George Harrison’s expertise on guitar was far more subdued than other players. He isn’t considered a flashy soloist like Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page. Instead he dealt in timeless riffs. He is considered one of the best guitarists ever because of that skill.
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Harrison wasn’t usually one to boast, but he did take credit for a unique chord once. Learn more about the chord Harrison invented, below.
The Guitar Chord George Harrison Invented
Harrison counted “I Want to Tell You” as one of his proudest musical moments. The Revolver cut saw the guitarist take some big risks in terms of melody making. The Beatles weren’t strangers to a risk in the studio, but Harrison thought this moment was particularly special.
“An E7th with an F on the top,” Harrison once said. “I’m really proud of that because I literally invented that chord. The song was about the frustration we all feel about trying to communicate certain things with just words. I realised the chords I knew at the time just didn’t capture that feeling. So after I got the guitar riff, I experimented until I came up with this dissonant chord that really echoed that sense of frustration.”
We have to agree with Harrison. The chord structure does help to capture the essence of the song. Moreover, few artists have dared to replicate that bold chord sequence. According to Harrison, only John Lennon (in “I Want You (She’s So Heavy”) and The Pretenders (on “Back on the Chain Gang”) have used that same chord.
His unique sense of musicality was largely influenced by Indian culture. Harrison became enamored with the country halfway through his time with the Beatles. The warping melodies that are found in Indian music found their way into Harrison’s guitar playing for the English rockers.
Check out the interesting chord structure on “I Want to Tell You,” below.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Moviestore/Shutterstock
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