Unknown chord in abracadabra (keyboard).

TenLeftFingers

E7#9 is the third chord in the abracadabra (Steve Miller) chord sequence, but it sounds wrong when I play it. He uses flange on a string / chamber sound.

Can anyone post a "tab" for the chord on the keyboard?

TIA
merlin

Giblet

Because I suck, blue means left, red means left.
Mspaint rules.

PS. The E on the far right can also be made into a G, if you can reach it.

TenLeftFingers

Cheers Giblet, I appreciate the effort (and the MSpaint finesse). I had searched the net and got variations that didn't sound right. Thats bang on!

I'm starting to rely less and less on the 'demo' button

Epitaph

Should there be a G (natural) in there as well as the G#?

i.e. the #9th bit

robbie1876

Yeah, that chord is just a major 7th. its the top G that'll give the chord its colour. Definitely play the lower G# as well though. If it doesn't sound right, try some different inversions or different root notes with the chord.

(Why in the world are you learning this song anyway..??!! )

TenLeftFingers

lol, it has to be done lads. It's part of a wedding set. I'm afraid I don't understand the #9 bit, could you post the tab as giblet did?

Anyway, I actually like that song

Giblet

I told him to add the G, did none of you read!

I don't play piano, I just guessed the notes from playing it on guitar

TenLeftFingers

Oh right. So move the E on the right up to G#? I'll try it in the morning.

shabbyroad

sorry to be pedantic....the tab posted is actually an E7. (an Emaj7 would have a D#)
The G# does sound odd though doesn't it ? A lot of sheet music (and some tab) is incorrect so you might find that an Eminor7th (basically an E7#9 without the major 3rd) works. It's possible that the sequence uses a G# in the bass while the chords change above it (I'm not near my piano so can't check that)

What's the chord sequence you're using ?

Great track - if that doesn't get 'em up then nothing will.

Giblet

An Emaj contains a G#

Change the final E to G not G#

Here is that chord on guitar.

e|-3 G
B|-3 D
G|-1 G#
D|-2 E
A|-2 B
E|-0 E

TenLeftFingers

The sequence I'm using is
Am, Dm, EM7#9 or whatever you call it.

Giblet, I played that chord on the guitar (0 2 2 1 3 3), and it sounds perfect.

The flange makes it hard to pick out on the cd but that sounds bang on. I'm glad I'm not playing it on the guitar tho

He uses flange on the vocals too, which we have on the desk, so fingers crossed, it should turn out well!

The crowd will never know the behind the scenes schenanigans that went on to get this song right

robbie1876

Just put a massive flange on the keyboard sound you are using, then you can play whatever chords you like ! lol

I'm going to a wedding this weekend and I'll be specifically listening to any suspect chords in Steve Miller songs....

TenLeftFingers

lol. Might put it on the vocals too!