The Major Chords (cont)
Why did I write the chords as roman numerals instead of their Names? First, I didn’t know what key the song was in when I started writing down the chords, so it was much easier and quicker for me to write the Roman numerals. Once you get used to this method, it will become second nature for you. This is the method the musicians use in Nashville. They get one or two shots at hearing a demo before they either go live on a stage, or put down tracks in a studio. So this method is a time saver for them. Second, if I have the arrangement in roman numerals, I can easily transpose it should a singer need to sing the tune in a different key from the original.

Transposing
Here is how all of this transposing works. In the key of G if I am playing a chord using this form as a G chord (I):

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

Then your V chord, or D, might be played here, basically what you are doing is moving the G chord up two frets and over one set of strings, and adding the top note:

-5---
-5---
-4---
-2---

Or here without the top note, just moving the G over a set of strings and up two frets:

-----
-5---
-4---
-2---

If you wanted to play the D (V) as a D7, the form might be:

-----
-5---
-4---
-5---

These relationships will stay constant no matter what key you play your first chord if you use the chord form above. If you play in A, the shapes would be as follows, but their physical relationship is no different than when you were playing in G, you’re just playing further up the neck when you start:

-5--- --7-- ----- ----- ----
-4--- --7-- --7-- --7-- ----
-2--- --6-- --6-- --6-- ----
-2--- --4-- --4-- --7-- ----
A (I) and three Es (V)

In B flat:

-6--- --8-- ----- ----- ----
-5--- --8-- --8-- --8-- ----
-3--- --7-- --7-- --7-- ----
-3--- --5-- --5-- --8-- ----
Bb (I) and three Ebs (V)

Another way I like to make those changes as I go up the neck is like so, in A, this sounds more like I-V to me:

-5--- --4--
-4--- --2--
-2--- --2--
-2--- --4--
A (I) and E (V)

Or A and E7:

-5--- --4--
-4--- --6--
-2--- --2--
-2--- --4--
A (I) and E7 (V7)

Move all these forms up and down the neck to accommodate the different keys.

Previous Next