Which G Major is correct?


Kasperow
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Kasperow
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01/24/2015 5:19 pm
Okay, I know this is going to sound like a stupid question, but it's seriously bugging me, so here goes...

Which of these two G Major Chords is the most correct one?


e-3-3
B-0-3
G-0-0
D-0-0
A-2-2
E-3-3


According to my limited knowledge of scales and music theory, they should both be a G Major Open Chord, so how come everytime I play the one on the right, people tell me it's wrong and that the G Major is played like the left one? Can I please get some clarification on this? An expert-opinion would be even better.

The way I see it, they're the same thing, only in one you have two thirds, in the other you have two fifths, and it's solely up to the individual which one they want to use (or use the one that sounds best for a given context)...
"Commit yourself to what you love, and things will happen."
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# 1
ChristopherSchlegel
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ChristopherSchlegel
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Posts: 8,467
01/24/2015 5:49 pm
Originally Posted by: Kasperow
Which of these two G Major Chords is the most correct one?


e-3-3
B-0-3
G-0-0
D-0-0
A-2-2
E-3-3

[/quote]
Both are G major chords. Just slightly different voicings. The notes on the B string are either B (major 3rd of the chord) or D (5th of the chord). Just slightly different sounds. Any where you can find the notes G (root), B (3rd) & D (5th) on the guitar is a G major chord. The most correct one is the one that sounds best in the musical context you are playing.

With an electric high gain tone, the D is going to ring clearer. With a clean tone or an acoustic guitar, the B might sound prettier.
[QUOTE=Kasperow]
The way I see it, they're the same thing, only in one you have two thirds, in the other you have two fifths, and it's solely up to the individual which one they want to use (or use the one that sounds best for a given context)...

Yes, context is everything. :)
Christopher Schlegel
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# 2
Kasperow
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Joined: 10/09/12
Posts: 693
Kasperow
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Joined: 10/09/12
Posts: 693
01/24/2015 7:06 pm
That's what I thought, based entirely on music theory. I'm not quite sure why people would call one of them wrong, when they're both the same chord, though... Thanks for the expert-opinion :)
"Commit yourself to what you love, and things will happen."
- Mika Vandborg, Electric Guitars, "Follow Your Heart"
---
Gear:
Chateau PS-10 Cherry Power-Strat
Epiphone G-400 LTD 1966 Faded Worn Cherry
Epiphone Les Paul 100 Ebony (w/ Oil City Pickups Scrapyard Dog PLUS pickups)
Epiphone ES-345 Cherry
Fender 2014 Standard Stratocaster Sunburst
Martin DX1K Acoustic
Fender Mustang II Amplifier
Jet City Amplification JCA22H Tube-head and JCA12S+ cabinet
Pedals...
# 3
haghj500
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Posts: 453
haghj500
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01/25/2015 5:07 pm
Originally Posted by: KasperowI'm not quite sure why people would call one of them wrong, when they're both the same chord, though...


I can think of two main reasons.
1. It is not how they play it so it must be wrong.
2. Lack of knowledge.
# 4
Sinnerman
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Sinnerman
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02/02/2015 7:57 am
Originally Posted by: haghj500I can think of two main reasons.
1. It is not how they play it so it must be wrong.
2. Lack of knowledge.



3. They haven't had the good fortune (or sense) to join GuitarTricks!
# 5
Svanholm
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Svanholm
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02/03/2015 10:26 pm
I think it depends on where you come frome.

My dad always says to use one of them because the other one is a "american style" :P

Same thing with the B-string. Some people say B-string, some people say H-string.
# 6
JeremyRodriguez
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Posts: 76
JeremyRodriguez
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Posts: 76
02/17/2015 6:26 am
Originally Posted by: haghj500I can think of two main reasons.
1. It is not how they play it so it must be wrong.
2. Lack of knowledge.


Haha! Indeed. It is not healthy to think in this manner.
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# 7

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