F#m7 chord seems wimpy in "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"

[Warren W. Gay VE3WWG]

My daughter bought a electric guitar about a year ago, and this
prompted me to dust off my own purchase of 20 years ago (Ibanez Strat).
I never got very far then, but I've been praticing periodically over
the last year learning more chords etc. and starting to feel good
about this thing & recently discovered this group etc. etc...

Anyway I've been trying to play as many simple chord-like tunes as
possible to learn the instrument. I recently bought a book "The
Beatles Complete Chord Songbook" The book is great for me, because
it lists almost all of their tunes, with chords. Most importantly
for me, has chord diagrams at top so I don't have to guess the
arrangement and go running to the internet/charts all the time.

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0634022296/103-9034476-1153462?v=glance

I'd say overall, this book is great for the price (new $30 Cdn).
You get about 240 songs for this (12.5 cents/song) -- my kind
of price. To the point..

I am trying to learn to chord "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" with fair
success. However, I am finding that the F#m7 as they have it
shown, just sounds wimpy, perhaps even wrong (I have my own
problems playing this chord, but it just don't seem right).

Here is the part from the book:

A E F#m7
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes on, bra,

The way they recommend F#m7 here is as follows:

F#m7
EADGBE Fret
------ 1
*-**** 2
------ 3
-*---- 4

Now I know that there are several other ways to arrange the
same chord, but is F#m7 really right here? It seems too
wimpy. If it is correct, is there a better arrangement that
a beginner can muster?

Warren.

[Surfdog]

The chord you provided is F#maj7. I believe that song calls for an F#min7
as the minor 6th if you are playing in A. If so you can try this chord
instead:

E--2--
B--2--
G--2--
D--2--
A--4--
E--2--

I think the original was done in the key of G and it played an Emin7.


Surf

Post by Warren W. Gay VE3WWG
My daughter bought a electric guitar about a year ago, and this
prompted me to dust off my own purchase of 20 years ago (Ibanez Strat).
I never got very far then, but I've been praticing periodically over
the last year learning more chords etc. and starting to feel good
about this thing & recently discovered this group etc. etc...
Anyway I've been trying to play as many simple chord-like tunes as
possible to learn the instrument. I recently bought a book "The
Beatles Complete Chord Songbook" The book is great for me, because
it lists almost all of their tunes, with chords. Most importantly
for me, has chord diagrams at top so I don't have to guess the
arrangement and go running to the internet/charts all the time.

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0634022296/103-9034476-1153462?v=glan
ce

Post by Warren W. Gay VE3WWG
I'd say overall, this book is great for the price (new $30 Cdn).
You get about 240 songs for this (12.5 cents/song) -- my kind
of price. To the point..
I am trying to learn to chord "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" with fair
success. However, I am finding that the F#m7 as they have it
shown, just sounds wimpy, perhaps even wrong (I have my own
problems playing this chord, but it just don't seem right).
A E F#m7
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes on, bra,
F#m7
EADGBE Fret
------ 1
*-**** 2
------ 3
-*---- 4
Now I know that there are several other ways to arrange the
same chord, but is F#m7 really right here? It seems too
wimpy. If it is correct, is there a better arrangement that
a beginner can muster?
Warren.

[Noah Roberts]

Post by Surfdog
The chord you provided is F#maj7. I believe that song calls for an F#min7
as the minor 6th if you are playing in A. If so you can try this chord
E--2--
B--2--
G--2--
D--2--
A--4--
E--2--

Post by Warren W. Gay VE3WWG
F#m7
EADGBE Fret
------ 1
*-**** 2
------ 3
-*---- 4

Someone here is confused, and I don't think it is me this time.

[Warren W. Gay VE3WWG]

Post by Noah Roberts

Post by Surfdog
The chord you provided is F#maj7. I believe that song calls for an F#min7
as the minor 6th if you are playing in A. If so you can try this chord
E--2--
B--2--
G--2--
D--2--
A--4--
E--2--

Post by Warren W. Gay VE3WWG
F#m7
EADGBE Fret
------ 1
*-**** 2
------ 3
-*---- 4

Someone here is confused, and I don't think it is me this time.

Yes, these are the same ;-)

Next time I'll use the tab format for describing the chord.

Warren.

[Nil]

Post by Warren W. Gay VE3WWG
I am trying to learn to chord "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" with fair
success. However, I am finding that the F#m7 as they have it
shown, just sounds wimpy, perhaps even wrong (I have my own
problems playing this chord, but it just don't seem right).
A E F#m7
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes on, bra,

I think it sounds better and more like the record if you play a full-
bodied F#m, rather than an F#m7. Play it 244222 . It will sound less
"wimpy".

(the record is actually in the key of Bb)

[Tony Meloche]

Post by Nil

Post by Warren W. Gay VE3WWG
I am trying to learn to chord "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" with fair
success. However, I am finding that the F#m7 as they have it
shown, just sounds wimpy, perhaps even wrong (I have my own
problems playing this chord, but it just don't seem right).
A E F#m7
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes on, bra,

I think it sounds better and more like the record if you play a full-
bodied F#m, rather than an F#m7. Play it 244222 . It will sound less
"wimpy".
(the record is actually in the key of Bb)

My thought, too. If playing the song in A major, I hear a straight
up-and-down F#m chord there, rather than the m7th.

The Old Guy

[Brian Kerr]

IMHO, your E chord is what's wrong, not the F#m7. I also suspect that if,
as you say, you are having problems playing these chords, you likely cannot
play barre chords and it won't sound right until you learn how to do so.
The reason it doesn't sound right is because barre chords lower all the
notes in a progressive manner, i.e. the bass note moves from the 5th fret
==> 4th fret ==> 2nd fret and you just can't get that sound from open
chords. Try these barre chord fingerings out for the real deal:
EADGBE (fret numbers listed)
577655 = A
446454 = C#m7
242222 = F#m7
As the others have eluded to, the song is actually in Bb rather than A as
you are playing it. You would just raise these chords 1 fret higher in
pitch to play along with the song.
If these are too hard, you could try substituting a C#m7 for your E in open
chords by playing X02120. That still won't sound "right", but it will sound
better.
HTH,
Brian

[Nil]

Post by Brian Kerr
IMHO, your E chord is what's wrong, not the F#m7.

I think E is correct. C#m works, but I'm pretty sure they play E
(adjusted to the key of A for this discussion) on the record.

I'm also pretty sure that the whole song is played with open chords
(except the barred F#m). I guess the guitar would have either been
tuned up a half-step or a capo at the first fret was used to place it
in the key of Bb.

[Warren W. Gay VE3WWG]

Post by Nil

Post by Brian Kerr
IMHO, your E chord is what's wrong, not the F#m7.

I think E is correct. C#m works, but I'm pretty sure they play E
(adjusted to the key of A for this discussion) on the record.
I'm also pretty sure that the whole song is played with open chords
(except the barred F#m).

Yes that is correct (at least according to this book: in
the key of A with all open chords except F#m7).

Post by Nil
I guess the guitar would have either been
tuned up a half-step or a capo at the first fret was used to place it
in the key of Bb.

I'll give F#m a try, as you suggested earlier.

Thanks, Warren.

[Warren W. Gay VE3WWG]

Post by Brian Kerr
IMHO, your E chord is what's wrong, not the F#m7. I also suspect that if,
as you say, you are having problems playing these chords, you likely cannot
play barre chords and it won't sound right until you learn how to do so.

Not disuputing the fact that my barre chords couldn't be better, but
the key of A is how the song was laid out in the book with open chords,
with this one exception.

Realizing that my barre chords are weak still,
I did stop and get the chord firmly planted to hear it in its fullest
at one point. But my feeling was still that it didn't quite sound like
the chord that I remember from the album (maybe my memory has parity
errors).

Post by Brian Kerr
The reason it doesn't sound right is because barre chords lower all the
notes in a progressive manner, i.e. the bass note moves from the 5th fret
==> 4th fret ==> 2nd fret and you just can't get that sound from open
EADGBE (fret numbers listed)
577655 = A
446454 = C#m7
242222 = F#m7

It wasn't the pitch, just the sense (to me) that it wasn't quite
the right chord.

Post by Brian Kerr
As the others have eluded to, the song is actually in Bb rather than A as
you are playing it.

That's fine - I'm not too worried about that.

Warren.