What chord does A, B, and E get me?

Rick Contino · From: Brattleboro, Vermont

I've been using this chord a lot lately and am trying to incorporate musical terms into my practice. So what is the name of the chord I get by using A and B pedals with the E lever?

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

that would depend on what strings you are striking

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

If you're hitting the basic grips (10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3), you're playing a dominant 9th chord, omitting the root tone. You could also include strings 1, 2, and 7. I guess that's every string except 9. Smile

It's also a minor 6th, again with the basic grips, root on string 7.

The chord could be called several things and used in various places, however.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Rick Contino · From: Brattleboro, Vermont

Thanks Herb,

I've been using it more as a dominant 9th I believe. Out of curiosity what would be the root note omitted, say at the open position?

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Rick
The missing root tone is B, on strings 10 and 5. Pedal A raises this note to C#, giving you the 9th tone but denying you the root.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

With your AB pedals in, you would have an A major chord in the open position using the main grips Herb noted. 345 456 568 6-8-10 If you engage the E lever lowering the E to Eb you are flatting the 5 tone in the key of A.

Rick Contino · From: Brattleboro, Vermont

Question answered. Thanks for the help guys!

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

A9th minus the C# and G.

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Erv
Rick was referring to pedals A and B with the E lever, not the individual notes A, B and E.

An A9th without the C# and the G isn't really much of an A9th. More like just an A note, a B note, and an E note. These would of course sound okay if played over an A9th, but wouldn't in and of themselves determine an A9th

In any chord, what determines whether the chord is major or minor is the presence of the third tone; in the case of A, the C#. Similarly, what determines if the chord is a dominant or not is the presence of the flatted seventh tone; in the case of A, the G note.

So, without either the third or the flat seventh, you ain't got very much of a chord, just a very vague partial.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Tommy Auldridge · From: Maryland, USA

You Guys left out the way I think of it and how I use it most. In the open position it woud be an F7 aug. Because it makes the same notes as if you were on the first fret, playing strings 5-6 & 9 with 1/2 A pedal. Same thing open, strings 5-6 & 8 with pedals A B and E. DO WHAT?? Tommy.........

Tommy Auldridge · From: Maryland, USA

Herb: I beg your pardon. I am lowering the 8th. string. please re-think what I said. Thanks, Tommy

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Tommy is correct, it would be an F7 aug as well. My mistake on the post I previously deleted when I realized what notes were in the chord.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Herb,
Sorry about that.
I use the A, B & E combination to get a 9th chord.

Tommy Auldridge · From: Maryland, USA

Hey Erv: Don't you mean B9?

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Tommy,
There are all kinds of chords possible with just those few notes indicated.

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

(A)-P + (B)-P + (E)-K = A6b5 Open.
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

Olli Haavisto · From: Jarvenpaa,Finland

Ebm7b5, F#m6

The F7 aug is great, never thought about that, thanks Tommy !
_________________
Olli Haavisto
Finland

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I don't quite understand why everyone is trying to make it so complicated, or; are you only trying to see how many different names are compatable? Just curious! They seem to be just a large collection of substitute-chords!
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

Olli Haavisto · From: Jarvenpaa,Finland

I don`t see anything too complicated here. Valid chord names with different functions. I see them on charts I have to play all the time. B9 covers only one function of the notes available.
_________________
Olli Haavisto
Finland

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

John
It's not really that complicated, if you're referring to Olli's last post. I'd already mentioned the minor 6th chord (useful in Hank Williams' "Ramblin' Man" e.g.), and the minor7b5 chord is a very commonly used chord as well.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic