The Slash Chord Trick Pros Use (Most Players Miss This)
The Slash Chord Trick Pros Use (Most Players Miss This)
Hey guys, Brad Litton from SimpleGuitar.com. This blog post transcribes my YouTube lesson on slash chords — chords over bass notes. Most players stay stuck on the same old open chords. Pros use this little slash (not that Slash) and it instantly makes progressions sound smoother and more expensive.
We actually spent time on this in the Guitar Mastery Circle. This is the condensed version so you can start using it today.
What Is a Slash Chord?
When you see something like G/B, that's not two chord names. That's one chord, and after the slash is the bass note you play with it.
- G/B = G over B. Play a G chord, but make sure the lowest note you hear is a B.
- D/F# = D over F#. Lowest note is F#.
- Am/G = A minor with a G in the bass.
Important: the bass note does not have to be part of the chord. In G/B, B is in the G chord. In G/F#, that F# is not in the G chord. We use that to keep the bassline moving, and that's what hooks your ear.
You'll hear this all over songs like While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Dear Prudence, A Whiter Shade of Pale, Free Bird, and Stairway to Heaven. This gets used everywhere.
Slash Chord 1: D/F# (D with F# in the Bass)
Start with a standard D chord with your first three fingers. Then bring your thumb around and grab the sixth string on the second fret — that's your F#. Now you can play all six strings. Really rich sounding D with F# in the bass.
If you play that after a G chord and then go to E minor, you get that classic moving-bass sound.
You don't have to use the thumb. Two other fingerings from the lesson:
- First finger on F# (second fret, sixth string), second finger on the second fret of the third string, third finger on the third fret of the second string
- Or the same notes with your second, third, and fourth fingers
Either one works.
You'll hear D/F# in stuff like Free Bird, and even Highway to Hell — that's one of the chords.
Slash Chord 2: G/B (G with B in the Bass)
The way I usually do it: second finger plays B on the fifth string (second fret), pinky plays the third fret on the second string, and I only play the four inside strings.
Sometimes I use first and third finger for this too. Either way works.
This is basically a G chord, but you're leaving off the sixth string and playing from the fifth string.
It sounds great going C → G/B → A minor. You'll hear G/B in Landslide, No Woman, No Cry, and a bunch of other songs.
How to Strum Them Without Getting Muddy
Slash chords sound really clear with fingerpicking (think Landslide). You can strum them. I highly recommend you pick the bass note, then strum the rest of the chord. That keeps it from sounding muddy.
Practice Progression 1: G – D/F# – Em – D/F#
You can fingerpick 6-4-3-2 (sixth, fourth, third, second string) or do the same pattern with a pick.
- G for a measure
- D/F# for a measure
- E minor for a measure
- Back to D/F#
Take it slow. Repeat it way more than you think you need to.
Practice Progression 2: C – G/B – Am – G/B
Same idea, but pick 5-4-3-2 on all of these (because we're starting from the fifth string).
- C
- G/B (fifth string and second string fretted)
- A minor
- Back to G/B
- Then C
This is almost exactly what you're playing for Landslide without the capo.
Spend 2 to 5 minutes on each of those exercises and you'll start getting comfortable with at least these two slash chords. Then there's more to dive into.
If you want a simple place to start, grab my free Top 10 Things to Learn on Guitar First at http://simpleguitar.com/top10.
And hang out with other adult guitar players in the Simple Guitar Facebook group: http://facebook.com/groups/simpleguitar.
About the Author
Brad from Simple Guitar helps adult learners play the songs they love without the frustration. Visit simpleguitar.com for more free resources and lessons.
