In this video

Slash chords change the bass note of a chord which we hear often as beautiful descending bass lines in countless songs (like Song Bird by Oasis or Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen)

Main Learning Points:

See lesson clip below for visual help!

  • G/F#: G major chord with F# bass note with index finger - muting string five

  • G/B: lift the index finger off the G, the B on string five becomes the bass note

  • C/B: put middle finger on 2nd fret of string five - muting string four

  • D/F#: thumb or finger on 2nd fret of string six (rather than string 4 open D bass note)

Songs:

  • Songbird & More Than Words with G-based slash chords

  • Hallelujah, Landslide &Wherever You Will Go with C/B movement

  • Thinking Out Loud & Highway to Hell with D/F#

Understanding bass notes is how we start working out songs by ear. The lowest pitch you hear often tells you more about what's happening harmonically than the higher notes (melody notes)

The Most Important Slash Chords

Next Up: 3/4, 6/8, and 12/8 Time Explained

Well done! Let's jump into the next video of the course.

Recommended Songs

Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel (Chords + Solo)

Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel (Chords + Solo)

House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals

House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals

Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent

Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent

Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey

Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey

The Shadows - Apache (Hank Marvin)

The Shadows - Apache (Hank Marvin)

La Bamba - Ritchie Valens/ Los Lobos

La Bamba - Ritchie Valens/ Los Lobos

Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen/ Jeff Buckley

Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen/ Jeff Buckley

The Beatles - Ticket To Ride

The Beatles - Ticket To Ride

Bryan Adams - Summer Of 69

Bryan Adams - Summer Of 69