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Anybody use this chord?

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(@artlutherie)
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Joined: 20 years ago
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Topic starter  

I'm currently trying to learn "Cortez the Killer" and have come up against the Am7sus4 played as 305530 anybody use this chord? If you do how do you finger it I can't quite get my pinky and ring finger to stretch to the third fret from the index and pointer on the third. Is there possibly another fingering for this chord?

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(@kingpatzer)
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Joined: 19 years ago
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The important tones here are A, D and G (the 1, 4 and b7).

An E is more or less optional, depending on your taste, ear and the song. Since the specify minor, I wouldn't feel bad about inserting a C (b3) either, though as a sus4, it might be slightly out of place.

Interestingly, all of these notes occure on the 5th fret in standard tuning.

So you can simply barre at 5 and you've got the chord.

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(@artlutherie)
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Joined: 20 years ago
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Topic starter  

I've tried that and it's close but not quite. Maybe I should not pick certain strings?

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(@ignar-hillstrom)
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Joined: 21 years ago
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Another way would be [x 0 0 0 1 0] [x A D G C E], this would keep the same top-note as the original.

Wouldn't that be an Am7add11 by the way, a minor suspended chord sounds pretty weird to me? Or, even simpler, an Am11 where the 9th is ommited? Why not try an Am11 [5 5 5 5 5 7] and see if the B fits in?


   
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(@kingpatzer)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 2171
 

Yeah, the "minor/sus" thing makes me scratch my head too ...

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -- HST


   
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(@fretsource)
Prominent Member
Joined: 18 years ago
Posts: 973
 

Yeah, the "minor/sus" thing makes me scratch my head too ...

Me too - It sounds like a contradiction in terms.


   
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 Mike
(@mike)
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I'm at work so I don't have my guitar with me but, did you try using your thumb for the bass note?

T---M-R-I---
3-0-5-5-3-0-


   
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(@ignar-hillstrom)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 21 years ago
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Just checked the song, it seems you're moving towards an Em7 (E G B D) after this and this chord is basically a decorated Am7 (A C E G). The G and E note of them Em7 are already in the Am7 chord, the two extra notes of the Am11 (B and D) are both part of the Em7. Basically I don't think it really matters to much. Keep the E-note on top for both the Am7 and Em7 chords. Adding one or both of the optional B and D notes would make the Am chord a bit more tense but that is fixed easily by the Em7.

Just my guess though.


   
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(@dogbite)
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Cortez the Killer is one of my favorite songs from Weld. it is a killer song. I have begun to work it out and have to agree (as usual) with Arjen.
those tips will help me out too.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=644552
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 Mike
(@mike)
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T---M-R-I---
3-0-5-5-3-0-

That's what I get for not having my guitar with me. :oops: While I can play it that way, it's easier -

T----R-P-I---
3-0-5-5-3-0-


   
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(@smokindog)
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I use an Em7 with that song myself, sounds good to me :lol:

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http://www.soundclick.com/guitarforumjams


   
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 Taso
(@taso)
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I don't really know the song, but I think Mike's way of playing it, with the Thumb is pretty easy. Nice to develop the skill of using the thumb in certain chords.

http://taso.dmusic.com/music/


   
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(@bojack)
Trusted Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 33
 

I'm currently trying to learn "Cortez the Killer" and have come up against the Am7sus4 played as 305530 anybody use this chord? If you do how do you finger it I can't quite get my pinky and ring finger to stretch to the third fret from the index and pointer on the third. Is there possibly another fingering for this chord?

Could you do a Cminor barre chord and try moving your index finger to the 3rd fret of the big E string (so it's not barring the entire 3rd fret, but instead just on the 3rd fret of the big E string) and sliding your middle finger down from the 4th fret of the B string to the 3rd fret?


   
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