cool sounding chords

Hmm... there are too many to list! A good start would be suspended 2nd and 4th chords, i've always liked the sound of them. As well, diminished and augmented chords have a weird sound. Then you have your extended chords: 7ths and 9ths (good for blues and jazz) and 11ths and 13ths. I think the best way to learn about chords and how to use them is to learn songs using these chords: most blues songs have a nice variety of 7th and 9th chords, as well, alot of jazz songs contain these chords as well as diminished chords, augmented chords, 11th, 13th and many altered chords.

It kinda depends on what you want to write. If you're writing rock music, then there's no problem with the standard ol' major/minor/power chords.

For something new, try some open chords and let the open notes ring out. Find some chords with open strings further up the neck.

Try some of the ol' chords but try different inversion of them.

You could also slap on a capo and see what doors that opens up...

good luck, I'm still stuck on the chorus of my first song as well!

Personally I love power chords played on the lowest strings. I love the heavy sound that you get and some of them sound quite deathly. You can also move them all over the neck and they almost always sound great. This coming from a heavy metal player...it depends on taste.

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Try this one!

----3----
----3----
----2----
----2----
----3----
----3----

Barre the first and second strings at the third fret with the third finger. Barre the third and fourth strings at the second fret with the first finger.
Barre the fifth and sixth strings at the third fret with the second finger.

It's a bear to get sounding clear, but it's the coolest sounding chord I know.

Now if I just knew what it was called.....
:oops:

It's a 6/9 chord

G-C-E-A-D-G = 5-1-3-6-9-5, for C6/9

Often used in country (and some jazz) for a closing chord.

I like the Dm7 and Am7, I'll fret them here as elementary chords.
Am7 Dm7
E A D G B E E A D G B E

0 0 2 0 1 0 x x 0 2 1 1

Just make sure the progressions you use them in have them in key.

thanx

I like 9 chords. They have kind of an emo vibe, but you can make them soooo heavy if you play them right. I usually omit the third becuase it makes it sound more simplistic and less dense, requiring less intake on the listeneres part. This is a common voicing for it with the root on the 6th string
D----7----
A----5---
E----3----

You should play the "9" with your pinky. Some people consider this quite a large stretch, but I don't really mind it.
Also, try this...

D----5------
A----3------
E----3-------

its a just a power chord on the 5th string, but you put the fifth in the base as well, and it makes it sound ultra heavy.

Also, I particularly enjoy this chord. I think its a 7th chord of some sort, but I forget, maybe noteboat can back me up on this one...

E-----3----
B-----3-----
G-----3-----
D-----3-----
A-----X-----
E-----3------

Some people barre it and mute the fifth string somehow, but I usually cheat and use my thumb to play the 6th string and barre the rest.

It's a 6/9 chord

G-C-E-A-D-G = 5-1-3-6-9-5, for C6/9

Often used in country (and some jazz) for a closing chord.

Thanks NoteBoat :)

I'm using it in the chorus of one of my songs. The progression goes:

Verse: D Dmaj7 D7 G Gm D

Chorus: G Gm C6/9 D

i love open chords, using the E and Am shapes open up and down the neck

also other shapes work equally as well

my favorite has to be the Fmaj7 (i think) shapemoving between that and the G position

0 -> 0
1 3
2 4
3 5
3 5
0 0

its the way i play an acoustic version of Fleetwood mac's "dreams"

playabout with chord shapes up the nexk there are some Gems to find

Es

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Try this one!

----3----
----3----
----2----
----2----
----3----
----3----

Barre the first and second strings at the third fret with the third finger. Barre the third and fourth strings at the second fret with the first finger.
Barre the fifth and sixth strings at the third fret with the second finger.

It's a bear to get sounding clear, but it's the coolest sounding chord I know.

Now if I just knew what it was called.....
:oops:

Yeah, I use it and it's variant on the just the high 4 strings as well for improving and mindless comping. In one position all the notes fall in the pentatonic scale. On just the highest 4 strings, three positions fall in the pent scale.

-G

Something I started doing early on when I wanted to find something with an unusual sound was take an open form I was familiar with, and just move it around, leaving the open strings. Got some pretty neat sounds. One of my favorites:

Taking a normal "C" shape:

X32010

and moving up to:

X54030

...To make what I assume is some form of D.
XDFGDE
X13412

Man... what the heck is that?

X54030

...To make what I assume is some form of D.

That's a Dadd11

Try this too:

076400

It's just a different voicing of E major, but I think it sounds great. Very open and airy sounding.