Chord help...

Nitebob

Hi all. Need some help...

I'm playing a song, using a Capo on Fret 2. Chord is C#m, what is the shape? If I'm right (Propably not) it's A##m ??? Which looks more like a type of computer network...

Thanks for the learning help.

Warren

Can you post the shape?

For example, a barre chord (without capo) C#m fingering would be:

x46654

guitarboy2828

If you want to play a C#m with a capo on second fret, you would finger it the same way that Warren tabbed out.

Norman86

Nitebob wrote: Hi all. Need some help...

I'm playing a song, using a Capo on Fret 2. Chord is C#m, what is the shape? If I'm right (Propably not) it's A##m ??? Which looks more like a type of computer network...

Thanks for the learning help.

Double sharp?!
not likely!!

What song is it, just btw??

and its probably an Bm, not A##m!

http://www.guitarfriendly.net/transpose-change-key-chord-chart/ wrote:Key Change Chart

As you become more familiar with the chords in each key, the more transposing will become second nature. However, I’ve put together a chart that will help you transpose into any key using the method shown above.

Key | I ii iii IV V vi vii^o
C major | C Dm Em F G Am Bdim
D major | D Em F#m G A Bm C#dim
E major | E F#m G#m A B C#m D#dim
F major | F Gm Am Bb C Dm Edim
G major | G Am Bm C D Em F#dim
A major | A Bm C#m D E F#m G#dim
B major | B C#m D#m E F# G#m A#dim

Norman86

im pretty sure he means that with the capo on 2, the chord is a c#m?!

Not playing a C#m with a capo on 2. but maybe he should clarify?!

DonRoos

Check out http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/index.php if you want to find a particular chord or http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/chord_name.php if you want to find the name for a chord you are playing.

domhatch

assuming he's asking what shape to finger C#m when capo is on 2nd fret. easiest way i can think of is to play a 'Bm'- barre shape, barring the 4th fret, which is what warren has tabbed out above. just wondering why capo is necessary, as there's also an open version of this chord? perhaps knowing what song it is might make this more clear...

btw, the '##' chord you're looking for is A###m. theoretically possible but - agreed - highly unlikely.
dh

Warren

Well, that's why I asked what shape he's fretting, since we often refer to fingering shapes by their familiar name. Otherwise it's unclear what the question is.

Nitebob

Okay...for clarity... original chord is a c#m. If you put the Capo on the 2nd fret C is fingered as an A#Bb but what would a c#m be then. Usually it's straightforward. B is fingered as an A, Bm as Am... F# is fingered as an E etc...but here I don't even know which chord to look up.

Nitebob

Original looks like this:

EADGBe
xx212o

Norman86

http://www.thestringery.com/featured/guitar-chords-finder/

According to that you're playing an Ebm

Unless im way off mark here???

Warren

Interesting!

The fingering you've shown (xx2120) is a bit unusual: it's a first inversion of C#m (with a doubled E).

If the actual chord you're trying to finger is specifically C#m (the notes C#, E and G#) then the most common way is the barre at the 4th fret as shown previously (x46654), and is unaffected by the capo at 2nd because of the barre.

In other words, Domhatch has it right: you could possibly think of it as playing C#m using a Bm barre (with the capo at 2).

Nitebob

Thanks all will try and feedback.

Reason for using the Capo is because I'm having trouble with the barre chords. Thus having to finger A rather than B....

Warren

Nitebob wrote: Thanks all will try and feedback.

Reason for using the Capo is because I'm having trouble with the barre chords. Thus having to finger A rather than B....

Fair enough. I'd advise getting to grips with the barre chords ASAP, but while you work on that, you could finger your C#m chord with Capo as:

xx0432 (open string shape)

Or the ACTUAL numbers with the capo on:

xx2654

domhatch

Original looks like this:

EADGBe
xx212o

you'll find this in a number of places - the acoustic version of 'layla' for instance. it sounds very pretty.

Nitebob wrote: Okay...for clarity... original chord is a c#m. If you put the Capo on the 2nd fret C is fingered as an A#Bb but what would a c#m be then. Usually it's straightforward. B is fingered as an A, Bm as Am... F# is fingered as an E etc...but here I don't even know which chord to look up.

not quite sure i have complete clarity yet. remember that a capo has no effect on chord naming, only on where you play it, or on which inversion you would choose given the position of the capo. a C#m is a C#m wherever you play it, it will just look different in open position (x42120) or barred at the 4th fret as warren mentioned earlier (x46654). but wherever it is, it's still a C#m. so if you're looking for a chord name, just look up the name, and an inversion or fingering where the chord's position is above the position of the capo on the fretboard.

another cool chord tool - http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/

and if you're having issues with barre chords, don't panic, we all did (and some of us still are!). just keep practicing...

does this help?
dh

Bob-Dubery

Nitebob wrote: Thanks all will try and feedback.

Reason for using the Capo is because I'm having trouble with the barre chords. Thus having to finger A rather than B....

Bite the bullet and get to grips with the barres.

Nitebob

:-[ I know Bob...I know...

Thanks for all the help again

Nitebob

Any pointers on Barre chords though. spent the whole of last night trying to get something right...and I couldn't get a single clear ringing chord....I feel as overwhelmed as the first time I picked up a guitar, you know...when you thought...maybe I should try painting... ???

Norman86

practice!! tons of practice... my barre chords are only gettig better now... and i have been playing a year and a month!! ?

domhatch

also, play your open chords without your thumb*. start with the easier shapes: Am, E, A, D, Dm, etc. then progress to the harder ones, C, G, etc. somehow i found it easier to hit an F once i had an open E without my thumb* - i think it's a combination of muscle memory and finger & hand strength. all will come together with practice as mentioned above.

dh

*EDIT: not thumb, first finger. see my response to Norman86 below. sorry for any confusion!