i've noticed quite a number of chord variations for each chord, eg. Am, Am7, A7, Asus4, A7sus4, Adim7, Aadd9 etc etc

anyone has a good way to remember them? such as in relation to the root chord? it gets really confusing @@

what do the numbers mean anyway?

I don't think there's a way to memorize them. Well you can make them up again if you forgotten, "if" you know how they're constructed.
Chord construction is like math.... you add stuff together. You combine stuff and that's when complicated sounding chords come out... But they're not necessarily complicated to press :P

My tacher used to teach a way to remember EADGBe, thats the 6 strings

E = Elephant
A = And
D = Dog
G = Go
B = Buy
e = ecstasy

Do Key Signatures have to do with this? There is a neat trick to remembering how to convert a major into a minor, a minor into a major, a sharp into a flat, and so on. Haha . . . it's funny how there are always shortcuts but they don't really tend to be short unless you have good memory.

srta, key signatures have a bit of an influnce on it

these chord variations:

Am - A minor
Am7 - A minor 7
A7 - A (dominant) 7
Asus4 - A suspended 4th
,A7sus4 - A 7 suspended 4th
Adim7 - A diminished 7
Aadd9 - A added 9th

etc
theres more like: A2, Amajor 7, A9

they are all chord variations, meaning u add or minus notes on the root chord.

For example, A 7, using the A chord, you add the seventh note of the A major scale i think. so the seventh, would be G#, cuz in the A major scale there are three sharps, F, C, G sharps.

A is the first note, so in order it would b: 1st: A, 2nd: B, 3rd: C#, 4th: D, 5th: E, 6th: F#, 7th: G#, 8th: back to A

this is the basics of te chord variations stuff

all the suspended, minor and dimished stuff is even more complicated.... ill see if i have time later to explain haha....

EDIT: after thinking about it, i just realized its so hard to explain lmao, im gonna need to find pics and diagrams lol... ill try to explain later when i get back from work.. i work on a saturday... = =

LOL Why don't we just start explaining major and minor scales for starters :P

A scale is simply do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do, 8 notes which starts and end with the same key but different octave.

A simple example would be the C major scale.

C D E F G A B C

In this case C would be the root note which makes sense since it's the C major scale. So you start with the root, 2nd note, 3rd note, etc.

You can form scales for other keys as well.

Most of you should have played most major chords. But how is it formed?

A major chord is formed using 3 notes. When ever you see a chord with these three combinations it will be a major chord.
These three notes are "Root-3rd-5th" from the major scale. So to form a C chord, you take the root note, third note(E) and 5th note(G). And with that you get a C chord! Let me show what u mean. Let's look at C chord:
-0- e (3rd)
-1- C (Root)
-0- G (5th)
-2- E (3rd)
-3- C (Root)
-x-

As you can see, the C chord is just the combination of 3 notes "root-3rd-5th" from the C major scale

Another example? Take E chord. E major scale: E F# G# A B C# Eb E
So the "Root-3rd-5th" from the E major scale would be "E-G#-B"

-0- e (Root)
-0- B (5th)
-1- G# (3rd)
-2- E (Root)
-2- B (5th)
-0- E (Root)

From that you can see the combination of "root-3rd-5th" as well. The order doesn't matter. As long as all 3 notes are there it will be a major chord and in this case E major. But if it's just combination of root and 3rd you can't call it a major chord.

Remember, it's Root-3rd-5th that forms a major chord.

C major scale:
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
-------------------2--4--5------------------------------
---------2--3--5----------------------------------------
--3--5--------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------

This is not the only way to finger a C major scale. This is just one way. If you play the same pattern at different part of the guitar you will get major scales for other keys. For example if you move everything to the right by 1 step(2frets) you will get the D major scale. And also if you shift the whole pattern up one string (towards you) you will get a G major scale:
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
-------------------2--4--5------------------------------
---------2--3--5----------------------------------------
--3--5--------------------------------------------------

Move it to right side by 1 step? You get A major scale. Can you see the pattern? What ever note you start with using that pattern, you will get the major scale of that note.

You can try out for yourselves from the scales the theory of "root-3rd-5th" forming a major chord.

Phew longest post ever....... hope people understand and hope it helps :P

oh gosh... man this will take forever to explain. minor chord: perfect 5th and minor 3rds... sigh.... augmented, and diminished....LOL and im not the greatest at explaining... tsunvun i think u should do most of hte explaining Xd ill help along, since im not good at teaching...

this is like... rudiments all over again, hahaha, cuz theres so much to explain its like at least a few classes of theory haha oO

an alternative to learning theory just to know the chord variations would be to memorize their shape and positioning. naming the construction of them allows you to make them up on the spot but if you have no theory background then its best to keep it simple and just memorize them like any other chord.

yepp. but if u really wanna know then u gotta know the theory behind it.. and it gets COMPLICATED at even such a basic level haha. go take rudiments lol