Unit 15: Slash Chords

No, it's not about the guitarist from "Guns & Roses". It's about an alternative bass note to a chord you already know. Changing the bass note of a chord can significantly change it's function in a piece, or improve the voice leading to a standard chord progression. Alternate bass notes do not even have to be in the key of the original chord. Here's how one looks:
D/F#
This is pronounced "D with F# in the bass". It's played like this:
---2--
---3--
---2--
---0--
-------
---2-- (Thumb)


This is the D chord you already know, with the thumb coming up over the back of the guitar neck to grab the F# bass note.
Here's another useful chord- C with G in the bass:
C/G
--------
----1---
----0--
----2--
----3---(pinky)
----3---(third finger)


You can see the possibilities. Try coming up with some of your own.

Here's a classic tune that uses a slash chord "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. It's a basic I,V,I,IV progression, but the V chord gets the slash treatment. Here's the progression for the verse Each chord gets 4 beats:
G; D/F#; C; D


Here's the progression for the chorus. Start with single notes on the A string (A,B) and then arpeggiate the chords. C; D; F; G; D/F#; Em; C; D; Then back to the verse.
-----------------------2----------------------------------------------2--
----------1----------3-------------0-------3----------0------1-------3----
---------0---------2-------------0--------2----------0------0-------2-----
--------2--------0-------------0---------0----------2------2------0-------
--0-2-3--------------------------------------------2------3---------------
---------------------------3-----------2----------0------------------------

Your assignment is to play the progression for both sections in time with the recording.
Good Luck!