The Complete Idiot''s Guide to Music Theory

Part 3:
Tunes
Changing chords in your music.
124
If you’re writing a part for guitar, or for a rhythm section (bass, piano, and so
forth) in a pop or jazz band, you don’t have to write out specific notes on the
staff. A guitarist will know to strum the indicated chords, a piano player will
know to 
comp
through the chord progressions, and the bass player will know to
play the root of the chord.
You write a comp part by using slashes in place of traditional notes on the staff.
Typically, you use one slash per beat, so a measure of 4/4 will have four slashes,
like this:
Comping
is a
technique used by jazz
and pop musicians to play
an improvised accompani-
ment behind a particular
piece of music. A piano
player might comp by
playing block or arpeg-
giated chords; a guitarist
might comp by strumming
the indicated chords.
Definition
Writing chords for a rhythm section.
You can indicate specific rhythms that should be played by writing out the rhythm,
but with slashes instead of note heads. The result looks something like this:
Indicating a specific rhythm for the chord accompaniment.
If you’re writing specifically for guitar, you also have the option of including
guitar tablature. Tablature shows the guitarist how to fret the chord, and is very
useful for beginning-level players. More advanced players probably don’t need
this assistance, unless you’re indicating a particularly complex chord.
A guitar part with tabla-
ture is sometimes called a
guitar
tab.
Note
A guitar part with tablature added.

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Chapter 9:
Chords
The Complete Idiot’s Chord Reference
If you flip back to Appendix B of this book, you’ll find “The Complete Idiot’s
Chord Reference.” This is a comprehensive reference to just about every kind of
chord you can think of—major chords, minor chords, extensions, you name it.
You’ll find out how to construct each chord, learn the guitar tablature, and dis-
cover alternate ways to describe the chord. Keep this appendix bookmarked—
you’ll get a lot of use out of it!
The Least You Need to Know
◆
A chord consists of three or more notes (called a triad) played simultaneously—
with each note typically a third above the previous note.
◆
A major chord includes the root note, a major third, and a perfect fifth.
◆
A minor chord includes the root note, a minor third, and a perfect fifth.
◆
Extensions above the basic triad are typically added in thirds, and can be
either major or minor.
◆
A minor seventh chord is a minor triad with a minor seventh; a major sev-
enth chord is a major triad with a major seventh; a dominant seventh chord
is a major triad with a minor seventh.
◆
When you play a chord with a note other than the root in the bass, you’re
playing a chord inversion.
◆
When you write for guitar, piano, or bass, you don’t have to write out all the
notes; all you have to do is specify the chord, along with rhythmic slashes on
the staff.
Exercises