Grateful Dead Music Forum

This might be really stupid, but I really don't know the answer and I am sure someone here does (my family provided only dumb looks when asked!).

I see chords often written as say "E7". I also sometimes see them written "Emaj7", is this the same chord? If not, what is the difference? Looking at some fingerings on the internet, it would appear that they are diffent. But then I went to a "chord finder" site and they don't have two different choices for "7" and "maj7", they only have the "maj7" but it seems to give different fingerings than I am used to.

No such thing as stupid questions bro. Only the ones you don't ask...

Emaj7 means that the seventh is natural, ie, a D# note(this being the natural 7th of the Emajor scale.

E7 means the seventh is a dominant seventh which just means that it is a half step down, ie, flat, so it would be a D instead of D#.

OK, Cool. Thanks.

Sometimes you hear people say when talking about the notes whether it has a blues 7th or major 7th. Might not be proper theory but I've heard it many, many times.

Well put, no such thing as dumb questions.

Major 7th = Natural 7 = Maj7

Flat 7 = b7 = Dominant 7

E7 (dominant,): E, G#, B, D = M3,m3,m3
Em7 (minor): E, G, B, D = m3,M3,m3
Emaj7 (major): E, G#, B, D# = M3,m3,M3

and of course the creepy-sounding E minor/major7: E, G, B, D# = m3,M3,M3

here's another "stupid question"....TS, your signature is bewildering to me. I just can't seem to get it....a little help maybe??

As for other chords, just FWIW, often a major seventh will be denoted by a triangle in front of the 7 (or 9 for major ninth chords, or 13th, etc.).

Often a minor will be denoted by a dash,
(ie C-7) for C minor 7th.

A diminished chord will often have a circle with a line through it (like a "null sign") after the chord letter and an augmented will have a plus (ie C+7 or C+9).

These are in my experience how jazz players write em out. makes for a quicker write when you're in a hurry too.

I've never liked the dash. A small "m" or "min" is just as easy and way clearer imho.

The tagline is just one of those uber-stupid jokes. I believe Weir actually said it onstage at one point, but I don't think he originated it.

TS, thanks for the clarification---I thought I was simply having a senior moment or something worse.

here's another really stupid joke...

how many Surrealists does it take to change a light bulb????























Banana......I told you it was pretty stupid.

On the theme of stupid jokes:

Descartes walks into his favorite bar and the bartender says "a cognac as usual sir?"

Descartes replies "y'know I think I want something different but I'm not sure what."

The bartenders says "Perhaps a beer?"

The philosopher looks indignant and says "I think not!" and promptly disappears.....

"why didnt the lifegaurd save the drowning hippie?"

"because he was too 'Far-Out'"

Math jokes huh?

An infinite number of mathematicians line up to the bar. The first one orders one beer, the next orders half a beer, the next orders a quarter of a beer, etc. The bartender says fuck it and pours two beers.

ok, dumb jokes... i'm in.

What is the difference between a guitarist and a Savings Bond?

Eventually a Savings Bond will mature and earn money!


and, of course, the classic:

What did the guitar say to the guitarist?

Pick on someone your own size!

What do you call those folks that hang out with musicians?
Drummers




How can you tell if a drummer is single?
He´s homeless


And a classic-

Cosmo the Head is standing by the side of the road with his dog Jed thumbing a ride when a couple pulls over.
¨Hey now I´m trying to get to the next show but I don´t have any money for gas. I´d be willing to give you my dog. He´s an amazing dog, he can talk¨

¨Can he now?¨ the husband asks. ¨Tell him to say something.¨

So Cosmo asks the dog, ¨What´s your favorite Dead tune Jed?¨

¨Wharf! Wharf! Wharf!¨, the dog replies.

The couple laughs and tells Cassidy it´s a cute trick. As they drive away the dog looks at Cosmo and says....



¨Maybe I shoulda said Playin´?¨


Badumbum...

How many bass players does it take to change a lightbulb?

1 5 1 5 1 5