Are theses barre chords based on a D-shape?

[b4ym4n]

I learned this song, "city traffic puzzle" by a band called the hush sound. I learned the entire thing; but, the bridge is throwing me off.

It clearly sounds like the bride descends from A, Ab, G, Gb, F. Here's the thing: I could swear the guitar is using d-based chords in stead of E-based chords.

If you have a program that can turn off the lower frequencies, you can hear the barely audible guitar. There is a note constantly resonating: the E note on the the B string (5th fret). If they were E barre chords, that wouldn't possible.

If you watch this video, (right after the solo @ about 2:26)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhKbz...om=PL&index=23
,it looks like this:

xx578x, xx56xx, xx5555, xx4555, xx3555

The audio isn't the greatest, I'm just using that video for a visual. For the original song: I would check rhapsody or another place you can stream it, free.
I am almost completely sure the 4th and 5th chords are F#m7b5 and then Fmaj7. The reason being is that it looks like xx4555 and then xx3555. It sound right as well. The chord that I am most unsure about is the 2nd. It just sounds weird and incorrect.

What do you guys think?

[JayFreddy]

Originally Posted by b4ym4n

...I'm just using that video for a visual...

I am almost completely sure the 4th and 5th chords are F#m7b5 and then Fmaj7.

What do you guys think?

I found this link was much easier to hear:

http://aimini.net/view/?fid=MGGr7nqHrwNcFbm8wjzt

I find it easier to transcribe something if I don't have to visualize it. Easier said than done, but trying to cop fingerings from videos has never worked for me.

I hear three distinct vamps:

Verse: Am F E [F and E are off the C form]

Chorus: Dm Am E + Dm F E [Open forms work fine]

Post-solo Interlude/Bridge: Am E/G# G D/F# F (last time add a Dm)

Did this answer your question?

[b4ym4n]

Originally Posted by JayFreddy

Verse: Am F E [F and E are off the C form]

In the beginning, (before the F and E) It switches on the 4th beat from Am to E or F, but just for one beat. I thought it was E but I'm not sure...Which do you think it is?

For the F and E, I used x87x88 and x76x77. What shape is that anyway?

Chorus: Dm Am E + Dm F E [Open forms work fine]

Post-solo Interlude/Bridge: Am E/G# G D/F# F (last time add a Dm)

It's weird. I still hear that E note on the 5th fret of the B string ringing constantly in the bridge.

Did this answer your question?

Sadly...no. That bridge is still throwing me through a loop. :( But, I really appreciate you taking the time to pick it apart. :)
The weird thing about this band is that the guitarist uses a lot of unconventional chords. So, picking apart some of their chords can sometimes drive me crazy. :O

[Tim Armstrong]

I haven't looked at the videos, but sometimes when things sound unconventional, it's because of things like capos or alternate tunings...

Tim

[boneyguy]

I haven't gotten into it too deeply but what it sounds like to me is that very typically descending bass under a minor chord that you hear alot in latin styles.

Instead of naming each change as a different chord I just hear it as a descending bass under an Am. You could of course name each chord but I think hearing it as a descending line under the minor harmony is more 'accurate' to what is being conveyed musically.

Am/A (xx7555) - Am/G# (xx6555)- Am/G(xx5555) - Am/F# (xx4555) - FMaj7/F (xx3555)

That's what I'm hearing in the link provided by JayFreddy.

You could leave the high A out of the voicings which would leave the E on the B string as the upper voice which would coincide with what you are hearing.

I'll have a look at the vid. and see what else I can hear. Hope this helps.

[boneyguy]

Just had a look at the vid at 2:26. I believe he's doing exactly what I've outlined above.

[b4ym4n]

Originally Posted by boneyguy

Just had a look at the vid at 2:26. I believe he's doing exactly what I've outlined above.

You are exactly right! :D Thanks!

What do you think about the beginning of the song? It starts Am; but on the 4th beat it switches to either a E or F bass note, before
actually switching to F then E chords. Both sound right. If I stay in Am, I just use my pinky for the F on the D string. Or I can just switch to E...Not sure.

[boneyguy]

Originally Posted by b4ym4n

You are exactly right! :D Thanks!

What do you think about the beginning of the song? It starts Am; but on the 4th beat it switches to either a E or F bass note, before
actually switching to F then E chords. Both sound right. If I stay in Am, I just use my pinky for the F on the D string. Or I can just switch to E...Not sure.

I'm hearing a B very strongly. It's a little hard to hear exactly in the clip but it sounds to me like he's hammering on the B at the 2nd fret of the A string. There's other little melodic bits that are swirling around in there as well that are kind of distracting my ear.

Play with that B on the A string and see if that sounds right to you.

EDIT: Listen to the link from JayFreddy above and you can definitely hear that the note is an E but in the live version in the video it sounds like he's hitting the B. So take your pick.

[jbmando]

It just goes to an E major chord on the 4th beat. Each chord gets 1 beat:
Intro:
Am/Am/Am/E
Am/Am/Am/E
Am/Am/E/E
F/F/F/F/E/E/E/E
Am/Am/Am/E
Am/Am/Am/E
Am/Am/E/E
F/F/F/F/E/E/E/E

Something is playing an ascending melody over those chords: (Notes:)
A - B (Over the E) - C (over the Am)

[boneyguy]

Originally Posted by jbmando

It just goes to an E major chord on the 4th beat. Each chord gets 1 beat:
Something is playing an ascending melody over those chords: (Notes:)
A - B (Over the E) - C (over the Am)

That's not what I'm hearing. It just doesn't have the sound of going to V. If it was going to V it would have a much stronger feel but this is much subtler than that. If you listen to the studio version in the link above it's easier to hear that it's staying on the Am.

Yes there's a little A-B-C melody in there as well.

[jbmando]

Well, later, in the intro to the second verse, you can see the guy with the tele playing exactly that. They might not do it on the intro, although I'm pretty sure I heard it. I would agree that on the studio version the sound is more like staying on the Am and just going to the E bass.

[JayFreddy]

I think Boney nailed it. The bridge section I posted will work, but it's more complex than what they actually use. That descending line is so common, it is often referred to as a "line cliche".