,
and could have easily been played,
I find it interesting that Mr. Flick chose not to.

He did play much of the melody on the low E string,
so perhaps he wanted to lighten the sound on the final chord.

It's true that sometimes 'less is more"
and what you leave out can be as
important as what you play.

x
7
8
9
10
x

I agree in some respects but I still see it as EMinMaj9 (ommit 1) for the simple reason that implication is as important as the notes you decide to play. I wonder what it said in the original score. Neither one of us is wrong I don't think. You could view either as a substitution

It's good to hear different perspectives on these things as I tend to look at things from a piano player point of view where you have the tendency to cram as many notes in as you can.

Personally if I was to play the chord in isolation and try to make people think of bond I'd add the e as it just doesn't sound like bond without the tune before it.

[IAMMRBONGO]

Looks like John Barry has passed away today

[pingu]

Yes RIP John Barry ...... a GREAT writer and arranger

[mr. beaumont]

Looks like John Barry has passed away today

Well, may the composer of one of the most recognizable themes of all time rest in peace.

I suppose this means we'll never know the answer to this question.

[matt.guitarteacher]

Fantastic film composer. I really never realized he was the James Bond guy. We listened to Out of Africa and Dances With Wolves for years though.

[Jeremy Hillary Boob Ph.D]

yes... the spy chord is Em maj9... something like...




---2------------------------------------------
---0------------------------------------------
---0------------------------------------------
---1------------------------------------------
---2------------------------------------------
---0------------------------------------------



...but what I want to know is Stravinsky's "rite of spring chord"!!!

...is it something like this? chunk chunk CHUNK chunk...




---x------------------------------------------
---5------------------------------------------
---7------------------------------------------
---6------------------------------------------
---8------------------------------------------
---x------------------------------------------

[jazzninja]

try 0 10 9 8 7 x (you can also play the high E open, if you choose....)

it's an Em/maj9

Yeah, that's it. It also works well as an ending for minor key tunes

[dbennett]

Hi, new here to this forum, the guitarist for the bond films is a guy named Vic Flick, he came up with that chord. He also scored music for the pink Panther films and the Beatles. Check his website out Vic Flick Guitarman.

Sorry I'm very late to this conversation, but I've just recently found this site. Vic Flick may have doodled around and found this chord, but the "James Bond" sound of moving it up and down is found in the 1958, Wes Montgomery song Mr. Walker on "The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery".

[Sky Harbor]

The famous 'James Bond' chord is an Em9#7 [or Em9(maj7)]:
[CHORD]

||---|-•-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||---|---|---|-•-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||---|-•-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||---|-•-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

[/CHORD]

Another good (and a bit easier) voicing is:
[CHORD]

||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|-•-|---|---|---|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-•-|---|---|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-•-|---|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-•-|---|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

[/CHORD]

(BTW: Is there a better character to use for the finger stops?)

An excellent chord for that 'sinister' effect!

Hope that helps!
- Sky

[TH]

It's an Em/maj9, the song is very obviously in a minor key.

Minor key? Are you sure? It doesn't sound sad to me. Not a sad chord, kinda like an angry spy-ee chord. What mode is the spy mode?

It's a secret spy chord. SECRET. If you post what it actually was, somebody would have to come and kill you or slice out your gonads with a laser beam.
David

[mr. beaumont]

I'm just bummed that so many years later we've still never gotten the right answer to this question.

[mike g]

try 0 10 9 8 7 x (you can also play the high E open, if you choose....)

it's an Em/maj9

Thats the chord....period...3rd post of this thread

[voxwerx]

e b d# g c# f#

[Fletch]

Am I allowed to mention The Beatles used the m +5 6 groove to great effect in Hey Bulldog over two minor chords ? !
James Bond groove fans check it out!

[TH]

I read some where about ... the "James Bond" chord.
How to play it ?
:

This is how you play it:

As to what it is? Let's begin this debate anew-that sounds like fun!
If you have these toys, who needs a pedalboard?
David

[J. Murrieta]

just watched Skyfall yesterday and i was all fired up to learn me how to do some stealthy spy chording. thanks for the great thread. and thank you Mr. Beaumont for the laughs and the great chord!

very cool & fun.

[Steve Montgomery]

Is it too late to add to the confusion?

If you just want fingerings for the chord type and don't care that much about the exact voicing, you might do well with the following three easy voicings for Em/maj7 and/or Em69 on the 1st 4 strings:

2 7 11
2 7 12
4 6 12
5 5 11

All of the pitches in this type of chord come from the E Jazz Melodic Scale:

E F# G A B C# D# E

[bondmorkret]

Haha I always mention this point of reference when showing the minmaj7 chord to students, always raises a chuckle!

[docbop]

Interesting I alway knew the mi MA7 as the Soap Opera chord. "Will she live???" strum the chord, "tune in tomorrow" tap a 9th on top.

[mr. beaumont]

I hope now that this thread is back we can finally figure out what the chord is.

[superbius]

Hi guys,
I am new to the site and am enjoying the comments i have read so far. This James Bond theme is quite intriguing the opening chords are what exactly???, please.

[JonR]

Hi guys,
I am new to the site and am enjoying the comments i have read so far. This James Bond theme is quite intriguing the opening chords are what exactly???, please.

See post #7:
https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/compi...html#post40805
- although it's in Em, not Am. Works best (or easiest anyway) like this, IMO:

-0---0---0---0------------------
-0---0---0---0------------------
-0---0---0---0------------------
-2---2---2---2------------------
-2---3---4---3------------------
-0---0---0---0------------------

Pick out the 5th fret notes and then strum, if you want.

[Rhoderick]

...but what I want to know is Stravinsky's Rite of Spring chord?


There are two chords known as the Augur’s chords from The Rite of Spring.
Both are a double-chord. The first consists of an E major below an Eb Dominant Seventh. To play, difficult on guitar, probably need two or more guitar players but easy on piano, E-Ab-B-E-G-Bb-C#-Eb:

The second, is an A major below an Eb Dominant Seventh, A-C#-E-G-Bb-C#-Eb.

By the way, The Bond Chord is, as Mr Beaumont says Em/maj9 or, as I have always known it, Emin9maj7.

Music is the key that can open strange rooms in the house of memory.

Llewelyn Wyn Griffith

[DMK]

The james bonc chor is a minor triad with a raised 5th....which then moves to the 6th....
usually in a line like Eminor, Eminor#5, Eminor6

[notadoubleo]

I always heard my company's chord as: A C E F# B

depending on the song, either the fifth or ninth on the top.