How to use power chords on diminished triads?

[mojobone]

Hard to get that to translate, if you use a lot of distortion; couldn't have happened without Metallica and nu-metal, maybe Swedish Black Metal did it first-it couldn't work with a classic Iommi type metal distortion tone, too much midrange would turn it to hash. Mesa Boogie (Dual Rectifier) made it possible; we can argue who made it popular. You can hear diminished runs in some fifties rock, chords, maybe not as much, but blues guys used 'em.

[Stein Thor]

vii is not very different from V7 unless the vii has the diminished 7th, at lest on keyboard instruments, but can´t say I know the guitar well other than G - C - D so different laws might apply, for me bII - ii - iv - vii° - I sounds much more powerchordy for example.

[feaker66]

I would be super excited if I understood any of this.

I bet I have used some of these chords in the past just by chance.

It happens when I say "that sounds cool with my pinky on that string" and go from there.

Ha ha

Paul

[rnrmachine]

I would be super excited if I understood any of this.

I bet I have used some of these chords in the past just by chance.

It happens when I say "that sounds cool with my pinky on that string" and go from there.

Ha ha

Paul

HAHA... I understand it (at least I am sure I understand it) and I still usually go with... "that sounds cool with my pinky on that string" and go from there as well.

I have been playing guitar soo long and know it soo well, that I just know where to go when I want a ceratin sound, without having to think about it.

Rob

[gongchime]

Thanks Ryan that souds like its worth a try.

Everyone else. This is not a thrash metal, death metal, Smashmouth thread. It's the lite rock band thread. U2, etc...

Looking for specific examples from THOSE bands that were mentioned. It's for a project in the planning stage. Can't get to a music store to buy one of those complete score books so asked here.

It might be worth a try to check out the tab websites. If the answer is discovered maybe it will find its way here.

[mojobone]

Smashmouth is a popular rock band (or was in the late nineties/early oughts) Their hit "All-Star" was used in one of the Shrek movies, so definitely not death metal, though they do use a guitar sound similar to Limp Biskit; sorta nu-metal meets hiphop. Just sayin'.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcLWCorxC3M

[kurtkreimier]

I'm not a rocker but typically a vii chord, which will be diminished in any Major key, will be used as a substitution for a V or V7 chord. In the case of a V7 it will be the 3rd, 5th and 7th of the chord. It will typically want to resolve back to the Major I chord.

In minor keys the same situation largely applies when playing in melodic or harmonic minor, in which case the 7th of the scale is raised 1/2 step. When playing in natural minor the vii (VII) chord is actually a Major chord. However, almost any time a vii chord is used to resolve to the tonic chord in a minor key the 7th of the scale will be raised 1/2 step.

All that said, diminished chords can work in a variety of situations depending on what the music is trying to convey. You could make a whole chord progression out of diminished chords if you want. It might sound pretty tense but if that is the mood you are wanting to convey why not. Try a simple 2 chord vamp using a C Major chord and a F# diminished chord for a few bars and then throw in a B diminished chord to resolve back to the C Major chord. If you want to do this using guitar friendly chords try a G Major and C# diminished vamp and then use a F# diminished to resolve back to the G Major.

In terms of playing them as power chords I would definitely say use the root of the chord and the flat 5. The flat 5 has to be there for it to be a diminished chord. Hope this helps. If this seems a little long winded forgive me. I love music theory and can't help myself.

[Hookjaw Brown]

A bass player in our band said that the flat five interval was banned by the Church as the it was the Devil's Interval, drove people to sin and corruption. He went on to play as many rock songs as it took to prove his point.

Speed metal and Flamenco both share scales with flat 3,5, and 7.

Robin Ford has a lot of video lessons on using diminished scales over the IV on blues turnarounds of V,IV,I. He also likes using chords without fifths when comping. since horn players like to use fifths. He says to play notes where no one else is playing. Better texture.

Just something to ponder.

[rnrmachine]

...using chords without fifths when comping. since horn players like to use fifths. He says to play notes where no one else is playing. Better texture.

Just something to ponder.

Yea, that is what I was talking about in my first reply. Use the band... after all you aren't talking a solo peice.

It occured to me... as I was feeling a bit insulted by your.. "maybe it will find it's way back here" comment... which suprises me I didn't think of it right away... are you talking Major triad but altering one to be the dim (b5) or are you talking the dim triad chords? Such as, C, Eb and Gb?

Rob

[Hookjaw Brown]

Rob,

No insult intended...

I have not really accomplished the right timing and placement, but the V,IV,I turnaround uses a b3 in the arpeggio over the V, a 6, b5, b3 (diminished) riff over the IV and resolves back into the b3 blues riff over the I.

Robin Ford and Larry Carlton have some really good teaching videos out and they both have chops that are unique.