strange chord ??

[almann1979]

well strange to me at least.

i looked it up on a chord namer and found this

http://jguitar.com/chordname?string5=0& ... &string0=0

I was just comming up with some riffs on my own and like an idiot i thought i was playing the "hendrix chord" (guess i need to do some research on that one).

Anyway, when i looked at what i was doing i saw the notes were: E, G, G#, D.

i liked the sound of it but was was unsure how the major and minor 3rd could sit together in the same chord like that?

in what context is this chord used? what could i use it as a substitute for?

thanks in advance, AL

[boxboy]

That is the 'Hendrix chord 'I think. A variation at least.
I love the sound of it. It's dissonant but can also feel like a suspension.
I'd use it wherever you want to make some noise or create some drama.

[Nuno]

Yep, it is the so called 'Hendrix chord', it is an E7#9, in general, dominant 7th #9 chord.

It could be used as a dominant 7th but you have to check if the #9 clashes with the notes played in the melody or the band. For example, try it in a 12 bar blues turnaround A7-D7-A7-E7#9.

There is a lesson in the main site about this kind of chords and substitutions by Tom Serb (NoteBoat)... but I don't find the links right now...

[Nuno]

Al, here are the lessons:

http://www.guitarnoise.com/lessons/chord-substitution/
http://www.guitarnoise.com/lessons/altered-states/

[almann1979]

thanks to the both of you for the replies, and nuno thanks for the links. I will get busy reading

[hbriem]

E7#9 Chord lesson on Wholenote.com

[Sean0913]

E, G, G#, D.

They are correct. E7#9

Your actual notes are going to be E Fx G# and D

Fx is a Double sharp, also known as a F##. It has to be that because F# is a 9th as a compound interval. Because of this G cannot be a 9th (Even though it is enharmonic to Fx). It has to remain some kind of F, thus by raising the F# which is a ninth, we have an F##...or the #9 in E7#9.

Best,

Sean