What is the mystery chord?

January 9, 2015 7:38 AM

I'm learning how to play the ukulele, and I've come across the AaddG chord in a few songs I've wanted to learn. When I've searched the web for what the fingering for this chord should be, though, I never find anything -- just links back to the chords/lyrics pages I've been looking at. How do I play the AaddG? What would the fingering be? (It seems to be used a lot after an Am or an A# chord, FWIW.)
posted by pxe2000 to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (6 answers total)

Best answer: Seems to me like if you add a G to an A major chord, you'd have an A7 chord, so I'd try just releasing the high string & play only 1st fret on the 2nd string down. 0100.
posted by jeffjon at 7:43 AM on January 9, 2015

There's no such normally used chord spelling, to my knowledge. Are you sure it wasn't "Aadd9"?

An A major triad with a G is a dominant 7th chord, and is written as A7.
posted by thelonius at 7:46 AM on January 9, 2015

So I'm guessing that my googling parallels yours, pxe2000, and we're talking about Open Arms. The guitar chord they show at the bottom is a textbook A7.
posted by jeffjon at 7:50 AM on January 9, 2015 [2 favorites]

Seconding the above comments that "AaddG" is not really a standard thing but could refer to A7 or maybe A/G (A major with a G on the bottom). Do you have a particular reference we can look at?
posted by dfan at 8:35 AM on January 9, 2015 [1 favorite]

Googling for AaddG gives x02223 on those pages that name this chord (almost all are for a particular rendition of Open Arms).

That shape corresponds with an A7, which assuming GCEA tuning, is simply 0100 on your ukulele. (just put your finger ont he first fret of the second string)

I use this page for unusual chords. Any ukulele player should have it bookmarked.
posted by Tanizaki at 8:42 AM on January 9, 2015 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Actually, it was "Flexible Flyer" from Flip Your Wig. In any event, I'm glad to know I should play an A7! Such easy, so ukulele. Wow.
posted by pxe2000 at 9:20 AM on January 9, 2015 [1 favorite]