#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Chord without root?

So I notice on the CBGitty chord poster they list Dminor as 2-3-2. This confused me because it's A-F-A, in other words the root D is missing. It should be D-F-A.

So I looked into this and it seems, to my surprise, that it is sometimes allowed.

What do you guys think about this?

My problem is I'm trying to play a C#minor low down on the neck and of course I'm lacking the C# down there. I can play 1-2-1 however which is G#-E-G#. C#minor should be C#-E-G#.

Thanks.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on February 4, 2020 at 7:28pm

When your reduced to playing three strings turned to two notes you have to improvise. So a barred chord across all three strings can be major or minor depending on what is played before it. What notes you play will depend on the importance of the c#. Try it both ways. Bar it without the C# within the song. Then try playing only two notes. The C# on the sixth fret of the first string and the E on the second fret of the second string.

Or you could move the chord up to the sixth fret and do one of four things. Bar the sixth fret on the first and second strings. Bar the sixth fret on the third and second strings. Or play the full chord by barring the first and second strings and adding the ninth fret of the third string Or baring the sixth fret on the third and second strings and adding the ninth fret of your first string.

Improvising chords by relying on voicing instead of chord structure. Try this.

First finger second fret and second string open.

First finger third fret second string. Third finger fifth fret third string

all open.

Without playing a single real chord it sounds like you played E, F and G.

If you listen to my song 'You got that right' you'll only hear one true chord. In the entire song. It's the second chord played derring the chorus.

Second fret fist string. Third fret second string and open third. Because it takes three notes to make a chord.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Warren Williams on February 5, 2020 at 8:54am

OK this part is confusing me:

First finger second fret and second string open. - This would be A and D. Is that what you mean?

First finger third fret second string. Third finger fifth fret third string - so like E, B, G?

Remember I'm new to this so treat me carefully. :)

Thanks.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on February 5, 2020 at 6:55pm

Thank you Warren! Boy did I get that screwed up. Your right. It's a D, F and G. Made a second mistake as well.I should had written

First finger second fret third string. Second string open. And and Yes that's an A D so yes your right. It sounds like a D chord.

The next two notes are played without the open G of the first string. Played in procession This sounds like your playing D, F and G. Sounds like but it's not. It gives the impression of moving up two chords before the all open G D G. Which by music theory is not a G chord.

Your new at this and I'm horrible with music theory. I'll lead you off a cliff yet. :)