Blasted "2" Chord?

[zeroeffect]

Hey, I was hoping someone could help me with this 2 chord thing.

Here's the story:

I have a student who plays worship music exclusively. In his chord sheets, this 2 chord keeps popping up (D2, C2, E2/G#).

Now it seems to they either mean "suspended 2" or "add9." I'm not sure which. I have been studying music for a long time, and outside of "worship" music, I've never seen this label...what do they mean? Each would be completely different (sus2, add9, 9). And if they mean sus 2, why don't they just write that?

Anyone have experience with the Worship Music World, as it's obviously a little vague?

Edit: I am not looking for theory lessons here! I'm fairly tight on my theory. I am looking for someone that might know what is really meant by 2 in the worship music world.

[owl]

I play in our worship band every Sunday but I haven't come across this
Where is he getting his music from... does he play strictly from chord charts?

Owl

[ramsnake]

The use of 2 is another way of classifying an add 9 chord Zero!
E2 = Eadd9 = E9 etc

[Hank]

Sus 2 and add9 is the same thing. In the key of C they would both be a D.

[zeroeffect]

I play in our worship band every Sunday but I haven't come across this
Where is he getting his music from... does he play strictly from chord charts?

Owl

Yes Owl, chord charts only....I've seen these before, I am just unable to make sense of them...seems either way I go at trying to make an assumption...it ends up not making sense.

[zeroeffect]

Case in point:

Sus 2 and add9 is the same thing. In the key of C they would both be a D.

Hank, this simply is not true: Sus 2 means a 2 instead of a 3, and add9 means to add a 9 and keep the 3.

The use of 2 is another way of classifying an add 9 chord Zero!
E2 = Eadd9 = E9 etc

This sounds more feasible Ramsnake but there is still confusion: Eadd9 is not the same as E9. So which one?

[owl]

Yes Owl, chord charts only....I've seen these before, I am just unable to make sense of them...seems either way I go at trying to make an assumption...it ends up not making sense.

Chord charts can be really confusing as this conversation shows... various names for the same chord... or different chords with the same name
Tell him to play what sounds right in the particular piece... bearing in mind what chords precede and follow on!
Remembering that sometimes 'less is more'!

8notes.com has pretty good chord charts complete with sound files... that might help him

Owl

[ramsnake]

This sounds more feasible Ramsnake but there is still confusion: Eadd9 is not the same as E9. So which one?

They are the same where I come from!

[zeroeffect]

This sounds more feasible Ramsnake but there is still confusion: Eadd9 is not the same as E9. So which one?

They are the same where I come from!

Eadd9=E G# B and F# (an E chord with a 9th added: hence the name)
E9=E G# D F# (The chord symbol with just the 9 is the same as a 7; it implies a Dominant 7 chord with a 9 added and a 5 omitted).

Clearly different chords...

[ramsnake]

Well it obvious which one it is then!

[Nick Cutroneo]

The 2 just doesn't imply the usage of a 9th. Rather its being quite specific on where to put the note in the grand scheme of things.

Example, the difference between an D2 chord and a Dadd9 chord is how they are spelled

D2 - D, E, A (the E is in the same octave as the D, like fretting an open D chord but replacing the high F# with the open E instead, thus creating the interval of a 2nd between the root and next interval). Here the "2" works as a suspension.

Dadd9 - D, F#, A, E (here the E is usually an octave above the root D, also note the presence of the 3rd of the chord. Now the "2" doesn't act as a suspension, but rather an extension).

[zeroeffect]

The 2 just doesn't imply the usage of a 9th. Rather its being quite specific on where to put the note in the grand scheme of things.

Example, the difference between an D2 chord and a Dadd9 chord is how they are spelled

D2 - D, E, A (the E is in the same octave as the D, like fretting an open D chord but replacing the high F# with the open E instead, thus creating the interval of a 2nd between the root and next interval). Here the "2" works as a suspension.

Dadd9 - D, F#, A, E (here the E is usually an octave above the root D, also note the presence of the 3rd of the chord. Now the "2" doesn't act as a suspension, but rather an extension).

Thanks Guitarshreda...I understand all said above...the problem is this unusual chord symbol of "E2" (for example). My problem is that I don't know what they're "really" asking for. Do they mean Eadd9, Esus2...what? It's unusual because outside of "worship" music, I have never seen or heard such a thing by that symbol (or chord name). It seems that if they meant Esus2, they would have wrote that...not E2

I don't know how to ask my question any clearer. So I apologize if I am confusing the matter here.

[owl]

the problem is this unusual chord symbol of "E2" (for example). My problem is that I don't know what they're "really" asking for. Do they mean Eadd9,

I've just been through a heap of my worship music and I came across several instances of this... I would think they mean Eadd9... Dadd9 or whatever

Owl

[Paul Saywood]

I've often thought that too many people have came up with too many standards for chord names, and that's why even those who have studied music and theory have to think about what a chord might mean instead of just knowing. Is there are real reason to keep so many names, wouldn't it be great if there was one way to name a chord instead of 23?

Sus chords seem daft, the natural feel of a 2 or 4 is suspended, so why do we have to call them that - why not just A2, A4 etc, and add chords - obviously a note is added - what's the point?

OK, don't tell me off just yet. I like the idea of flats for anything other than major or perfect, if a chord written; A3/b7, for a dominant, or A3/6/b10 for whatever this would normally be called, this would make easier sense. (to me at least)

OK, I'm ready to be told off now!
Paul

[ramsnake]

Geez Guys and Gals! I think we are getting the old knickers in a knot over nothing here.
I surmise that this relates to a strummed chordal accompaniment. So whether you call it an E2 or Eadd9 or zippitydoodah there is an F# somewhere in the chord and that is really all that matters! Stick it in somewhere and be done with it!