C Major Embellishments

Questions & Answers

2 weeks ago

For these chords my fingers must be positioned as the following - C index on b string, ring on d, pinky on a. Co problem with that, or Cadd9, but Cadd11 I hit a wall full speed - Pinky must stay on the a string and ring on the d string. My index finger on the b string leans towards the nut and the sound is distorted with a strum when I play each string by itself the d string with my ring finger is the guilty party. I do not have any finger or hand injuries but I find myself using whatever fingers work to play a chord but the one problem I see for this lesson is the Cadd11

Mike Olekshy 2 weeks ago

Hey there - thanks so much for your question! The Cadd11 will not work with that fingering of the C chord. I'd recommend starting to train your fingers for the usual fingering of the C chord (index B string, middle D string, ring A string). If you can be successful at learning these fingers for the C chord - it will facilitate plenty more - eg. Cadd11 or any types of emebellishments off the open C. The way you are fingering the C now is not necessarily wrong, but it is very limiting. So, my suggestion is to start working on the common fingering. Begin with just the index and middle fingers only - don't worry about placing the ring finger yet. And strum the C chord from the D strum to the high E string. Once you feel comfortable with that configuration, begin working on adding the ring finger to the A string. It's okay to move the entire shape up the neck (to around the 7th fret) so that the frets are closer together to work on this. Then work your way down the neck as it gets easier. It may take a bit of work - but you can do it - and it will be worth it!! Hope this helps!!

2 months ago

Hi! I'm confused as to why this chord is a Cadd9 and Cadd11 instead of a Csus2 and Csus4 chord. I've checked on the web and on the Guitar Tricks chord chart and the Cadd9 chord Anders seems to be playing is actually matching the Csus2 variation 4 chord and I also see that the Cadd11 being played here matches the Csus4 variation 1 chord. I'm not sure if there is an error in the lesson or I am wrong, but I would appreciate if you could help clarify the confusion. Thanks!

Mike Olekshy 2 months ago

Hey there - thanks so much for your question! This is a very common source of confusion. The reason the chords in this lesson are 'add' chords instead of 'sus' chords is that we still have the major 3rd note (E, open high E string) as part of the chord voicing. If we were "replacing" the third with either the 2nd or the 4th, then they would be considered suspended chords. In this case, we are replacing the lower octave E note (2nd fret of the D string) with the 3rd fret or the open D string, but we still have a 3rd in the chord on the open high E string - so they must be considered "add" chords. Hope this makes sense!!

2 months ago

Hi! While playing the cadd9 chord, my ring finger ends up muting the d string and this would not happen while I play the c major chord as the d string is already being pressed down by my middle finger which makes enough room for my ring finger. I am not sure as to how I can fix this problem as the sound being produced on the d string is not fully muted but about 70% there. Should I move on the lessons and keep practicing along the way or should I first fix this issue and then move on. Thanks!

Mike Olekshy 2 months ago

Hi there - thanks so much for your question! When you play the Cadd9, try pushing your wrist forward a little to create more of a curl on your ring finger. The idea is to get that ring finger coming into the 3rd fret of the A string as straight on as you can, so that it completely clears the open D string. Keep working on it in your practice routine - but if you're most of the way there - it is okay to move on to the next lesson. Hope this helps!!

1 year ago

I have the same question. I'm confused as to why this is Cadd11, and not Csus2, when it is suggesting the same is done (the second being added), as the previous video (A Minor Embellishments)

Mike Olekshy 1 year ago

Hello - thanks for asking this really crucial question!! There is a critical difference between a Cadd9 and a Csus2. A Cadd9 (or Cadd11) will contain the 3rd of the chord, while the sus2 or sus4 chord does NOT contain the 3rd. In the case of a "sus" chord, the 3rd is replaced by either the 2nd or the 4th - hence sus2 or sus4. When you have an add9 or add11, you are doing just that --- adding the 9th (or 2nd) or the 11th (or 4th) to a chord that already contains the third. Hope this helps!!

2 years ago

Im a bit confused on these chords. I see on the notation section these are saying Cadd9 and Cadd11. Would these not be Csus2 and Csus4 chords? I checked the chord chart on Guitartricks and I do not see a Cadd11 chord listed. In the past two lessons the chords were Dsus2 and Dsus4 and Asus2 and Asus4. Just checking to see if these are supposed to also be sus2 and sus4. Thanks for the help!

Josh Workman 2 years ago

Hi Thomas, thanks for your feedback. I'm passing this on to the Guitar Tricks staff.