What's This Chord?

[ScubaNut2014]

I’ve been working my way through my “Ronnie Do” list after wintering in Australia…I should have figured this out when I still had a borrow mandolin down the but time got away from me. Retirement is SO busy!

Anyway, I have seen this chord shape used from time to time but I haven’t been able to see it long enough to figure out what it is. Can someone tell me what this chord is and what frets are used in this photo (stolen from @BanjoBen himself). It looks like 4-7-6-8 but before I wrench my fingers into that knot I wanted to make sure.

Thanks!
R

[Mike_R]

It looks like his pinky is on the 9th fret, so that would be an E major chord (from low to high 9 6 7 4). I use a similar one that moves the ring to the lowest (G) string and mutes the highest (E) string.

[Mike_R]

Also, because, all the strings are fretted (a closed chord), you can move that up and down the neck to make other chords. For instance, slide the same shape down 2 frets and it is a D.

[ScubaNut2014]

I see that now. I use a closed chord shape that mutes the first string but allows me to play C, D, E, and F and all the flats/sharps associated. I am playing the E major with different fingers and muting the 1st string…this will take some muscle memory to get right…maybe I don’t need this chord shape…but at the same time using all 8 strings might be a nicer sound. We’ll see!

[Lucy_L]

@ScubaNut2014 if you look at the chord closely, it’s just an E chop chord using different fingerings. Like if you’re doing the C shape chop chord higher up the neck but using the middle, ring, and pinky fingers instead of the standard index, middle, and ring to finger it. It’s a really easy way to go from A to E quickly in that closed chop shape. Let me know if any of that doesn’t make sense!